Wind Chases the Sun : The Leonard Peltier Story by Preston Randolph

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1688850415/wind-chases-the-sun-the-leonard-peltier-story?pos=7&ref=ending-soon

Click on the link above (or the picture below) to go into the site and see the video.

Grateful thanks to Tashunka Witko for providing this link and information in this information page 08 June at 15:48

http://cactusprofilms.com/wind-chases-the-sun/

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Wind Chases the Sun

WIND CHASES THE SUN: The Leonard Peltier Story

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LOGLINE:

The imprisonment of an innocent man by the lies of a guilty government.

SYNOPSIS:

Between the years of 1973 and 1975, over sixty Native Americans were murdered during the “Reign of Terror” on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. On June 26, 1975 tension erupted with a shootout on the Jumping Bull Ranch between FBI and American Indian Movement (AIM) members resulting in the deaths of two FBI agents and one American Indian.
In 1977, Indian Activist, Leonard Peltier was convicted for the murder of the two agents and since has served thirty-four years in Federal prison. Despite proof that he was convicted on a combination of fabricated and suppressed evidence and false testimony, he continues to languish behind bars.
Wind Chases the Sun is currently budgeted at $370,000. Preston Randolph, along with his research crew is the driving force behind the documentary script. Accumulating hands-on knowledge – garnered from extensive research and interviews – Preston exposes new & highly relevant information concerning the atrocities of the Peltier case, to aid viewers in finding the truth.
Leonard Peltier is in full support of this production and hopes the facts Preston brings to light will be the final chapter in his hell-behind-bars story and finally return him home to his family.
“This is the film of an innocent man, imprisoned by the lies of a guilty government.”
The extreme poverty of the Pine Ridge Reservation, along with the never-before-heard testimony, will be projected on screen through a revolutionary High-Definition Production. The cinematography will also include aerial footage of the Pine Ridge Reservation shot with a Cineflex HD camera by Aerial Filmworks.
The horrific details of the “Reign of Terror” and the plight of Leonard Peltier will be presented through vintage archival footage and groundbreaking, accurate and violent reenactments. Wind Chases the Sun not only wants to educate the masses on this genocidal case, but also to wow the audience, sending them away from the theater shocked and outraged from what they have just witnessed.
The film spans the life of Leonard Peltier, from early years to present, in a way never before seen on the screen. The audience will witness the experiences and principals that formed him into the man he now is. He grew up while dealing with prejudice and injustice, being shuffled to boarding schools while struggling to adapt to societal changes during the 1960’s.
The chronological account of Peltier’s recruitment into AIM and his earliest chapters of political activism will present vivid insights into what motivations took Peltier to the Pine Ridge Reservation during the 1970’s.
Another story line of the film focuses on tensions of the Pine Ridge Reservation, including the hardships and extreme poverty that remains to this day. This period included the murders – never investigated – of over sixty Native Americans by members of death squads funded and armed by the US Government and FBI. This segment will invoke extreme emotions, and the violent reenactments offer samples of the despair of this bleak, dark period in American History.
Amidst these horrific events, the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation cried out to the American Indian Movement for help. On June 26, 1975, Special Agents Jack Coler and Ron Williams sought to serve an out-standing arrest warrant and purposely entered the area where the AIM was camped. These two ill-advised and un-prepared young agents had entered a documented “war zone.”
A firefight ensued between these agents and the AIM, who were convinced these unmarked and unidentified individuals were members of the murdering death squads. This very violent and traumatizing conflict will be reenacted to perfection, offering a fresh vision of what happened on that day, culminating in the deaths of the two FBI Agents and one Native American.
Over a year later Peltier was tried for the murder of the two agents and an all-white jury convicted and sentenced him to two consecutive life sentences. During the trial, vital evidence testifying to the “Reign of Terror” was disallowed and a ballistics test proving Peltier’s innocence was withheld from the jury.
Since then, Peltier has served thirty-four years in prison. During this time he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace prize six consecutive years, honoring his humanitarian work. Peltier has authored a book, “Prison Writings” and has proven to be an astounding artist. During his prison term, Peltier has endured an ongoing persecution with few ears open to hear his voice of truth. New testimony exposes this extreme injustice and chronicles the mental cruelty he – an innocent man denied freedom – continues to suffer.
Wind Chases the Sun will expose this entire controversial & misunderstood story in a uniquely-artistic style focusing on breathtaking cinematography and aerial footage. Groundbreaking new testimonies, violent reenactments, and a musically-intriguing score will bring the facts of this story to life in a way that we hope will ultimately make a huge difference in lives interrupted.

