Gateway Entertainment.
Creating opportunity. Creating careers.
Gateway Entertainment is a new non-profit initiative dedicated to creating opportunities for underserved communities in filmed entertainment with a particular focus on developing behind-the-camera careers in the industry.
To launch Gateway Entertainment we organized the first-ever Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge held in January of 2020 in Park City, Utah. The lounge was developed as a place for Indigenous filmmakers to listen to panels, network, relax and get warm. Known officially as the Inaugural Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge, partners included Cherokee Nation Film Office, Paramount, Viacom/CBS, and a multitude of additional partners and supporters. Notable participants included Effie Brown (producer and CEO of Gamechanger), Wilmer Valderrama (actor), Tilane Jones (producer and President of Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY), and many others.
In 2022 we expanded the lounge to better align with our mission of assisting all underserved communities. This year's event, Rise Above - Emerging Voices in Entertainment, was more engaging, more robust, and more entertaining over the multi-day event. Webinars were recorded and can be found below.
Updated 2/24/22 4:25 PM EST
Filmmakers Lounge 2022:
Rise Above - Emerging Voices in Entertainement
New multi-day schedule listed below.
ONLINE
This year's event moved to an online format due to the rise in COVID cases. Videos of below webinars will continue to be posted here.
Friday - January 21
7:00 PM-10:00 PM MT - Live Opening Remarks & Entertainment
Live Entertainment sponsored by Surf Spot
Timothy W. White, Stand Up Comedy
Tommy Howell Music
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Saturday - January 22
Live from Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake
9:30 AM-11:00 AM MT
Welcome Remarks
Indigenous Crew Panel – Building a Career in Hollywood
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
The traditional path to entering crew careers in the filmed entertainment industry is often as a production assistant. We will hear from Indigenous professionals – from across the various production departments – about their journeys in pursuing a successful career. In the context of the rapidly changing Hollywood landscape, we will explore the challenges and rewards of careers in the filmed entertainment industry.
Moderator: Linda Miller, Nothing But the Truth, The Lonely Maiden, What Doesnt Kill You
Danny Edmo, Blackfeet Nation; Stunt Coordinator, Reservation Dogs
Adam West, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Motion Picture Costumers (IATSE Local 705), Key Costumer, Teen Wolf
Cameron Martinez, Taos Pueblo / Laguna Pueblo; Assistant Prop Master, Yellowstone
Carma Harvey, Navajo Nation; Prop Mistress/Master, Dark Winds
Darrell Redleaf, Lakota/Hidatsa from Fort Berthold/Cheyenne River; Department Head Hair and Makeup, Emmy nominated for Ring of Fire
Robert Hunter, Blackfeet Nation; DP/1st AC, Hallelujah, Vitals, A Fistful of Feathers
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
12:00PM-1:00 PM MT
Filmmakers Roundtable + Screening of Bottled Secrets Trailer
A conversation with C. Thomas Howell and Darren Dalton about the filming of The Outsiders and Red Dawn and their current collaborations with Creek Brothers Films, a Native American production company, as well as a screening of the trailer for Bottled Secrets, a Creek Brothers Films production written by Timothy W. White and Darren Dalton and to be directed by Philip Tan.
Moderator: Michael Harjo, Creek Brothers Films
C. Thomas Howell, Actor, Director, Producer
Darren Dalton, Actor, Writer, Producer
Timothy W. White, Writer, Producer
Philip Tan, Director, Producer, Stunt Coordinator
RECORDING OF WEBINAR WILL BE POSTED SOON!
2:00 PM-3:30 PM MT
Rise Above – The Film and the Cause
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
The inside story of how a movement has given rise to a feature film. Our panel discusses the origins and artistic inspiration for the film; the challenges and opportunities of adapting real-life stories; the creative team's journey and process; and the unique funding model whereby the Native community has directly supported the film's development and can benefit from its success.
