Kickstarter Projects

What We Want to Do: Aerial Footage Capture
This summer (2013) we will capture B-roll shots including aerial footage of the Navajo Nation reservation landscape using the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0. The Great Southwest offers surreal landforms, vivid colors, and complex textures. We hope to offer our audience a diversity of beautiful, sweeping shots of the southwest region.

"Not many people take in those subtle moments of appreciating the beauty of landscapes." - Anonymous
Please enjoy our video previews i.e. behind the scenes, etc. Don't forget this whole film production is done using mobile technology; all footage captured using the iPhone 4. With the advent of quality mobile technology hardware, the average user can now share creative film and still photo projects.

Risks and challenges
We started this project as an idea. This idea turned into more research and the start of a historical novel. Then my brother, Robert, who is in the New Mexico film industry said, "Hey I think you have a great short film on your hands. Let's make a film."

The novel quickly transformed into a screenplay and with the support of our production crew (ALL VOLUNTEERS!) we did capture truly amazing film footage. Our friends and families believe in this project and we hope to offer our youth the opportunity to see a true American Indian perspective, a perspective from our oral stories that they hear from their bedside, at the dining table, and at family reunions.

If we do not get funded we simply will use ground level B-roll shots.

Visit our Kickstarter project here.

Sneak Peek - Clips

Sc.1: Messenger Runner "The Great Chacoan Escape" Trailer 2012 from Jumping Sun on Vimeo.

Behind the Scenes "The Great Chacoan Escape" (2012 Trailer)

Three young Dine girls escape being captured by Ute trackers and oncoming U.S. military cavalry "The Great Chacoan Escape" (Pictured: Lawana Castillo, June Winters, and Lavencie Cayaditto).

Ute warrior poses (Pictured: Christian Walters).

Ute tracker searches for Dine families and leads U.S. military to homesteads (Pictured: Andrew F. Begay).

Dine female character reacts to warriors advancing up a trail (Pictured: June Winters).

1864 area militia join the U.S. military on the Navajo Long Walk campaign (Pictured: Lee Johnson).

1864 area militia join the U.S. military on the Navajo Long Walk campaign (Pictured: Lee Johnson & Manuel Ornelas).

Pictured: Manuel Ornelas

Pictured: Manuel Ornelas

Pictured: Lee Johnson

Pictured: Andrew F. Begay, Director/Writer Kialo Winters, Producer Allison Tachine

Two warriors collide during a choreographed fight scene (Pictured: Christian Walters & Robert Tsinnajinnie).

Female character preps for a scene where she is shot in the shoulder (Pictured: Director/writer Kialo Winters & Lavencie Cayaditto).

Male character returns to the seet after lunch break (Pictured: Robert Tsinnajinnie).

Female character poses before her scene (Pictured: June Winters).

Male character humors everyone with his zombie take (Pictured: Christian Walters).

The two tangle clan brothers exchange production notes for the day (Pictured: Robert Tsinnajinnie & Kialo Winters).

Cast and crew take lunch break (Pictured: Co-Producer - Allison Tachine, grip Elden Morgan, Robert Tsinnajinnie, Seamstress - Novalene Castillo-Meyers, Christian Walters, Kialo Winters, Andrew F. Begay).

Ute warrior tracker aims and fires at a Dine warrior (Pictured: Andrew F. Begay & Harriet Otero).

Female Dine character is prepped for a scene (Pictured: Harriet Otero).

Characters rehearse their scene (Pictured: Director/writer Kialo Winters, Lawana Castillo, and Robert Tsinnajinnie).

A Dine female character and Ute warrior fight during a choreographed scene (Pictured: Lavencie Cayaditto & Christian Walters).

Choreographed fight scene with actors.

Director/writer Kialo Winters captures the point-of-view of the Ute Warrior.

Choreographed fight scene with actors.

Set location, Ojo Encino, New Mexico USA

Kialo Winters going through production expectations and safety procedures.

June Winters and Lavencie Cayaditto pose for a photo-op.

Kialo Winters helps with actor outfits.

Wardrobe: The Great Chacoan Escape (2012)

We are making every effort to keep authenticity a priority when selecting wardrobe. Working with a small budget, we are relying on friends of the community to donate their items for the film shoot. We are very fortunate to have found Novalene Castillo-Meyers, a local seamstress who offered her skills for this project.

Photo 1: Dine loin cloth (Credit: Novalene Castillo-Meyers)

This cloth shows simple designs for the Navajo characters. The red striped cloth will be worn by the Ute warrior and more complex designs will be added. The cloths pictured are soaked in coffee to show age and we are aging them more for a harsh leathery look.

Photo 2: Navajo quiver

Pictured in photo [1] with the cloths is a modern arrow quiver. Our seamstress, Novalene made a pair of deerskin quivers using it as a model above.

Photo 3: Dine moccasin (Owner: Novalene Castillo-Meyers)

Today, many Dine families own moccasins for traditional and personal reasons. Moccasins are made using deerskin and have tough treadless soles. String or buttons tighten this footwear to be comfortably worn. Very few people know the art of designing moccasins and are purchased from retail stores.

Photo 4: Navajo short bow with arrows (Owner: Allison Tachine)

Navajo short bows were used in close quarter fighting and hunting. Sinew strings and oak rods are used The rods are approximately 4'-5' in length. Salt reeds and turkey feathers are used to make arrows.

Buckle worn by a New Mexico militia character.

Photo 5: Deerskin dress (Credit: Novalene Castillo-Meyers)

Location Scouting: The Great Chacoan Escape (2012)

. : : Under Construction : : .

The summer has been a busy one for all creative minds involved here in Ojo Encino, New Mexico USA. The producers, Terri Winters, Robert Tsinnajinnie, Allison Tachine, and I have been prepping for upcoming film shoots. We want to keep all film scenes within the Na' Neelzhiin (Torreon, NM) area. With the help of my nephews and friends we found ideal areas for the shoot.

 Kialo Winters (L) and Calvin Walters (R) Photo credit: Chris Walters

Scene:  Messenger Runner travels over a rise and contemplates a strategy to elude pursuing rogue Navajo warriors.

Photo credit: Kialo Winters

Scene: Location set amongst these hoodoos for upcoming fight scene between a teenage Navajo girl and a Ute warrior.

Photo credit: Kialo Winters

Scene: Location for Navajo warrior to exit cave while being chased by rogue warriors.