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Oneida Nation Conjures Up Spirit of Animation
Centuries after “He Who Takes Up the Snow Shoe” became an Oneida legend of the Revolutionary War, the New York tribe is basking in the glow of those who have taken up CGI.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 11:30 AM
By FilmStew Staff
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RaccoonandCrawfish.com
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Turning an oral tradition into 3D CGI
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The tale at the center of the Oneida Indian Nation’s animated offering Raccoon & Crawfish has been around a lot longer than even the earliest narratives put forth by Walt Disney Studios. But now, thanks to its production as a high-def 3D short through the New York tribe’s production house Four Directions Media, it is connecting with a whole new audience.
A winner at the Telly Awards, North Carolina’s Real to Reel Festival and now Hollywood’s Moondance Film Festival, the short is based on a long-held Oneida oral legend about a confrontation between a raccoon and a crawfish, and the lessons learned from the encounter. ''This is just an exceptional accomplishment for us,'' says Ray Halbritter, executive producer and Nation Representative. ''For our first effort to receive critical recognition, and especially to win at Moondance, is a testament to the talent of our creative team at Four Directions and to the Nation's commitment to excel in all its endeavors.''
The moral of the Raccoon & Crawfish story relates to the dangers of boasting and deception; in other words, it should be required viewing for just about everyone working in Hollywood. All in all, September 2007 is shaping up as a pretty good month for the Oneida Nation. Their animated short is a finalist at several other festivals and is scheduled to roll out at other similar events this fall.
Meanwhile, the tribe’s inaugural PGA golf event the Turning Stone Resort Championship is scheduled for September 17th through the 23rd. Among the players competing are Justin Leonard, Kirk Triplett and Jesper Parnevick. They might want to brush up on the ball-hit-a-raccoon rule.
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