Mallard’s Road runner-up in film festival

Mallard’s Road stars Wicahpi Bison and Albert Two Bears III.

LOS ANGELES — The 13th LA Skinsfest received over 600 films and of all those films submitted for judging, from 5 minutes in length to feature length. A locally produced film, “Mallard’s Road” was chosen and premiered November 24th at the historic Chinese Theater. “Mallard’s Road,” a contemporary romantic comedy, was runner up in the Achievement in Film category to “Red Snow”, a big budget, Afghanistan War film produced by a Canadian company and directed by accomplished Metis Director, Marie Clements, starring Tantoo Cardinal and Samuel Marty.
Mallard’s Road features Albert Two Bears III (Hunkpapa), as Rolly Lamoreaux. Wicahpi Bison (Minnecojou), as Connie Talking Crow and Allyssa Comer (Oglala), as Mary Flies at Night. The film costars Jaxon Apple as Jamie, Lily Schuh as Delia, Fred Menard as Roy Lamoreaux, and Emily Bull Bear as Sarah Lamoreaux and Eugene Black Calf as Lala Johnny and Roy Martinez as Lala Ted. It also features Tyler One Horn as Howard J. Sharp Tail, Marie Kills Warrior as Mona, Eric Peltier as Sam Two Fish, Shields King as Doyste Muskrat Coat, and Louis Night Walker as Bennie Sharp Tail. There are over 40 speaking parts in the film with a rich use of Lakota.
Written by Mark St. Pierre, and Produced by Cloud Horse Media, with Tilda Long Soldier St. Pierre as Executive Producer, Mallard’s Road has likely made film diversity history. Many of those involved served multiple roles. Dan Snethen, 25 years as Biology Teacher and Drama Coach, at Little Wound High School, served as casting director, a producer and made his film, directorial debut with “Mallard’s Road”.
It seems like all in good things, the journey from idea to production took time.
In 1996 Mark Taught digital film making at Little Wound high and saw the amazing interest in media among high-school students here. It was then he and Tilda first met Dan Snethen who started the high school drama program that same year.
In 1998 Mark and Tilda started Cloud Horse Media with a Lakota Language film entitled “Wakpe’, Wojapi, Na Wigliungagapi,”
From 2006-2010, Cloud Horse Media made numerous short films for various clients.
Eleven years ago Cloud Horse Media Produced an award winning feature length documentary about the sacred places in the Black Hills called “Mato Paha: Rally to Protect Bear Butte” with Mitchell Zephier’s, Medicine Wheel Media.
Ten years ago Mark St. Pierre wrote the original “Mallard’s Road” script for a Boston based Production Company. They failed to find funding.
Seven years ago the Cloud Horse Art Institute, produced a summer community theater production of an Inuit Play “Ice Wolf” directed by Dan Snethen. In a month, thirty local thespians, mostly graduates of the Little Wound High Drama Program, cast, rehearsed, built sets, wardrobe and props. They performed 5 public shows at the Black Box Theater at Cloud Horse that ended up being standing room only.
It was then that Dan Snethen recalls, “Mark saw all that energy including late night rehearsals. He walked up to all of us when it was over and asked,”
“Would you folks like to make a movie?”
“We all said yes and shook hands.”
Six Years ago the Cloud Horse Art Institute, Tilda St. Pierre Founder and President, created the Reel Jobs Film School with a Rural Jobs Training Grant from the USDA. Reel Jobs commenced recruiting local folks interested in film. Then arranged a weekend, Adult Ed style offering, an intense three days a month classes taught by Film Professionals from the broader film industry.
All aspects of production, from Management to Lighting, Sound, Camera, Set, Makeup, Wardrobe, as well as Acting for Film were covered at Reel Jobs, many more than once
Four years ago Cloud Horse Media Produced a feature length award winning documentary, “Who Will Bury the Dead” currently on Amazon Prime, with local film makers like Michael Lays Bad, Editor, and Sheldon King on Camera.
Four years ago we started production on “Mallard’s Road”. Many local film makers participated in making “Mallard’s Road”, including Michael Lays Bad who served as Lead Camera in the first summer of shooting, with Eric Peltier serving as Assistant Director and Dustin Kills Straight serving as Sound Recordist.
In the second summer of shooting, Trevor White Dress, served as Director of Photography, Chance Pettigrew served as Assistant Director (and appears as Al Red Bird). Lily Schuh served as Sound Recordist, Crystal Apple, (who plays Suzie) served as Production Assistant along with Louis Night Walker and thus worked in Set, Wardrobe and Art with Tilda St Pierre. Lighting, hair and makeup were done by Kayla White Face, but “Everyone joyfully pitched in everywhere in every way they could!” According to Mark St. Pierre who also served as Line Producer.
None of this could have been done without the help and guidance of two people who became key to achieving a finished film. One is Jack Sitch of JSA Media in Rapid City who acted as film school teacher, principle technical coach and hovered over the production crew during the early shooting offering help to everyone and building confidence.
Another irreplaceable person was Shannon Wray. Shannon is Eastern Cherokee raised in LA in the household of Fay Wray who starred in the original King Kong and was a leading actress for half a century. Shannon’s father was an editor at the big studios and thus she grew up in the business. With over forty years in TV Films and Radio, and Screen Writing, much of it in Canada. Shannon’s guidance in all aspects from teaching production management too early “Now that we are done with an assembly cut, let’s throw out the script and see what we really got on film.” She led us through rough editing, then to scoring ideas and comments for each scene. Her guidance was priceless.
In Post-Production the Editor was Trevor White Dress, aided by Mark St. Pierre and Dan Snethen. Music was scored by famed, Multi Nami Award winning, Anishinabek Artist, Keith Secola. Local actress, Allyssa Comer, who makes an amazing debut as Mary, has taken a leadership role in Marketing.
Serious shooting of Mallard’s Road was done over two summers in July and as viewers like Gregory Coye, Exec. Director at the Indigenous Independent Film School in Vancouver, Canada, commented “In Mallard’s Road, the land itself is a beautiful costar. I see this as a trend in Native Produced films.” Tilda commented, “It was a romantic comedy and we knew the beauty of the reservation in early July, was what we wanted, not the burnt out look some film makers are after.”
In terms of something that might be labeled as “Native Entertainment” after a focus group screening for Little Wound High School and Staff, the comments were insightful. One high school student commented, “It wasn’t about poverty or gangs or meth, it was just a love story about us!” A faculty member commented, “They should make the SD State Legislature watch this and maybe they would figure out we are just human!” Sharie Ricketts, High School
Principle, commented, “You’d have to be a high-school teacher to really get this, but you could have heard a pin drop! That is amazing.”
“Mallard’s Road” will make its regional Premier in three screenings 10:30AM, 1:00PM and 3:30PM at the intimate 145 seat, Journey Museum Theater, during LNI, December 21st. This film has not been rated but is suitable for all audiences. Showing is $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for Children. Give yourself and your family a very special Christmas treat. For advance tickets call 605-394-6923.