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About this project

About The Rainbow Boy

I am an independent Navajo filmmaker making a movie about my people with a universal message about the human relationship to Mother Earth. What began as a "short video story" has blossomed into an independent feature film with inspiring acting performances by new Navajo actors, and wonderful technical production values. This movie is a co-production between my company, REZWOOD ENTERTAINMENT, and 220-PRODUCTIONS.

With your help we can make this feature film a reality.

The Rainbow Boy is an allegorical tale about the consequences of loss of culture and human devastation of planet earth. The story tells about an ancient Navajo warrior, Eagle Catcher, who enters a sacred cave despite an ancient prophecy that warns against entering the cave. Eagle Catcher is transported to the future, which is our own present, where he sees and lives the prophetic devastation of modern humans. His arrival profoundly affects young Ozzie Yazzie, a modern Navajo punk kid struggling to understand his own identity and culture. Almost dying, Eagle Catcher is assisted by his Navajo people, who take him back to the holy cave. Upon returning to his own time, he is given four prophecies about the dire consequences of human choices and actions for the future of planet earth.

Introducing Leland Grass as Eagle Catcher, the Rainbow Boy

The Rainbow Boy is groundbreaking in that it was written by a Navajo, is directed and produced by a Navajo, and has an entirely Navajo cast. It's also shot almost entirely in the Navajo language, with subtitles. The development of the story was an iterative process of research and ongoing dialogue and consultation with my grassroots community, elders, and traditional practitioners.

In this way it's a unique and original film that is Navajo specific, at the same time the story is universal to all people.

The production values and concept draw heavily on the ancient Navajo storytelling process and structure inherent in chants, ceremony, philosophy, and language. To develop the script, this story telling process was combined with the modern film industry formula, to both entertain and to inspire.

The Rainbow Boy cast is composed entirely of Navajo people, many of whom had never acted before. It includes approximately 60 Navajo youth under the age of 25 as actors, extras, and crew members. The majority of the principle photography was completed in November of 2009, as was the editing of the promotional teaser/trailer.

Joshua Sandoval as Ozzie Yazzie

As of March 2010, we have five more days of principle photography to complete, which includes locations in Gallup, New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. Funds derived through Kickstarter will pay for the final five days, and also go towards the final editing and completion of the original score and soundtrack of The Rainbow Boy.

Our goal is to seek and acquire distribution for the International European and American audiences. As of this writing we have one American and two international distribution companies interested in distributing THE RAINBOW BOY, but first we must finish the film. The movie will be premiered in the five different agencies of the Navajo Nation, and Gallup, New Mexico. Other plans include a grassroots tour of Europe, Native American communities, and film festivals.

In addition to simply a love of film and a desire to tell entertaining stories, I am highly motivated to contribute to the preservation of Navajo culture and language. I strongly believe that this project will create pride in language and culture among Navajo youth, at the same time it inspires mankind with the universal message of redemption and love that we all share.

My co-producer, Jenny Pond, our incredible cast and crew, and myself have all donated our time and effort to this film. We have set a target of $15,000 on Kickstarter, which will allow us to finish principle photography and much of the original score. But, $25,000 is needed for final completion of the soundtrack, and editing. Please join this great Navajo adventure--your support is greatly appreciated!

Lets make a pebble dropped into a pond ripple into a tsunami across the world. You choose 7 friends to send to kickstarter and they choose 7 friends and on and on....

Respectfully,

~Norman Patrick Brown


Norman Patrick Brown on location during filming of The Rainbow Boy


Co-producer Jenny Pond

Jenny Pond owns 220-Productions, along with the Executive Producer of The Rainbow Boy, Larry Muckerman. She is director and producer of the documentary POISON WIND, which chronicled the negative legacy of uranium mining on the health of former miners and their families. She is currently co-producing The Rainbow Boy. She has worked in the film industry since 2004 with credits for FLIGHTPLAN, MTV, THE KINGDOM & COWBOY DREAMS.

Links to informative webpages about the movie:

The Rainbow Boy Movie Production Stills

The Navajo Times on The Rainbow Boy Movie and Norman Patrick Brown

Watch Norman Patrick Brown describe The Rainbow Boy story

220-Productions and REZWOOD Entertainment

Follow us on Twitter

**Opening photograph: Ben Silversmith as Yellow Eyes**


Screenwriter, Director, Producer
Norman Patrick Brown
REZWOOD ENTERTAINMENT

Co-producer
Jenny Pond
220-PRODUCTIONS

Executive Producer
Larry Muckerman
220-PRODUCTIONS

Director of Photography
Vincent Pascoe

Sound
Bob Witsenhausen

Boom Operator
Anthony Scott Gartman

Associate Producers
Chirstine Leigh
Chantal Viellard

2nd Unit Director of Photography
Christina Leigh

Stunt Coordinator
Reggie Mitchell

Navajo Language/Culture adivsors
Henry Barber
Larry Holiday
Oscar Detso
Anderson Hoskie

Cast:
Leland Grass – EAGLE CATCHER
Joshua Sandoval – OZZIE YAZZIE
Oscar Detso – JOE BRO
Cami Leonard – NONABAH TSO
Reggie Mitchell - HASKE DZIIL
Ben Silversmith – YELLOW EYES
Anderson Hoskie –HATALI YAZHI
Shelby Lynn Jose –AKINABAH TSO
Katie Warner Yazzie - MARYELLARENA JOE

The Rainbow Boy teaser/trailer editor
Paul Denigris

THE RAINBOW BOY is still in post production. Completion date is June 2010.


