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Film, TV and Streaming

Native American sci-fi thriller coming to town

‘Legends from the Sky’ to open at Durango Stadium 9

Imagine for a moment, if you will, that you are a veteran returning home after a horrific tour of duty.

You discover that your grandfather is missing.

And not only has he disappeared, his ancestral land has been taken over by an Unidentified Federal Organization.

Your mission: Find your grandfather.

This is the plot for “Legends from the Sky,” a new Native American science-fiction thriller and the fifth feature film directed by Travis Holt Hamilton, whose production company speciaizes in independent indigenous filmmaking.

Shot mostly at Diné College in Tsaile, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation last June, the film features a largely Native American cast. Edsel Pete, a Navajo and a combat veteran, is featured in his first leading role.

Mia Sable, a professional actress and singer who is Choctaw, plays Tanya, and James Bilagody, a Navajo actor, comedian and songwriter who has appeared in other in Holt Hamilton’s films, is Bahe.

Actor Chris Robinson, of “General Hospital” and “12 O’Clock High” fame, also stars in the film.

“Legends from the Sky” is the latest in a line of Native American films produced by Holt Hamilton Productions and directed by Holt Hamilton, which includes “Turquoise Rose,” “Blue Gap Boy’z,” “Pete & Cleo” and “More than Frybread,” a mockumentary about a frybread competition that received a jury commendation at the 2012 Durango Independent Film Festival.

“Legends from the Sky” will open Friday at Durango Stadium 9 in Durango and also will be shown in Denver; Farmington and Gallup, New Mexico; Tempe and Tucson, Arizona; and Oklahoma City.

Holt Hamilton said that a good relationship with Allen Theaters, which owns Durango Stadium 9, has been a big help with getting the film to audiences. Of all Holt Hamilton’s films, this will be the biggest opening.

“We can get films to Native Country and areas that would be interested,” he said.

He also said that Holt Hamilton Productions is always looking for actors and would like to give Native American actors an opportunity to work in front of and behind the camera. The company has cast actors online and has had prospective actors send in auditions filmed on smartphones.

For Holt Hamilton, who as a youngster in southern Idaho watched movies “nonstop,” became serious about becoming a filmmaker in college after he played an extra.

“Legends from the Sky” was a chance for him to explore a new movie genre, and it’s one more film on his journey to reaching the number of films one must make in order to be considered a filmmaker.

“I need to have 12 films made before I can call myself a filmmaker,” he said. “Twelve is the magical number of films for me.”

katie@durangoherald.com

On the Net

For more information about Holt Hamilton Productions, visit www.holthamilton.com.



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