An Evening with Chris Eyre
November 18, 2012
7 p.m. PSU Ballroom West
Nearly every Native American living in Indian Country has seen Chris Eyre’s 1998 Smoke Signals. All audiences enjoyed the film as a refreshing departure from stereotypical films that depict Native Americans. Smoke Signals became the unofficial visual anthem of Native people everywhere. Many can accurately quote any given line; a favorite usually begins with, “Hey Victeeerr…” The film received critical acclaim and is known as the first feature length film directed by a Native American to receive national theatrical release.
A decade later, the film continues to instill pride among the Native community, with a new generation now laughing and crying at a story that hits home with so many Natives from around the country.
After Smoke Signals, his successes led to People Magazine calling Chris Eyre “…the preeminent Native American filmmaker of his time”. Geoff Gilmore, Director of the Sundance Film Festival, has simply called him “…a great American Filmmaker”.
Chris’ journey began in Portland, Oregon, in 1968, and his path led to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he was raised. An enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe, Chris’ creative talents became apparent at a young age. His ability to effortlessly, yet beautifully capture life in still images began in high school. Because of his love for photography, Chris attended Mt. Hood Community College with the intent to expand his talents, majoring in Television Production. It was here that he learned the basics of three-camera television and his desire to become a director was born.
After graduating from Mt. Hood in 1989, Chris was eager to continue his media studies and enrolled at the University of Arizona where he later received a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts. The art of filmmaking would capture Chris’ heart and he created three non-sync 16mm experimental films and wrote a feature length script.
In 1991, Chris returned to Oregon and set out to make this first feature length movie based on the script he wrote in college. Things Learned Young was inspired by Chris’ own childhood as a Native adoptee and his search for his biological mother. Chris hopes to further this important aspect of his life by working on a documentary about Native American adoptions in the future.
Chris applied to New York University’s prestigious Graduate Film Program and was accepted in 1992. The timing could not be more exciting. The height of 1990’s independent cinema allowed Chris to fully concentrate on his passion. He was even able to work with filmmakers who had been his idols.
During his time at NYU, Chris made three sync-narrative shorts on 16mm film. His second year film, Tenacity, about two young boys who encounter “rednecks” on a reservation road, garnered much attention and won 1st Place in the Graduate Film Department. The 10-minute short went on to screen in numerous film festivals worldwide and was Chris’ first distributable production. It was also invited to screen at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival.
Miramax Films Co-Chair Harvey Weinstein bought Smoke Signals after a private screening and helped launch the film at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. The film was an immediate success, winning the Audience Award and the Filmmaker’s Trophy. Smoke Signals won numerous awards worldwide; including the Taos Land Grant Award (5 acres).
Chris later went on to direct Skins (2002) which was produced by Jon Kilik. Graham Greene was nominated for Best Actor by the Independent Spirit Awards for his role as Mogie Yellow Lodge.
Chris’ follow-up feature, Edge of America (2003) received numerous accolades. The film was chosen for the highly coveted spot as opening night film at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Actor James McDaniel won an Emmy for his role in the film. Edge of America also won several other awards, including a Peabody Award, a Writer’s Guild Award, a Humanitus Prize, and finally, Chris received the highly prestigious DGA (Director’s Guild of America) Award for outstanding directorial achievement.
A Thousand Roads (2005) was executive produced by Rick West, Jr. and Peter Guber, an industry veteran, who can be credited with over 40 successful Hollywood films.
Chris’s latest feature is Imprint (2007), where he served as co-producer. Imprint stars SAG Award nominee Tontanzin Carmelo. Chris worked on the five-part miniseries We Shall Remain for PBS, where he directed three episodes, People of the First Light, Tecumseh and The Trail of Tears.
Filmography:
We Shall Remain (2009) 5 Part Miniseries:
People of the First Light (Episode 1)
Tecumseh (Episode 2)
The Trail of Tears (Episode 3)Imprint (2007) (Producer)
California Indian (2007) (Producer)
Arctic Son (2006) (Consulting Producer)
Taming the Wild West: The Legend of Jedediah Smith (2005) (Co-Producer)
A Thousand Roads (2005) (Director)
A Thief of Time (2004) (Director)
Edge of America (2003) (Director, Producer)
Skinwalkers (2002) (Director)
Skins (2002) (Director, Co-Producer)
The Doe Boy (2001) (Producer)
Smoke Signals (1998) (Director, Co-Producer)
Things We Do (1998) (Director, Executive Producer)