Project location: Gallup, NM

294
Backers
$17,000
pledged of $15,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding Successful

This project successfully raised its funding goal on May 11.

Pledge $15 or more

Our sincere gratitude for your support of The Rainbow Boy Movie.

Backer 28 BACKERs

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Your contribution will be credited at the end of the movie.

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A DVD of the movie, plus contribution credited at the end of the movie.

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A letter of appreciation suitable for framing, a DVD, and contribution in ending credits.

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Pledge $250 or more

A soundtrack CD, a letter of appreciation suitable for framing, a DVD, and contribution in ending credits.

Backer 5 BACKERs

Pledge $500 or more

A one hour personal phone conversation with Norman Patrick Brown about the Navajo filmmaking process of THE RAINBOW BOY. A soundtrack CD, a letter of appreciation suitable for framing, a DVD, and contribution in ending credits.

Backer 1 BACKER

Pledge $1,000 or more

An invitation to the premier of THE RAINBOW BOY on the Navajo Nation (travel and accommodations not included). A one hour personal phone conversation with Norman Patrick Brown about the Navajo filmmaking process of THE RAINBOW BOY. A soundtrack CD, a letter of appreciation suitable for framing, a DVD, and contribution in ending credits.

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Pledge $1,500 or more

PRODUCT PLACEMENT - USING YOUR LOGO or EMBLEM on items, such as a cap, t-shirt, coffee mug or bumper sticker, for "all the world to see" within a few main scenes left. A one hour personal phone conversation with Norman Patrick Brown about the Navajo filmmaking process of THE RAINBOW BOY. A soundtrack CD, a letter of appreciation suitable for framing, a DVD, and contribution in ending credits.

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Pledge $2,500 or more

A personal tour on the Navajo Nation to Canyon De Chelle, Chinle, Arizona with Norman Patrick Brown, and invitation to the Navajo Nation premiere of THE RAINBOW BOY (travel and accommodations not included). A one hour personal conversation with Norman Patrick Brown about the Navajo filmmaking process of THE RAINBOW BOY. A soundtrack CD, a letter of appreciation suitable for framing, a DVD, and contribution in ending credits.

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Pledge $5,000 or more

An Associate producer credit, a personal tour on the Navajo Nation to Canyon De Chelle, Chinle, Arizona with Norman Patrick Brown, and an invitation to the Navajo Nation premiere of THE RAINBOW BOY (travel and accommodations not included). A one hour personal conversation with Norman Patrick Brown about the Navajo filmmaking process of THE RAINBOW BOY. A soundtrack CD, a letter of appreciation suitable for framing, a DVD, and contribution in ending credits.

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Project By

Norman

Norman Patrick Brown

Straightpin Gallup, NM

Norman Patrick Brown is Tse nalh bith nii (Sleep Rock People ) and born for Bii bithonii (Deer Water People) and is originally from Chinle, Arizona on the Navajo Nation. He’s a professional filmmaker, producer, actor, and writer. His production company is REZWOOD ENTERTAINMENT.

His film roles include principle roles as an actor: 1987 in RAISING ARIZONA, 1994 as Sgt. Begaye in BLACK DAY, BLUE NIGHT, 1999 as "Ptv Henry“ in THE THIN RED LINE” which was filmed in Australia, and in 2003 he was “Bear” in “THE DOE BOY.” He has been a cultural consultant for Hollywood productions and projects.

Norman’s passion is creating films for his Navajo people in their own language.
In 1989, he wrote, directed and produced, AWAKENING. The first Navajo language film written and directed by a Navajo for Navajos, in conjunction with the docu-drama, The BEAUTY WAY OF LIFE. AWAKENING first premiered in San Francisco, California’s American Indian Film Festival and the Sundance Festival in Park City, Utah in 1990.

His second critically acclaimed Navajo language film is called HORSE SONG, which had its world premiere at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. He also wrote, directed, and produced REZ HOPE, in 2005, about today’s Navajo high school students dealing with issues concerning self-identity, drug and alcohol abuse, student violence and teenage pregnancy.

In 2006 and 2007, Norman ventured into documentary filmmaking. He co-produced a documentary called POWER PATHS that examines the use of the Sun and Wind as clean renewable energy in Indian country. POWER PATHS was seen on P.B.S. INDEPENDENT LENS in 2009. He also co-produced POISON WIND, a documentary about proposed uranium mining on Havasupai, Laguna, and Navajo lands. The documentary examined health and social impacts of past uranium mining through the eyes and stories of former uranium miners.

THE RAINBOW BOY is Norman’s first feature length film. Almost entirely shot in the Navajo language with english subtitles. it combines the ancient Navajo story telling process with the modern film industry formula, producing a unique film that is both Navajo specific and universal to all people.

Personal Statement:

I was blessed by Navajo parents to learn, understand, and to promote Navajo values, culture and language in all my life’s goals. My dedication, knowledge and motivation come from my Navajo elders who instilled in me a sense of pride and urgency to fight, advocate and continue my life as a warrior for my land and people, to share, cherish and promote Navajo values and culture for the next generations of Navajos.