He's the star of Melissa Henry's award-winning short film Horse You See, in which he tells us about himself in the Navajo language and even sings a song. Here it is:
In an interview, Melissa Henry was asked what she wanted viewers to take away from the film.
Melissa: I would just like them to be happy that they watched it, that it brings some sort of joy or happiness to their day, even if it's just for a little while. But for the more "serious" answer I'd like people to see that a film in the Navajo language can reach out to all audiences regardless of who they are or where they grew up. If anything it would be great that they become so curious that they use the movie to learn some Navajo words and phrases.
Melissa and her producer (and husband), Alfredo Perez, were asked what advice they could give to aspiring filmmakers. Here's what they said:
Alfredo: Melissa grew up in the Navajo reservation with limited access to TV, so she and her brothers had to make their own fun and exercise their imaginations playing in nature and with animals around them. So my advice I guess is for people to try to tell their own stories and not so much copy other things they've seen. Postmodernism has its limits, eventually you run out of movies to quote and pay homage to, and your audience is exhausted and hungry for new and different things. So just go with your own idea and make your own movie. It can be hard to come up with new things if you grew up surrounded by media, but it's always possible to offer a fresh approach. Then other people can quote you instead.
Melissa: Do something that's fun, do something that's going to be worth the time you'll be putting into the movie. Also, when you get too much advice from other people it can really cloud what you are aiming for, so you need to find people who really know you and you really trust. Find a good producer, someone who believes in what you're doing and who will fight for your vision.
Melissa and Alfredo started Albuquerque's Red Ant Films in 2003 "to create original films in the Navajo language." HERE is a link to their website.
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