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"Te Ata" movie goes into post-production

GUTHRIE, Okla. – A hypnotic Oklahoma sunset – blazing pastels of pink, purple and red – was showing off just as a "Discover Oklahoma" film crew prepared to interview native Oklahoman Cindy Pickett.

"Why don't we turn the camera toward that great sunset," Pickett inquired. "An Oklahoma sunset; there's nothing like it," she observed, using her long, willowy fingers to sweep away a few tears. "There is something about coming home again that makes me very emotional."

It was late. The camera crew was facing northeast at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple to interview Pickett. She had just finished her last scene on the last day of filming of "Te Ata."

Many entertainment enthusiasts will remember Cindy Pickett for roles in "The Guiding Light" and "St. Elsewhere" on the small screen; as an angst-filled mom in "I Know My First Name is Steven," and the mother of Matthew Broderick in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" on the big screen.

In "Te Ata," she brings to life Francis Davis, an Oklahoma College for Women (OCW) drama instructor who influenced Te Ata's life on personal and professional levels.

Pickett was born in Norman, reared in Sand Springs. But her favorite memories are "on the farm at Loco" a blink-and-you'll-miss-it hamlet southeast of Duncan halved by state Highway 53. There, her grandparents tilled the earth and tended animals. There, "Cindy Lou" spent many summers falling deeply in love with Oklahoma.

"You know what's fascinating about it (is) after living in New York and Los Angeles for years; I remember the sounds (on the farm) and the smell of the wind in the grass. I'm just so happy to be here and the film we're doing is just wonderful."

IT'S A WRAP

Filming of "Te Ata" has reached its conclusion.

Producer of the film, Paul Sirmons, had also reached a new conclusion about Oklahoma.

While Sirmons worked as line-producer on "Home Run," which was filmed in Oklahoma, he was still somewhat skeptical when the Chickasaw Nation approached him about filming "Te Ata" entirely in Oklahoma.

"I'm from Florida, so my mental images of the dust bowl and people hopping aboard jalopies are difficult to escape," Sirmons said, admitting "The Grapes of Wrath" dominated his thoughts.

When returning to Oklahoma, Sirmons experienced an epiphany. He was welcomed by rolling hills and beautiful rivers; period mansions with proper furnishings; a Chickasaw Nation Capitol in Tishomingo that looks much as it did in 1898, and the clean, cool water of Pennington Creek where a young Te Ata explored, hiked and meditated.

Even though he was impressed by the natural beauty and historic building in Tishomingo, the true selling point to an all-Oklahoma shoot was the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Guthrie, the producer confirmed.

"We could film almost everything here," he said taking in the stately, overwhelming presence of one of the largest masonic temples in the world.

Beyond the grand architecture and massive columns perfect for scenes set in Washington, rooms complete with period furniture and refined appointments proved ideal for interior shots.

Critically important scenes filmed within the building are virtually endless – Te Ata's dorm room at OCW; the OCW campus; President Franklin Roosevelt's office; the U.S. Capitol; offices of the U.S. Senate; a Broadway stage; the American Museum of Natural History and Hayden Planetarium; Pittsburg's Carnegie Institute of Technology. Even Carnegie Hall was available in Oklahoma, Sirmons discovered.

On a lovely October day, the temple's spaciousness enveloped extras, executives, producers, historians and actors.

All of them – bone-weary from 12- to 14-hour days for more than a month – were prepared for the film's final scene.

"Perhaps Champagne would be an appropriate swan song," Pickett pondered aloud as she gracefully moved toward wardrobe to surrender a 1915-era blouse, skirt and high-heeled shoes to don more comfortable haberdashery.

"When I put these heels on about 10 hours ago, they were comfortable," the actress said smiling.

JUST HANGING OUT

After changing, Pickett headed back into the temple to join the crew and actors until the very end. She was not ready to leave her native state. She talked about meeting people who had relocated to Guthrie from California. She even inquired about renting a domicile in this central Oklahoma community of approximately 20,000 souls.

She speculated her two adult children probably would not be interested in leaving Los Angeles, but she is because of a special project that requires her presence in Oklahoma.

"It's a screen play inspired by my father," she explained, her sky-blue eyes misting up again. "And, it reminds me a lot of this film about Te Ata. Everyone needs teachers who inspire; everyone needs advocates to advance and grow in all areas of life. My father was like that and was aware of the people, places and circumstances that made up his life, and the lives of others," Pickett said.

Her father, Cecil Pickett, was also involved in acting and theatre. He is most noted as a director and drama instructor at the University of Houston.

Pickett's project would be set in late 1930s Oklahoma.

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Sidebar feature

Nation dedicated to preserving Te Ata's craft

ADA, Okla. – While the Chickasaw Nation is dedicated to bringing the life of Te Ata Thompson Fisher to the silver screen, it is equally dedicated to keeping the art of storytelling a vibrant element of the arts.

Te Ata, a Chickasaw actress and storyteller, is revered by the tribe, state and nation. She lived to be almost 100 and is a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Chickasaw Hall of Fame, was named the first Oklahoma Treasure, and appeared on national television and her image graced national magazines.

Keeping that legacy active in the tribe requires training.

The Chickasaw Nation annually hosts the Chickasaw Youth Story Telling Workshop. Six students currently are working on stories to be presented to the public in a concert Nov. 22, at 1 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre of the Chickasaw Nation Arts and Humanities building located at 201 N. Broadway.

Students range in age from 10 to 13, according to instructor Lorie Robins, interim director of special projects for the arts and humanities division.

Robins, who has instructed the course for three years, explains she is "still learning the craft of storytelling." She explains the craft is constantly in a state of flux with the story one chooses to tell.

"I have students this year who will tell a traditional Chickasaw story, a few who will tell scary stories and one who is going to tell a personal story," Robins said.

Instructing the class teaches students how to keep the Chickasaw tradition alive for future generations. It also teaches students the culture and history of the tribe, but it assists them in other avenues as well, Robins explains.

Much like music equates into improved math skills, storytelling improves vocabulary, public speaking and writing skills, too, Robins said.

"Students learn storytelling requires a storyboard, just like they have in movies," Robins said. "They don't memorize the story, they are asked to merely become comfortable telling the story."

Her class is in the process of perfecting stories for the concert.

Currently, the course is underway. At enrollment, it is open to all students, Native and non-Native.

About American Indian Heritage Month

Efforts to establish a time to honor Native American Heritage began as early as 1916, when the governor of New York officially declared "American Indian Day" in May of that year. Since that time, a number of states have designated specific days or weeks to celebrate Native American heritage. Since 1976, Congress and the president have designated a day, a week or a month to honor American Indian and Alaska Native people. November has been set aside for the celebration since 1991, when a Senate Joint Resolution was passed authorizing and requesting the president to proclaim each month of November thereafter as "American Indian Heritage Month."

 

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