Georgina Lightning

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Georgina Lightning is a Native American film director, screen-writer, and actress. Lightning was born in Edmonton, Canada, and is a Maskwacis (Plains) Cree, registered with the Samson Cree Nation of the Samson Indian Reservation near Edmonton, Alberta. She was raised off the reservation.[1] In 2007 she was featured in Filmmaker Magazine as one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film. In 2010 she was the recipient of the "White House Project- Epic-Award for Emerging Artist".[2] She co-founded Tribal Alliance Productions, partnering with executive producer Audrey Martinez, as a means to create opportunities for Native Indian and Indigenous filmmakers.[3]

In 2008 she directed, wrote, and starred in the supernatural thriller film Older Than America. As such, she became the first Native American female director of a feature-length film.[4] The film won several awards from various film contests, including Best Feature Film, Best Director and Best Actor.[1] The idea for the film came from her personal exploration of her father's past.

She is an outspoken advocate of Native American causes, working to restore a greater common appreciation and awareness of the intrinsic value of Native American culture to society in general.[5] Her three children are either currently or previously performing actors. They are Crystle Lightning, Cody Lightning, and William Lightning.

Filmography

  • Yellow Wooden Ring (1998 as Sissy Blea)
  • Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998 as an “additional voice”)
  • My Brother (1999 as Mother)
  • Walker, Texas Ranger (TV, 1998-1999, two episodes, in Way of the Warrior as Sundance, and War Cry as Ellen Crow Feather)
  • Backroads (2000 as Mary Lou)
  • Johnny Greyeyes (2000 as Georgina)
  • Christmas in the Clouds (2001 as Louise)
  • Cowboy Up (2001 as Brenda)
  • The West Wing (TV, 2001, as Maggie Morningstar Charles in the episode The Indians in the Lobby)
  • Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (TV, 2002, as Lainie Proudfoot in four episodes: An Inspector Calls, Another Country, A Bridge too Far, and Bridge Over Troubled Water)
  • Dreamkeeper (TV, 2003 as Crystal Heart, also as associate producer)
  • Sawtooth (2004 as Lucy, also as executive producer and producer)
  • Hanbleceya (2005 as co-producer)
  • Ghosts of the Heartland (2007 as Tani)
  • Older Than America (2008 as director, writer, and as lead actress portraying the character Rain)[6]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Archived copy of correspondence written by G. Lightning.". 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-09.  Archived copy of letter from Lightning recounting her upbringing and some of her accomplishments.
  2. ↑ "Edmonton Filmmaker Wins U.S. Prize at Gala". 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-09.  Notice of Lightning's award ceremony where she received the White House Award for Emerging Artist.
  3. ↑ "Debut of "Older Than America" press release". 2008. Retrieved 2010-08-22.  Press release regarding Debut of "Older than America" film.
  4. ↑ "Georgina Lightning: the first Native female director of a feature-length film". 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-22.  Interview with Lightning regarding her experiences as the first Native American female director of a feature length film.
  5. ↑ "Georgina Lightning Sounds Off". 2003. Retrieved 2010-08-22.  Lighting on the value of gaming revenues for Native Americans, and also on the many troubles experienced by Native Americans during the westward expansion of American society. (Referenced article at page's midpoint.)
  6. ↑ "IMDb's Georgina Lightning entry". 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-22.  The International Movie Database "Georgina Lighting article
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