Cannes Short Film Corner 2018 / BAFTA Student Awards - Peacekeeper
Native Americans from Standing Rock speak out on the pipeline, the repetition of history, and their roles as water-protectors in a struggle for modern sovereignty.
Interview with Director/Producer Nicholas Markart and Tyler Knutt
Watch Peacekeeper on Vimeo
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
We had our first conversation about making Peacekeeper during the summer of 2016. At the time, the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline had been halted by the Obama administration, and the protests in Standing Rock appeared to be a success. That said, we knew that with the upcoming election, tides were subject to change. We went into this story anticipating that this wound was about to be reopened, and that this story still needed to be told.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Peacekeeper closely examines the relationship between the U.S. government and Native Americans in the 21st century. By tying in personal experiences to historical context, this film uncovers sobering details about the trickle down effects of big oil, while telling the inspirational story of people uniting for the greater good.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
All of the personal stories in Peacekeeper tie into this larger idea that history has been repeating itself in the United States of America. The experiences of the Lakota people speak both to the problem that exists in our country and to the solution to this problem through social justice, activism, and unity.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
We prepared a thematic blueprint for this documentary months before production began, but it wasn’t until we met the subjects of Peacekeeper that the film really began to take shape. The conversations that we had with Judith Leblanc, Lewis Grassrope, Margaret Landin, Ray Taken Alive and William Brown Otter really brought the insight and perspective that gives this film its authenticity.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It has been a blessing to see Peacekeeper receive awards and screen all over the world, but the most resonant feedback that we have received has been from our cast. In the year since we wrapped production, William Brown Otter has written to us about how lucky he feels to have had his voice heard, and that sort of feedback is what we will really take away from this film- the lasting friendships that we made along the way.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It has been interesting to see how such a somber story can have such positive effects. This film doesn’t shy away from the negative details, and having such a positive reception tells us that audiences want to see change in the near future.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The more people that hear this story, the more likely it is that situations such as this can be prevented in the future. Our goal is to further the discussion about native rights and sovereignty in the U.S. as well as the idea that this issue will continue to affect native and non-native people alike.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Because Peacekeeper is a student film and a social rights piece, we do not plan on marketing it with the intention of seeking revenue. Instead, we would love to come into contact with distributors, festival directors, and journalists that can help us to continue to platform this conversation in a non-profit way.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We hope for this film to play a major role in spreading awareness about the human rights crises that occur in our country and the fact that these issues can and will happen when power and privilege are left unchecked.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Can we stop the repetition of history?
Would you like to add anything else?
This film wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of our crew, which consisted of fellow filmmaker Sabrina Attar and our research coordinator Ross Nobles. Additionally, the story of Peacekeeper is not our story, but belongs to the Lakota people of North and South Dakota.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Nicholas Markart and Tyler Knutt have both recently wrapped production on narrative short films where the other played a key role in the creative process. Tyler Knutt wrote and directed “Reservation” which follows the story of a Native American man visiting his mother’s burial site as the land changes over three decades. Nicholas Markart wrote and directed “AV Club”, a science fiction piece that tells the story of a teenage filmmaker who challenges a stubborn peer, only to realize that he is hiding a dark and supernatural secret. Nicholas Markart served as the cinematographer on Reservation and Tyler Knutt produced and edited AV Club. As they travel to Cannes, the two will begin developing screenplays for their thesis films at Florida State University.
Interview: May 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Peacekeeper
Native Americans from Standing Rock speak out on the pipeline, the repetition of history, and their roles as water-protectors in a struggle for modern sovereignty.
Length: 13 Minutes
Director: Nicholas Markart and Tyler Knutt
Producer: Nicholas Markart and Tyler Knutt
About the writer, director and producer:
Nicholas Markart, Director, Producer: Nicholas Markart spent his childhood with a camera in his hand, and is currently a film student at Florida State University. His education includes a formal training in all of the positions on a film set, but his focus lies in writing and directing. He has a background in advertising and co-created an agency called TOBTEY. In his free time, he enjoys composing music, writing poetry, and spending time outdoors.
Tyler Knutt, Director, Producer: As a film student at the Florida State University, Tyler has seen his share of production experience. From shooting and editing commercials for Rolls Royce and McLaren dealerships, to producing ads and video content for mobile apps, Tyler has been able to get his feet wet in the industry. In the future, Tyler plans to get involved with digital music production, pre-visualization, and virtual reality.
Key cast: Lewis Grassrope, Judith LeBlanc, Ray Taken Alive, Margaret Landin, and William Brown Otter.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Distributors, Festival Directors, Journalists
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeacekeeperFilm/
Instagram: peacekeeper.doc
Other: https://www.youtube.com/TOBTEY,
https://www.tylerknutt.com
Made in association with: Florida State University
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? The BAFTA Student Awards Shortlist and Awards Ceremony this summer.