Filmmaker Rod Pocowatchit on Native American zombie movies and DIY film

“I tell people that all the time. Just do it. Just dive in and figure it out. And you’re going to make mistakes and you’re going to fail. But I learned incredible things from that first experience…just from doing that first film.” – Rod Pocowatchit

”Rodrick Pocowatchit (@rawd) is a journalist, screenwriter, actor, and film director.

In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Rod discuss Native Americans in popular culture and movies (3:10); Native American identity (13:40); creating art within your means (23:00); Rod’s entrance into the film industry, and his distribution strategies (30:00); and pow-wow and Native American culture (42:00).

“Other” short clip from Rodrick Pocowatchit on Vimeo.

Feature films by Rodrick Pocowatchit:

• Dancing on the Moon
• Sleepdancer
• The Dead Can’t Dance
• Red Hand

Notable Links

• Shaun of the Dead (film)
• Little Big Man (film)
• Chief Dan George (actor)
• Smoke Signals (film)
• Chris Eyre (film director)
• King Kung Fu (film)
• Guy Pocowatchit (actor)
• George A. Romero (filmmaker)
• Robert Rodriguez (filmmaker)
• Richard Linklater (filmmaker)
• Sundance Institute (film program)
• Native Program (film program)
• Rebel Without a Crew, by Robert Rodriguez (book)
• Sherman Alexie (writer)
• Pow wow (Native American cultural gathering)
• Grass Dance (style of Native American dance)
• Fancy Dance (style of Native American dance)
• Comanche language
• LA Skins Fest (film festival)
• American Indian LA Film and TV Awards

Reporting in Indian Country “bingo card,” from the Native American Journalists Association.

The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].