Museum Hosts Documentary Film Making Workshop with RJ Joseph
The Akwesasne Museum hosted a Workshop on Documentary Film Making on Saturday October 19th. RJ Joseph (Cree), owner of Moccasin Path Productions talked about his experience as a film maker and shared many important tips for attendees that are interested in film making.
RJ is originally from Alberta, but has lived in California for about 20 years. He started in the film industry as a stunt man in movies like “Thunderheart” and “Desperado.” He did that for about 12 years but then injured his neck. During therapy he taught himself how to use a video camera. In 2003, a few short years later, he shot his first professional documentary called “Peyote Man.” Since then Joseph has done about 9 or 10 documentaries. The name Moccasin Path came from his Alberta home. Native Americans there did not like to use the border so tribes like the Cree and Blackfeet used what was called the Moccasin Path, their own way across the border. He mostly does films on Native American preservation because it is so important to him.
RJ said, “I firmly believe if we don’t document Elders, visually and orally, we’ll lose it. Like with my mother, 75% of the culture goes with her because we were busy assimilating.”
RJ was hired by the museum for the film “Utility Baskets by Henry Arquette Atsienhanonne.” He also did “Carriers of Culture Akwesasne Mohawk Basketry Traditions.” He said, “I love coming here. Akwesasne has a rich culture, it’s a blessing to be a part of it.”
RJ was in Akwesasne doing another film for the Museum. It is on Florence Benedict and fancy baskets, and it will hopefully be ready by the end of the year.
About RJ, Sue Ellen Herne said, “He has a way of bringing the subject to life, you see the people in an authentic way. He takes a lot of pride in his work.”
RJ has travelled extensively, going to places like London, Paris and Berlin. He has also worked with several tribes on preservation like the Hopi, Navajo, Apache, Pawnee and Mohawk.
About doing the workshop RJ said, “I’m just sharing my experience. Indian culture says to give back what you’ve been given.” The workshop also served as a place for those who are thinking about film making to meet and hopefully network afterwards.
At the workshop RJ went through his “toolbox,” which is everything he packs to shoot films. He suggests you have two of everything and plenty of charged batteries. He also suggests if you are going to start a video business to get a federal tax ID number.
RJ said you must be culturally sensitive to the subject matter. Elders are hard to film because most of them are shy and they are afraid of community repercussions. You must be sensitive to their comfort zone. RJ shared many other tips for workshop goers thinking about film making and many dos and don’ts. He said you don’t get rich making Native American Preservation documentaries. But, he said, “It’s what I love to do. It’s like a classroom sitting behind that camera. I learn a lot.”
You can see what RJ is up to on his website moccasinpathproductions.com.
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