Moderators:
Natalie Welch, Assistant Professor, Linfield University
Daniel Ragussis, Producer, Rise Above
Panelists:
Danny Glover, Executive Producer, Rise Above
Lenny Wilkens, Executive Producer, Rise Above
Rebecca Miles, Executive Producer, Rise Above
Erica Tremblay, Producer, Writer, Rise Above
Jaci McCormack, Producer, Rise Above
Elizabeth A. Bell, Executive Producer, Rise Above
Phil Haugen, Executive Producer, Rise Above
Dennis Lee, Director, Rise Above
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
4:00 PM-5:00 PM MT
Screening – A Beloved Community: A Healthier Linden
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
FIlmmaker Sterling Carter and Film Commissioner John Daugherty discuss Sterling's documentary on the Linden neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio. This project serves as a perfect case study in providing an underserved neighborhood and its residents an opportunity to tell their story their way.
Moderator:
John Daugherty
Panelists:
Sterling Carter; Writer, Director, Producer
Isaiah Jones; Intern
Angela Mingo; Nationwide Children's Hospital
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
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Monday - January 24
12:00 PM-1:30 PM MT
Rise Above – Representation in Storytelling
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
Why is representation so critical in storytelling and filmmaking? Our panel discusses the cultural importance of narrative, and how it has shaped their own personal experiences; the educational and inspirational value of youth seeing themselves reflected in on-screen stories; and how the presence of diverse filmmakers, both in front of and behind the camera, has the ability to shape our society.
Moderators:
Gus Newport, Executive Producer, Rise Above
Daniel Ragussis, Producer, Rise Above
Panelists:
Danny Glover, Executive Producer, Rise Above
Lenny Wilkens, Executive Producer, Rise Above
Erica Tremblay, Producer, Writer, Rise Above
Jaci McCormack, Producer, Rise Above
Elizabeth A. Bell, Executive Producer, Rise Above
Phil Haugen, Executive Producer, Rise Above
Dr. Martina Whelshula, Founding Board Member of Rise Above
Willie Frank III, Executive Producer, Rise Above; Chairman of the Nisqually Tribe
Portugal. The Man, Music Consultant, Rise Above
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
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Saturday - January 29
11:00 AM-12:30 PM MT
Film Commissioners – Getting Real on How to Make Your Film
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
Presented by the Montana Film Office
Film commissioners from around the country discuss the realities of making a film and support they can provide to emerging artists. Film commissions are a valuable resource for producers, writers, and directors especially those unfamiliar with the locations and communities in which they would like to film. Film commissioners can assist with government and community relations, finding locations, permits, local casting and crew, and community and cultural awareness.
Moderator:
Allison Whitmore, Montana Film Office
Panelists:
Amber Dodson, New Mexico Film Office
Jennifer Loren, Cherokee Nation Film Office
John Daugherty, Film Columbus
Tava Sofsky, Oklahoma Film + Music Office
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
2:00 PM-3:00 PM MT
Youth Scriptwriting Competition Winner Award Ceremony and Professional Table Read
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
The Indigenous Youth Scriptwriting Competition was held in October and November 2021 and included two workshops on the scriptwriting process. The winner of the scriptwriting competition will be publicly announced during this ceremony and professional actors will do a public table read of the winning script.
Joining us for the table read will be actors:
Tanaya Beatty, Yellowstone, The Nightshift
Nora Dale, Severance, Yellowstone
Mo Brings Plenty, Yellowstone, The Revenant
Moderators and hosts:
John Daugherty, Film Columbus
Robert McGhee, Vice Chairman, Poarch Band of Creek Indians
^ WATCH RECORDING OF WEBINAR HERE ^
Closing remarks
To see photos from our 2020 inaugural event visit our blog post here.
Youth Scriptwriting Competition
What is it?
In its inaugural year, the Gateway Entertainment Youth Script Competition aims to provide teens from underserved tribal communities nationwide the opportunity to write a short script and have professional actors read their script at a public table read during the Rise Above event happening at the end of January 2022 in Park City, UT.
All teen applicants were introduced to the screenwriting process through two FREE workshops. The workshops and competition were open to teens ages 13-18 who currently live in tribal communities in the United States.
Judges for our inaugural competition:
Jennifer Reeder, Writer/Director
Q'orianka Kilcher, Actress/Producer/Director
Jeremiah Bitsui, Actor
Kingsley Nyarko, Film Professor, Columbus College of Art & Design
Michaela Molden, Actress/Stunts; graduate, Hussian College
T.J. Grof, Hussian College
The Team
Our Principals and Board Members
Partners
Past Events
