#22 - Leah and Angel Interview Eagle Smith - Pt 1

What It Covers

Alaska Native filmmaker Eagle Smith discusses breaking Hollywood's stereotypical Native American casting, producing her first feature film on limited resources, and advocating for authentic tribal representation beyond the seven commonly depicted tribes.

Key Questions Answered

• •Bootstrapped filmmaking approach: Smith created over 60 short films in two years during high school, learning to work with available resources. Her recent short cost $216, shot entirely on a broken iPhone, proving quality content doesn't require large budgets when paired with determination and creativity.
• •Feature film budget priorities: For her ghost hunter comedy feature, Smith prioritizes three expenses regardless of budget constraints: hiring a skilled cinematographer, securing a professional editor, and allocating funds for marketing. Everything else gets negotiated through favors or free work to maximize production value.
• •Film leasing versus selling strategy: Lease finished films to platforms like Netflix for 10-15 years instead of selling outright. Leasing retains ownership rights, allows sequel production, and can generate more revenue over time than immediate sale, especially for emerging filmmakers without established followings.
• •Authentic Native representation requires: Visit the actual tribe being depicted, hire tribal consultants throughout production from preproduction to final edits, and feature tribes beyond the commonly shown seven or eight. City natives comprise 75 percent of the Native American population and deserve representation alongside reservation communities.