Sierra Teller Ornelas

Last updated
Sierra Teller Ornelas
Sierra Teller Ornelas on Native Voice One.jpg
Teller Ornelas in 2022
Born (1981-03-03) March 3, 1981 (age 43)
Tucson, Arizona
Nationality Navajo Nation, American
Education University of Arizona
OccupationTelevision producer • screenwriter
Parents

Sierra Nizhoni Teller Ornelas (Navajo, born March 3, 1981) [1] [2] is a Native American showrunner, screenwriter, filmmaker and sixth-generation tapestry weaver from Tucson, Arizona. [3] She is one of three co-creators of the scripted NBC (Peacock) comedy series Rutherford Falls , alongside Ed Helms and Mike Schur. [4] [5]

Contents

Known for writing and production work on shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine , Happy Endings , Splitting Up Together , and Superstore , Teller Ornelas has also written and contributed to This American Life and the New York Times . [6] In 2019 Teller Ornelas signed a multi-year development deal with Universal Television, beginning with the Peacock sitcom Rutherford Falls. [6] [4]

Early life and education

Teller Ornelas was born March 3, 1981 in Tucson, Arizona. [2] [6] [7] She is Navajo, born to the Edge Water clan. Her maternal grandfather is Water Flowing Together clan and her paternal grandfather is Mexican clan. [8]

As a child, Teller Ornelas spend extended periods working alongside her mother (Barbara Teller Ornelas as a tapestry weaver. [9] The constantly time surrounded by Native art at gallery openings, Native art markets, and world-famous museums shielded Teller Ornelas from the poor representation of Indigenous culture in mainstream television. [3] It was her moments tapestry weaving with her mother that sparked a deep interest in film and film writing. [9] As early as second grade Teller Ornelas knew that she wanted to write for television. [10]

Teller Ornelas attended a college preparatory high school in the late 1990s. [11] During this period of her life, she furthered her appreciation for the act of storytelling and its impact on the lives of Indigenous peoples.

She attended the University of Arizona, where she studied media arts. [12] There she discovered the long-running Comedy Corner troupe which held comedy sketches in the Student Union's Cellar. Teller Ornelas began as audience member and eventually became a key writer and producer. She graduated from the School of Theatre, Film & Television in 2005. [13]

Career

After graduating from college, Teller Ornelas worked for five years as a film programmer at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. [6] [14] In addition, Teller Ornelas, a sixth-generation Navajo weaver, was commissioned by the Arizona State Museum to make a documentary film, A Loom with a View: Modern Navajo Weavers, which explores the weaving of family members: mother, Barbara Teller Ornelas; great aunt, Margaret Yazzie; and brother, Michael Teller Ornelas. [12] [1] [6]

She was inspired to leave that job and pursue her dreams of becoming a television writer by a "big swing" her mother and aunt had made in the 1980s when they spent four years weaving an enormous rug. (They sold it for $60,000, which changed their family's lives.) [10]

In 2010, Teller Ornelas was selected for the Disney/ABC Television Group's diversity writing program. [15] After this, she gained a position as a staff writer on Happy Endings . [16] [17] She contributed to a sub-plot in which Dave, played by Zachary Knighton, discovers he is one-sixteenth Navajo and begins playing into stereotypes about Native Americans. [16] [17] Teller Ornelas said in a 2011 interview with the Navajo Times that if done right, comedy can be a way to "get conversation going about very dense, complicated issues." [16]

Rutherford Falls

Teller Ornelas, Ed Helms, and Mike Schur were co-creators of the series Rutherford Falls , which presented its first episode on NBC in 2021. As showrunner, Teller Ornelas oversaw a writers room that includes four other Indigenous writers – Tazbah Chavez, Tai Leclaire, Jana Schmieding, and Bobby Wilson.

