The Documentary Team
The Regalia Documentary Project is lead by newly formed Tlingit independent filmmakers Donna Foulke, Clarissa Hudson, Rhonda Mann, and Liana Young. We have recruited the talents of many and would like to extend our thanks to the many volunteers who have helped us in the project so far.
All of the crewmembers share an interest in the continuation of traditional artforms among their people, and feel that this project will provide a useful body of photographic and recorded information that will benefit future researches, tribal artists and tradition-bearers, who are seeking a deeper understand of Northwest Coast tribal traditions."
Meet the team:
Producer, Co-Director & Photographer: Clarissa Hudson
Clarissa Hudson (Tlingit, Sea Tern Clan) is an award-winning artist who works in a wide range of media, including weaving, painting, printmaking, and sculpture; with many major pieces of her work in public and private collections. She has been a regalia-designer and maker since 1977, specializing in Chilkat weavings and button blanket robes. After her apprenticeship in Chilkat weaving with Jennie Thlunaut in 1986, she has been conducting apprenticeships and workshops since 1989. She has toured with the Mt. St. Elias Dancers as drummer/dancer. As an actress, stage/tour manager, costume/set designer, she has toured the U.S. and Europe with the Naa Kahidi Theater, presenting dramatized Tlingit stories. Clarissa has appeared in two documentaries on Northwest coast art which have aired on national television. Future projects include publishing a book highlighting her first 50 Alaskan Native ceremonial robes (a collection of handwoven Chilkat, Ravenstail and button blanket designs. Visit Clarissa’s website at: http://clarissahudson.com/
Producer, Writer, Photographer, & Web Master: Donna Foulke
Donna Foulke (Tlingit, Wolf Clan) attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe , NM and is an Alaska Native artist, originally from Juneau , now living in Northern Virginia . As well as writing, she is a photographer and artist. She currently works for the U.S. Geological Survey as a graphic artist, Web designer, and is involved in educational outreach. Her work in informal science education and studies in animation and film has given her the opportunity to write scripts and create storyboards in animation. You can view one of her animations online at www.rockNscienceClub.com <click> Play under Sci-Toons to watch her animation, “Periodic Dreams.” (Note: The Rock’n Science Club is project pending funding for a future venture in informal science education with a cultural twist – Donna is creator and illustrator). Her work in informal education has led to her involvement in Native Science and Tlingit storytelling ventures at a number of events and conferences. In 2000, she was awarded the Alaska Native Writer's Award for Literature from the University of Alaska for her poetry. Donna is a published poet who is currently working on a collection of visual poetry and essays of Southeast Alaska for publishing and for artistic video shorts; she is also working on two books for children. For more about Donna visit her Web site at: http://www.foulkeART.com
Public Relations Officer: Rhonda Mann
Rhonda Mann (Tlingit, Thunderbird Clan) graduated from Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Co with a B.A. in Humanities. She has worked as General Manager/Production Director for White Oak Broadcasting of Alaska, Inc. With a passion for radio, she has been an on-air reporter and producer at numerous radio stations in Alaska and Colorado, most recently, American Samoa. She has appeared as an actress in films, television commercials, and on stage with Perseverance Theatre and Naa Kahidi Theatre. Rhonda has done business development and planning for Southeast Alaska Regional Health Corporation. She has worked as a Research Assistant for Sealaska Heritage Institute in the Language and Cultural Studies Program.
Interviewer & PR Assistant: Liana Young
Liana Young (Tlingit, Dog Salmon Clan) received her Masters Degree in Secondary Education from the UAS-Juneau. Since 1990, she has focused on applying her background in education, interpretation, art history, Alaskan history, Alaskan culture and social systems in culturally responsive curriculum to diverse audiences by means of theatre, music, dance, and design work in traditional regalia as well as more modern venues such as Web design. Her expertise is in collecting traditional Tlingit stories and knowledge; developing databases to share integrated information to school-age children specifically. Using her talents, she has worked for the Juneau School District, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Corporation and Tlingit & Haida Central Council.
Videographer & Assistant Interviewer: Kahlil Hudson
Kahlil Hudson (Tlingit, Sea Tern Clan) holds a BA in Film Studies from the University of Utah, and is currently pursuing his MFA in Film Production/Directing at the University of California Los Angeles. He recently had the opportunity to study under Oscar-nominated cinematographer, Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC, and is serving as Director of Photography on several 16mm and HD films in production this spring. Kahlil has worked for Al Roker Productions in New York as Asst Editor/Post Assistant, and for documentary production company Engel Brothers Media, on shows for Discovery, National Geographic, and Fine Living. He is currently completing two documentaries, “Autumn Salmon Harvest” filmed in Excursion Inlet, Alaska, and “Valentin and the Red Earth,” about a West African Artist who creates socio-politically charged sculptures with recycled refuse. Kahlil received funds to finish his narrative film “Big Sam” through a Motion Picture Association of America Award in Directing, which he will be submitting for festival circulation. Kahlil's documentary "Triathlete" was an Official Selection at the Durango Film Festival.
Co-Director, Videographer & Technical Specialist: Bill Hudson
In 1974, Bill started out his artistic career as a musical instrument-maker, building over 50 instruments including flutes, harps, Appalachian dulcimers, hammered dulcimer, and African Mbiras. Self-employed since 1977, Bill is working primarily as a graphic artist, web-designer/ host, videographer, sign-painter, print-maker/poster-designer. His graphic design-work included hand silk-screened, limited edition posters for Perseverance Theatre, the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and is noted for his famous Alaska Folk Festival posters. Bill also worked for many years as a theatrical designer for Juneau’s Perseverance Theatre where he directed and produced numerous original productions, specializing in family oriented theatre; has been an art, music and theatre instructor with the Alaska Artist-in-the-Schools Program and artist-in-residence in Pagosa Jr. High; is a founder of the Juneau Summer Fine Arts Camp, the Pagosa Fine Arts Camp, the Pagosa Pretenders Family Theatre. A web designer for the past 6 years, Bill is also the editor and publisher
of the local on-line "newspaper" the Pagosa Daily Post at
http://www.pagosa.com. Collaborating with his wife, Clarissa, they have worked on numerous %-for-the Arts public art installations and are founders of the nonprofit organization Artstream Cultural Resources; which organize and sponsor the Whistlepig Concert Series, and the (NW Coast) Dance Regalia Documentary Project.
Technical Specialist: Jake Foulke
Jake Foulke (Tlingit, Wolf Clan) graduated with a Computer Science degree from James Madison University in Virginia. Jake currently works for a large Web hosting company in Northern Virginia. He freelances in Web design. Jake’s technical skills were an enormous help during our documentary work in Juneau. Working closely with Bill Hudson they managed a mad rush of downloading and archiving digital photographic files at the same time printing many image requests for Native participants. Jake technical skills will be used throughout film production.
