The Cherokee Kid in 8mm Film
Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 10:12PM 
When I told Danielle I wanted to go stay in a Tipi (teepee) in Zion National Park for my birthday, she was a little surprised. It was nearly winter and cold, but she was a great sport about it. My great, great grandmother is Cherokee and so I guess this was my return to my roots. This was shot at a Native American Cultural Center right outside the east gate of Zions where they have exhibitions, shows, a sweat lodge and authentic hand painted Tipis and Navajo Hogans. Apparently the people who made the Tipis also made the Tipis for Dances with Wolves.
I've been shooting a lot of family stuff on 8mm film and so we had a 45 second clip from the Tipi and the adjacent ranch where a wild herd of buffalo hang out. It looks like we scripted the shots on this, but we were playing around and it just came together (with some creative story telling - ha ha). Little Drew was so adorable... you'll just have to watch.
Here's a day with my family!
BTW - "Utah" is an Native American word meaning "top of the mountains"
Reader Comments (16)
I love the editing and the story. I can't believe Drew is so big and WALKING around! Fun video. How cool will that be to have when he's older? When he's five he won't be able to get enough of seeing himself as a baby on the tv. lol
That was some awesome dancing he had going on there. And the hand signs he was flashing at the first of the film... that made me a believer. David, you looked so commanding in the Indian style shot (sure, I guess everything was Indian style, but I mean the sitting shot). Beautiful... beautiful... beautiful....
Loved it! What a ham...great dance :)
Davina - woud love to see you sometime when you are back in Utah!
Doyle,
I'm glad you are a believer. You definitely want to be on "the chosen one's" good side. You know, with cosmic powers and everything it can get a little crazy. And yes, we went through months of training to produce such authentic performances.
Love ya bro!
Thanks John. Good to hear from you. Congrats on your five year anniversary!
That was so great! "But I want to play the magic drum!"... hilarious!
Cute film, David!
That was awesome! So much fun to watch!
Remember the Tipi?
What can't David Perry do? -rhetorical, because we know he can make us cry and now we very well know he can make us laugh, very hard. Did your boy pick up the dance from yourself?
-Awesome
David,
Love Love Love the video! My favorite part is when he starts doing the rain dance.
Let's get together the next time you come down.
Thanks Joey. That's coming from one of the masters of film. Yes, I'm smiling.
Thanks Maurice. If this were just a music video, wouldn't have such a great response, but share a little story and it's a lot more heart warming. Thanks for educating me ;)
Thanks Sharrone. We had so much fun staying overnight in a real Tipi. Drew just loved it!
Ha ha - Nate. You're the one that makes me laugh! Drew took dance lessons for years I'll have you know. Oh wait, he's only 15 months here... Drew took dance lessons for months I'll have you know. What's so crazy is that he did that dancing on his own without any music or anything. He just likes to jump around... and get down.
Russ,
Wow - it was great seeing you up here and your new DVD game "Remember the Word" is amazing! Danielle and I are going to show my family the DVD on Sunday. Can't congratulate you enough and it's exciting to see this come together for your family. You've worked so hard and it's finally here. Yeah!