Mike Schur and Ed Helms, both of whom she had previously collaborated with on various projects, initially pitched the show to Teller Ornelas, seeking her creativity and Native perspective to help bring the vision to fruition. [18] Teller Ornelas aimed to counteract the sense of weightiness and emotional misrepresentation she frequently experienced when viewing Native stories on TV that were crafted by non-Native writers. [19] Rutherford Falls provided Teller Ornelas with a platform to break Native stereotypes and showcase the diversity of Native experiences and highlight Native humanity through her storytelling talent. [20]

Teller Ornelas was inspired to based the plot around museum employees from her experiences working at the Smithsonian. [9] Teller Ornelas describes Indigenous people as the first storytellers and preservers of history, thus, she oriented the storyline around answering the questions, "What is American history? What are the narratives we cling to, and who gets erased from those narratives?" [20] She sought to make the series comedy-based to disrupt the pattern of idealized or vilified depicitions of Native Americans on televisions.

Upon its premiere, the show receive positive reviews from critics for its comedic value and commitment to addressing Indigenous-related issues in the United States. [21] After two seasons, Rutherford Falls was cancelled by Peacock in 2022. Nonetheless, Rutherford Falls made history marking Teller Ornelas as the first Indigenous showrunner and serving as the first major television production with five indigenous writers for a single series. [5] [9]

Other work

Following the cancellation of Rutherford Falls , Teller Ornelas co-wrote the Bay Area based comedy with two other Native artists, Bobby Wilson and Jackie Keliiaa. She has described “City Indians” as “a progression of the Native comedy that I really enjoy making” and as “too damn special not to exist in the world.” [22] She later sold the pilot for a workplace comedy called “City Indians” to NBC.

Future projects

In December of 2022, Teller Ornelas alongside television writer, Marco Luevanos, and television director and producer, Morgan Sackett, announced their plans to develop a half-hour multi-cam comedy entitled "Amigos" for NBC. [23] The show is set to be based in Los Angeles, California where six Latin friends (i.e. amigos) support and rag each other while exploring love, maturing, and defining success in the modern world. The show has yet to be released.

In January of 2024, Teller Ornelas and Jana Schmieding announced their collaborative project, "Bonnie." [24] [25] The multi-camera family comedy centered on a former backup singer who, fifteen years earlier, abandoned the touring life to settle on the reservation where she will fulfill her dream of being the "cool auntie" while helping raise her brothers children. Teller Ornelas is utilizing this project to continue her legacy of bring Native American representation and creativity to major network television. The show is expected to include Morgan Sackett, Jonathan Berry, and Katie Newman as executive producers.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleCredited as
CreatorDirectorWriterProducer
2011 Happy Endings NoNoYesNo
2013 Brooklyn Nine-Nine NoNoNoYes
2014 The Hustle NoNoYesNo
Selfie NoNoYesNo
2014 Surviving Jack NoNoYesNo
2015 Superstore NoNoYesYes
2018 Splitting Up Together NoNoYesYes
2021 Rutherford Falls YesNoYesYes
2022 Loot NoNoYesYes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Helms</span> American comedian and actor (born 1974)

Edward Parker Helms is an American comedian and actor. From 2002 to 2006, he was a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He played paper salesman Andy Bernard in the NBC sitcom The Office (2006–2013), and starred as Stuart Price in The Hangover trilogy. He later starred in the comedy series Rutherford Falls (2021–2022), which he co-wrote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Schur</span> American television producer and writer

Michael Herbert Schur is an American television producer, writer, director, and actor. He was a producer and writer for the American remake of the comedy series The Office, and co-created Parks and Recreation with Office producer Greg Daniels. He created The Good Place, co-created the comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and was a producer on the series Master of None. He also played Mose Schrute on The Office. In 2021, he was one of three co-creators of the Peacock comedy series Rutherford Falls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navajo weaving</span> Textile art by Navajo people of the US

Navajo weaving are textiles produced by Navajo people, who are based near the Four Corners area of the United States. Navajo textiles are highly regarded and have been sought after as trade items for more than 150 years. Commercial production of handwoven blankets and rugs has been an important element of the Navajo economy. As one art historian wrote, "Classic Navajo serapes at their finest equal the delicacy and sophistication of any pre-mechanical loom-woven textile in the world."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Morales (actress)</span> American actress and director

Natalie Morales is an American actress and director. She starred in the 2008 ABC Family series The Middleman and had a main role in 2009 on the first season of the USA Network series White Collar. In 2010, she appeared in the feature films Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and Going the Distance. Morales also had a starring role in the Fox comedy series The Grinder, the NBC sitcom Abby's, and recurring roles in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, HBO's The Newsroom, Netflix series Dead to Me, and as Dr. Monica Beltran in the ABC medical drama series Grey's Anatomy.

