SILVER BULLET PRODUCTIONS’ MISSION
Silver Bullet Productions’ mission is to encourage educational achievement through a hands-on approach to film making projects that empowers students, enhances academic and economic opportunities, and preserves community culture and heritage.
Non-profit
Silver Bullet Productions is a 501(c)(3) educational film production company, incorporated in New Mexico.
NEWS AT SILVER BULLET PRODUCTIONS
Screening of “A Thousand Voices”
Silver Bullet Productions presented a free public screening of its new documentary “A Thousand Voices” on Tuesday, July 22, 2014, at the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino. It was followed by a panel and Q&A.
“A Thousand Voices” shows New Mexico’s Native American women as keepers of culture and purveyors of wisdom, describing their journey from time immemorial to the present day. Dr. Veronica Tiller is among the outstanding Native women interviewed, discussing the dynamic matriarchal society of the tribes and the way tribal women are profoundly linked to the earth. Among the reasons she was asked to participate was her status as the historian of her Jicarilla Apache Tribe, and as the author/editor/publisher of Tiller’s Guide to Indian Country, which provides otherwise unavailable economic profiles of America’s reservations. She also supplied some of the historical information brought forward in the film.
This feature-length film focuses on women who carry forth the collective memory, traditional lifestyles, customs and beliefs of their ancestral families, clans and tribal communities. Each woman, though not speaking for her whole tribe, tells a story deeply connected to her culture. The film also brings us Native women who have chosen lifestyles carrying them into fresh waters and different arenas, from writing poetry about the ordinary lives of Native people to running a construction company that remodels traditional homes at a Pueblo. This eye-opening documentary features interviews with women from over a dozen New Mexico Tribes and Pueblos.
Silver Bullet is awarded the Yawa’ Award by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
March 27, 2014 (SAN BERNARDINO, CA) — Creating positive and meaningful change in the community is never easy, but through strong partnerships with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, area and regional nonprofit organizations have made huge strides. To recognize the amazing achievements its nonprofit partners have made in the last year, the tribe honored four organizations that embody and demonstrate the time-honored Serrano concept of Yawa’ – to manifest one’s beliefs through action – at the sixth annual Forging Hope Breakfast March 25 in San Bernardino.
New Mexico-based Silver Bullet Productions was recognized with the Yawa’ Award in special projects for encouraging educational achievement through a hands-on approach to film making projects. Evolving from the concerns of tribal educators in New Mexico about the loss of language, culture and community, Silver Bullet Productions teaches culturally rich workshops with subject matter that is relevant to Native American education.
To learn more about this prestigious award, click here.
Video by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
Congratulations Silver Bullet for Winning an Emmy®!
Silver Bullet Productions’ best work comes from collaborations. CANES OF POWER is a result of the participation and guidance from leaders from Pueblos of Pojoaque, Zia, Santa Ana, Laguna, Acoma, Tesuque, Pueblo de Cochiti, and Ohkay Owingeh, and the talents of our Production Team Nick Durrie, Matthew Martinez, and Pamela Pierce.
On Saturday night, October 19, the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded Silver Bullet Productions with an Emmy® in the category of cultural documentary. Included in the award are Pamela Pierce and Nick Durrie, Producers; Maura Dhu Studi, Writer; and David Aubrey, Camera Direction.
Silver Bullet Productions does not create educational films in order to receive awards, but we appreciate the recognition of the quality that educational materials must have in order to communicate with respect, teach with relevancy, and encourage insights with sensitivity. We are motivated to complete our next documentary with the same quality. “A Thousand Voices” is also guided by tribal leaders in New Mexico. It is the story of modern Native Women walking the path of traditional cultural values while succeeding in the 21st century.
Major funding for CANES OF POWER was through the generosity of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
CANES OF POWER review in American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) blog
The goal for SBP’s documentaries is to provide quality materials for teachers and students. We are proud to be reviewed so positively by American Indians in Children’s Literature.
Student Workshops Completed – Jemez Pueblo
Silver Bullet conducted Student Writing and Filmmaking Workshops in May with high school students at the Walatowa Charter School on the Pueblo of Jemez. Screenwriter and actress Maura Dhu Studi and noted Cherokee actor Wes Studi joined the teaching and directing team to complete these workshops. High school students and faculty were immersed in learning filmmaking, writing, acting and direction as the students created their own screenplay on healthy decision making. Each student received a video of their workshop, and the camera and editing equipment remains at Walatowa. Thank you, Walatowa, for allowing Silver Bullet to be guests of your school!
SBP is grateful for the donation and delivery of lunches by Las Campanas for students and adults at Jemez Pueblo, Walatowa Charter High School workshop on Drop out prevention. What a wonderful community! Thank you Las Campanas.
Silver Bullet Productions Wins Accolade Competitions
Silver Bullet Productions has won a prestigious Award of Excellence from The Accolade Competition. The award was given for Silver Bullet’s fascinating feature documentary “Canes of Power.” The documentary addresses the question of why President Abraham Lincoln recognized Pueblo independence in 1864 by bestowing an ornamental, silver tipped cane to each Pueblo Nation. From more than 500 Indian nations in the United States, only New Mexico’s 19 Pueblos received these symbolic gifts of sovereign status. The film and the related educational program provide the vehicle for Pueblo people to tell the story of the Canes, and their struggle for sovereignty, upon which cultural survival depends. The film is narrated by Wes Studi, award winning star of film and stage.
The Accolade recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Entries are judged by highly qualified professionals in the film and television industry. Information about the Accolade and a list of recent winners can be found at www.theaccolade.net.
In winning an Accolade, Silver Bullet Productions joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award. Thomas Baker, Ph.D., who chairs The Accolade, had this to say about the latest winners, “The Accolade is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world. The Accolade helps set the standard for craft and creativity. The judges were pleased with the exceptionally high quality of entries. The goal of The Accolade is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve.”
BOARD AND MANAGEMENT
Silver Bullet Productions has fourteen volunteer members on the Board of Directors and one volunteer manager with expertise in education, film, community awareness and relationships, government agencies, marketing and development, law, and long term planning. Silver Bullet Productions also has the guidance of fifteen Advisors and Honorary Board members.