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Preface
It may be obvious that I am extremely interested in the art and culture of the North West Pacific Coast First Nations. The design at top center I created for the front of my Gigsville collector's card to give away at Burning Man.
Planning to begin preproduction to animate traditional North West Stories I began corresponding with the University Of British Columbia's Museum Of Anthropology in the spring of 2004 (the rest of this page is more or less my first introductory email to the Museum Of Anthropology). That summer I was contacted by Raven Tales (jointly produced in Calgary and New Mexico) who are developing a series with practically the same goals. For now I have ceased pursuit of making my own project. I visited Calgary to see if I'd like to accept their invitation to executive produce and direct in their animated series.
Introduction
My name is Jason Carswell, a Canadian raised mostly in British Columbia and Ontario. During the last 8 years I lived in Toronto, San Francisco and am now back in New York computer animating high end commercials and a film at Charlex.
I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of this project I've taken upon myself to develop. With dozens of books on Haida art and culture I realize the more I know, the more I don't know. I cannot progress without First Nation and anthropologist consultation and blessings therefore I seek both scholarly and inherited knowledge contacts to help me approach and better understand the North West life and art. A script can be developed and with assistance strengthened accurately to start the production process while additional funding and production resource arrangements come together.
I hope you might be able to help me in my goals to reach some of the most appropriate First Nation people, academics, and perhaps funding sources.
The Project
Traditional North West Native Storys, art and design can be brought to life with the untraditional medium of animation. Most tales do not conform to typical Hollywood packages and this refreshing change is a chance to educate about a unique people's art, culture, and their way of life through stories they told. The short film would develop in the process production foundations of utmost respect to the culture and art, and build strong relations between the First Nations, scholars, the artists, as well as the practical and financial situation. These production foundations could lead to numerous stories with familiar characters and even has potential for a series. However, an initial short should be completed to everyone's satisfaction. "Raven Steals The Sun" seems a popular and good Story choice featuring the most prominent characters of North West culture - Raven and Eagle.
My caveats are, regardless of which Story is animated, this film must be as historically accurate and culturally sensitive as possible while meeting my high quality standards for strong animation and story telling in order to represent this beautiful and unique a culture.
Sharing
A vast variety of potential funding sources exist in Canada, the United States, and perhaps beyond. I am not interested in making a fortune, capitalizing on First Nations, or speeding out a hasty product. Rather I am intent on keeping this project and staff small focused and efficient while taking as much time as necessary to do it right.
It is my perhaps naive belief that the completed production should be easily available to museums and education systems around the world to display in theatres, kiosks, classrooms, and libraries for all to appreciate and enjoy North West Culture. Beyond the production costs I believe a significant percent of profits should go toward First Nation resources.
In addition to employing First Nation artists, young and old, I wonder if there might be a way to employ and formally teach those that require it skills that they could utilize in graphic, production or other related fields beyond this project. Additional funding for education might help but the primary goals are conscious steps toward honouring the First Nation culture, art and people.
Conclusion
While animated Native American Storys already exist, to my knowledge the North West Pacific Nations bold style and powerful culture have not yet been animated. I strongly believe growing enthusiasm and acceptance for various cultures make this graphic concept desirable in our modern culture tiring of unbalanced redundant formulaic contemporary media.
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