Geraldine Keams is a Diné actress. She is best known for her work in numerous television series, often playing a maternal role.

Parks and Recreation is an American political satire mockumentary television sitcom created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. The series aired on NBC from April 9, 2009, to February 24, 2015, for 125 episodes, over seven seasons. A special reunion episode aired on April 30, 2020. The series stars Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, a perky, mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks Department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. The ensemble and supporting cast features Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate, Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Paul Schneider as Mark Brendanawicz, Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger, Jim O'Heir as Garry "Jerry" Gergich, Retta as Donna Meagle, and Billy Eichner as Craig Middlebrooks.

"Pilot" is the pilot episode of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on April 9, 2009. The episode was written by series creators Michael Schur and Greg Daniels, and directed by Daniels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Caspe</span> Writer and producer

David Herbert Caspe is an American film and television writer. As a writer-producer, he is best known for his work in television as creator of sitcoms such as ABC's Happy Endings, the Showtime comedy Black Monday, and the NBC sitcoms Kenan and Marry Me. Other work includes writing the 2012 film That's My Boy and co-creating the YouTube Premium series Champaign ILL.

Sydney Freeland is a Native American (Navajo) filmmaker. She wrote and directed the short film Hoverboard (2012) and the film Drunktown's Finest (2014), which garnered numerous acclaims after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Her second film, Deidra and Laney Rob a Train, debuted at Sundance and was released on Netflix in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jen Statsky</span> American television writer and comedian

Jen Statsky is an American television writer and comedian known for her work on Hacks, The Good Place, Parks and Recreation, and Broad City. She is the co-creator and co-showrunner of the critically-acclaimed HBO Max series Hacks, for which she has received multiple awards including 3 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and 3 WGA Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1491s</span> Native American sketch comedy group

The 1491s are a Native American sketch comedy group, with members based in Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Montana. While the members' sketch comedy has had a growing cult following since the mid-2000s, and their videos since 2009, they are perhaps best known for their work in more widely-known shows such as Rutherford Falls and Reservation Dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beth Stelling</span> American comedian and comedy writer

Beth Stelling is an American stand-up comedian and writer. She has performed in the Netflix series The Standups and served as a writer for the HBO television series Crashing. Stelling has released two comedy albums, Sweet Beth and Simply the Beth, and two comedy specials, Girl Daddy and If You Didn't Want Me Then.

"Everything Is Fine" is the series premiere of the American fantasy-comedy television series The Good Place. Written by series creator Michael Schur and directed by executive producer Drew Goddard, it aired on NBC in the United States on September 19, 2016, back-to-back with the second episode "Flying".

D.Y. Begay is a Navajo textile artist born into the Tóʼtsohnii Clan and born from the Táchiiʼnii Clan.

A <i>Parks and Recreation</i> Special Special episode of Parks and Recreation

"A Parks and Recreation Special" is a special episode of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation and the 126th episode overall. It was originally broadcast on April 30, 2020, on NBC. It was written by series co-creator Michael Schur with Megan Amram, Dave King, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Matt Murray, and Jen Statsky, and was directed by Morgan Sackett. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, the episode shows Leslie Knope and her friends as they handle life during quarantine.

<i>Rutherford Falls</i> American television sitcom

Rutherford Falls is an American sitcom television series that premiered on the streaming service Peacock on April 22, 2021. It was created by Ed Helms, Michael Schur, and Sierra Teller Ornelas. In July 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which was released on June 16, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jana Schmieding</span> American comedian, actor, podcaster, and writer

Jana Schmieding is a Native American comedian, actor, podcaster, and writer. She is best known for her roles hosting the podcast Woman of Size, and as a writer and actor on the sitcom Rutherford Falls, and an actor on Reservation Dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Leigh</span> American actor

Jesse Leigh is an American actor, known for portraying Bobbie Yang on the Peacock sitcom Rutherford Falls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Teller Ornelas</span> Navajo weaver, instructor, author (b. 1954)

Barbara Teller Ornelas is an American weaver and citizen of the Navajo Nation. She also is an instructor and author about this art. She has served overseas as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department. A fifth-generation Navajo weaver, she exhibits her fine art textiles and educates about Navajo culture at home and abroad.