ASSOCIATED INDIVIDUALS:

PRESTON RANDOLPH – PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

Cactus Productions as any production company, relies on its production crew. The passionate and talented crew is led by a very visual and enthusiastic, Preston Randolph. He has been involved in film production for over 6 years and has assembled a crew ranging from filmmakers who have worked on Academy Award winning productions, to Emmy and Grammy winning artists. Preston Randolph produces films that inspire, educate and bring new perspective on controversial issues, new light on historical events, and dramatic reality of the real world.
Alongside his filmmaking career, Randolph dedicates the remainder of his time in being a political activist for social justice and volunteering his time in helping those in need. He has organized an annual charity drive for the people of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

PETER COYOTE – VOICEOVER

Peter Coyote is a well known actor, author, writer, director and activist who has been part of over 55 films including: “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”, “Patch Adams”, “Erin Brockovich” and “A Walk to Remember”. Peter has had a very illustrious career in the television industry as well, with roles in shows including: “Law and Order”, “Deadwood”, “Brothers and Sisters” and “The Twilight Zone”.
Besides his talent in front of the camera, Peter is known through the documentary world for his ability to evoke the transcendent nature of the human condition. He has taken part in critically acclaimed documentaries such as the recent Ken Burns film “The National Parks”, “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”, “National Geographic: The Battle for Midway”, “Titanic: Breaking New Ground”, and Ken Burns “The West”.
Alongside Coyote’s success in film, he has a heart for activism and fighting against injustice. Along with author Peter Mathiessen, he is one of two non-native advisors to political prisoner Leonard Peltier, a close personal friend. He is an active environmentalist and political activist who stands for films of meaning and causes for change.

TOM MORELLO – MUSIC PRODUCTION

Tom Morello is a Grammy Award winning American guitarist best known for his work with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and as The Nightwatchman. He is known for his use of guitar effects, his innovative guitar solos, his use of the tapping and his heavy-riffs. He was ranked #26 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.
Morello has been a long time activist and supporter of Leonard Peltier.

DAN WILKEN – EDITOR

DENNY KARCHNER – GRAPHIC DESIGNER/ARTWORK

Denny Karchner’s art was spawned from a deep passion for the love of pencil and paint at a very young age. He has been producing pencils and paintings since the tender age of three-years-old and after a 34-year hiatus, returned to paints in 2005.

Denny’s passion and love for pencil and paints are gaining him increased notoriety among museums, galleries and private collectors. Over the last few years, Denny has been working closely with the Buffalo Bill Historical Center , in Cody, WY and has had several pieces auctioned in their Annual Art Auctions. In 2005, Denny had three pieces accepted into the prestigious “Booth Western Art Museum” , in Cartersville, GA for their permanent private collection. Also in 2005, the family of the late, great Curt Gowdy commissioned Denny to paint his portrait, the only artist ever commissioned by the family. Denny’s western artwork has been selected to hang in three prestigious galleries in Sedona, AZ, Cody, WY and Clearwater, FL.

In 2006, Denny was been hired by Art Rooney, Jr., Owner of the 2008 NFL Super Bowl Champions Pittsburgh Steelers , to paint many of the Steelers from the 1940s to 1970s. He has worked with the Pittsburgh Steelers Front Office to paint Strong Safety, Troy Polamalu for their 75th Anniversary Show. Many of his Steelers pieces are now in the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, OH and the John Heinz History Museum in Pittsburgh, PA. Several of Denny’s Steelers works are in Art Rooney’s book, “Ruanaidh.” Denny was born and grew up in Woodland, PA. He attended The Art Institute of Pittsburgh , from 1970 to 1972 and majored in Visual Communications. He now resides in Cody, Wyoming and New Port Richey, FL.

Denny is passionate for the Leonard Peltier case and will be the lead artist and graphic designer for the film.

GRAY WOLF – REENACTMENT SUPERVISOR

Graywolf along with his partner Alfred Panther run Graywolf productions, the only Native American owned company that does casting, wardrobe and props for motion pictures as well as television. Graywolf and Alfred are ablely assisted by the two other partners of Graywolf productions, David Mayfield and Aaron Tenbears.

Graywolf productions has worked on the movie “Hidalgo” where they made all of the Native American props as well as working on “Pirates of the Carribean” where they made the bone hair pin in Johnny Depp’s hair as well as other items.
They also worked on the last three seasons of “Wild West Tech” on the history channel as well as working as consultants, casting, wardrobe and props on the mini-series “Conquest of America”, where they along with Jeanine Weist, were nominated for an Emmy award.

AERIAL FILMWORKS – HD AERIAL FOOTAGE

Founded by Ron Chapple”, Aerial Filmworks is the result of Ron’s 20+ years shooting aerial images and the new Cineflex HD gyro-stabilized technology. We own and operate gyro-stabilized Cineflex HD camera systems “for entertainment, advertising and corporate clients. Aerial Filmworks has extensive helicopter filming experience, full-time Cineflex camera operators, tech support and over 25 years of location work.

Aerial Filmworks will be in charge of the Aerial HD Footage for the film. To see a demo real of Aerial Filmworks work go to… Aerial Filmworks Demo Reel.

DAN BATTAGLIA – RESEARCHER

Daniel Battaglia is from Edison, New Jersey and graduated from Kean University in May of 2009 with a degree in History and is a member of the Kean University Historical Society. Specializing in Native American Studies; more specifically, the Leonard Peltier case and the history of the American Indian Movement, Daniel has studied Leonard Peltier and his case since he first learned of it in 2001. He is currently working on his first publication which will cover Peltier’s case as well as his (Daniel’s) experiences since joining the Free Peltier Movement.

MARK GIFFORD – LEGAL ADVISOR/RESEARCH

Mark Gifford is a Wyoming native and graduate of the University of Wyoming (B.S. 1978). He is a law graduate of Stanford University (J.D. 1981). Mark is engaged in practice of law (litigation/mediation) in Casper, WY.

Copyright © 2009. Preston Randolph. All Rights Reserved.