Vanessa Ramos is an American television writer and producer. She created the American workplace comedy television series Blockbuster, which premiered on Netflix in November 2022 but its season 2 was cancelled the following month. She's previously written for shows like Superstore, Bordertown, Crashing and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

References

  1. 1 2 Schmitt, Rory O'Neill (2016). Navajo and Hopi Art in Arizona: Continuing Traditions. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN   978-1-62585-560-2 . Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 @sierraornelas (March 3, 2024). https://twitter.com/sierraornelas/status/1764361410283254156/photo/1 Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 Ornelas, Sierra Teller (2021-11-17). "'Rutherford Falls' Showrunner Sierra Teller Ornelas on Bringing Native Artistry to Television (Guest Column)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  4. 1 2 Montpelier, Rachel (20 November 2019). "Sierra Teller Ornelas Signs Multi-Year Overall Deal with Universal Television". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  5. 1 2 Tennant, Zoe (7 February 2020). "Rutherford Falls brings Indigenous writers together for new NBC sitcom". CBC. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Petski, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie (20 November 2019). "'Rutherford Falls' Co-Creator Sierra Teller Ornelas Inks Overall Deal With Universal TV". Deadline. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. ↑ Harjo, Noetta (17 September 2018). "GGA Indigenerd Wire: Sierra Teller Ornelas Talks Authenticity and Humor in Native Storytelling". Geek Girl Authority. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  8. ↑ Ornelas, Sierra Teller (30 January 2019). "Indigenous People's Long Road to Visibility in Hollywood (Guest Column)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Rutherford Falls Creator Talk with Sierra Teller Ornelas | VIFF 2021 . Retrieved 2024-04-23– via www.youtube.com.
  10. 1 2 Miller, Stuart (April 21, 2021). "Sierra Teller Ornelas on the Roots of 'Rutherford Falls'". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Rutherford Falls Showrunner Talks Layering Indigenous Culture Into TV". UPROXX. 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  12. 1 2 "Weaving is part of woman's soul". Arizona Daily Star. 13 December 2006. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  13. ↑ "Showrunner/Writer/Executive Producer Sierra Teller Ornelas ('05) debuts "Rutherford Falls," a breakthrough moment in Native representation in comedy television – School of Theatre, Film & Television". tftv.arizona.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  14. ↑ Sussman, Mark (10 May 2018). "Sierra Teller Ornelas on giving yourself permission to suck". thecreativeindependent.com. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  15. ↑ "Eight Chosen for Disney/ABC TV Diversity Writing Program". TheWrap. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 Yurth, Cindy (24 October 2011). "For Diné scriptwriter, Hollywood is one big dinner table". navajotimes.com. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  17. 1 2 Montpelier, Rachel (14 September 2018). "Writer to Watch: Sierra Teller Ornelas of "Superstore"". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  18. ↑ Capriccioso, Rob (2021-08-16). "ALGORITHM PIONEER: Rutherford Falls creator Sierra Teller Ornelas weaves TV success, preps for second season". Tribal Business News. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  19. ↑ "The creator of 'Rutherford Falls' wants to show 'Native joy' through comedy". TODAY.com. 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  20. 1 2 "Sierra Teller Ornelas Has Been Telling Great Stories for Years. With 'Rutherford Falls', It's Personal". ELLE. 2021-05-07. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  21. ↑ Otterson, Joe (2022-09-02). "'Rutherford Falls' Canceled After Two Seasons at Peacock". Variety. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  22. ↑ Gazzar, Brenda (2023-06-20). "A Wave of Native Representation on TV Is Rising". Yahoo. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  23. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (2022-12-08). "Sierra Teller Ornelas & Marcos Luevanos Developing Comedy Series 'Amigos' At NBC". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  24. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (2024-01-11). "'Rutherford Falls' Duo Sierra Teller Ornelas & Jana Schmieding Developing Multi-Cam Comedy 'Bonnie' For CBS". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  25. ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (2024-01-12). "Rutherford Falls Duo Developing Comedy for CBS Set on a Reservation". TVLine. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.