Smoke Signals (1998)

Director:

Chris Eyre

Writers:

Sherman Alexie (book)
Sherman Alexie (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 June 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A new film from the heart of Native America.

Plot:

Young Indian man Thomas is a nerd in his reservation, wearing oversize glasses and telling everyone stories no-one wants to hear...

Plot Keywords:

Road | Fire | Trailer | Native American Reservation | Drunkenness

Awards:

9 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Adam Beach	...	Victor Joseph
Evan Adams	...	Thomas Builds-the-Fire
Irene Bedard	...	Suzy Song
Gary Farmer	...	Arnold Joseph
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Arlene Joseph
Cody Lightning	...	Young Victor Joseph
Simon Baker	...	Young Thomas Builds-the-Fire
Monique Mojica	...	Grandma Builds-the-Fire
John Trudell	...	Randy Peone
Chief Leonard George	...	Lester Fallsapart (as Leonard George)
Michael Greyeyes	...	Junior Polatkin
Darwin Haine	...	Boo
Michelle St. John	...	Velma
Elaine Miles	...	Lucy
Cynthia Geary	...	Cathy the Gymnast
Gary Taylor	...	Cowboy
Perrey Reeves	...	Holly
Nicolette Vajtay	...	Julie
Molly Cheek	...	Penny Cicero
Robert Miano	...	Burt Cicero
Tom Skerritt	...	Police Chief
Todd Jamieson	...	Jesuit #1
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Scott M. Rosenfelt	...	Jesuit #2 (uncredited)

Directed by
Chris Eyre

Writing credits
Sherman Alexie		(book "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven")
Sherman Alexie		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sherman Alexie	....	co-producer
Roger Baerwolf	....	associate producer
Carl Bressler	....	executive producer
Larry Estes	....	producer
Chris Eyre	....	co-producer
Brent Morris	....	line producer
Scott M. Rosenfelt	....	producer (as Scott Rosenfelt)
David Skinner	....	executive producer
Randy Suhr	....	associate producer

Original Music by
BC Smith

Cinematography by
Brian Capener		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Brian Berdan

Casting by
Coreen Mayrs

Production Design by
Charles Armstrong

Art Direction by
Jonathan Saturen

Set Decoration by
Dawn R. Ferry		(as Dawn Ferry)

Costume Design by
Ronald Leamon		(as Ron Leamon)

Makeup Department
Cynthia Bornia	....	key makeup artist
Nadia Felker	....	assistant hair stylist
Nadia Felker	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Janet Fries Eckholm	....	post-production supervisor
Anthony Vozza	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Megan Murphy	....	second assistant director
Jo Shilling	....	first assistant director
Randy Suhr	....	second unit director

Art Department
David M. Bowen	....	prop assistant (as David Bowen)
Aidan Hughes	....	storyboard artist
Melissa Matthies	....	property master

Sound Department
David Bach	....	sound effects editor
Zak Belica	....	synth designer
Zak Belica	....	synth programming
Nancy Lee Bleisch	....	adr editor
Sarah Brady	....	adr supervisor
James Brasher	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Timothy Carden	....	sound supervisor
Geoff Clark	....	sound services manager
Eric Hoeschen	....	adr mixer
Eric Hoeschen	....	foley mixer
Eric Hoeschen	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marty Hutcherson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carlos Isais	....	post-production sound recordist
Steve Kohler	....	post-production sound recordist
Margie Lala	....	adr assistant
Rick MacLane	....	sound engineer (as Rick Maclane)
Nancy MacLeod	....	sound effects editor (as Nancy Macleod)
Peggy McAffee	....	sound effects editor (as Peggy Mcaffee)
Joe Milner	....	sound editor
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Mike Minkler)
Chris Mock	....	synth designer
Chris Mock	....	synth programming
Frank A. Montaño	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Frank Montano)
Bruce Murphy	....	dialogue editor
Patrick O'Sullivan	....	sound designer
Laurence Puchalsky	....	dialogue assistant
Monique Reymond	....	foley artist
Brian Smith	....	adr mixer
Chris Sparkes	....	loader (as Chris Sparks)
Mimi Starrett	....	sound services manager
F. Scott Taylor	....	assistant sound editor (as Scott Taylor)
Douglas Tourtelot	....	production sound mixer
Steven Willer	....	boom operator (as Steve Willer)
James G. Williams	....	sound re-recording mixer (as James Williams)
Michael Colomby	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ray Brown	....	special effects coordinator
Robert Simokovic	....	assistant special effects (as Robert 'Smokey' Simokovic)
Joel Youngerman	....	additional effects

Stunts
Art Hickman	....	stunt player
Ron Otis	....	stunt coordinator: A-1 Stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Dan Baheza	....	electrician
Craig Bilodeau	....	grip
Eric Blackerby	....	electrician
Robin Buerki	....	Steadicam operator
Katy Burbank	....	electrician
Matt Clark	....	grip
Steve Colgrove	....	electrician
William Cress	....	second assistant camera
David C. Darrow	....	dolly grip (as David Darrow)
Courtnay Duchin	....	unit still photographer
John Eames	....	grip
Krist Hager	....	key grip
Pete Johnson	....	electrician
Ben Kenyon	....	grip
Chris Kovalski	....	electrician
David Leyse	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Erik Loysen	....	electrician
Stephen MacDougall	....	camera loader (as Stephen Macdougall)
Paul Mailman	....	director of photography: second unit
Eric Moore	....	best boy electric
Sierra Morgan	....	best boy grip
Lance Odell	....	grip (as Lance O'Dell)
Dan Peters	....	grip
Vern Peters	....	grip
Jill Sabella	....	unit still photographer
Patrick Shellenberger	....	gaffer (as Pat Shellenberger)
Somsy Vejsiri	....	electrician
Andrew Wallace	....	electrician
Larry Wright	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Heike Brandstatter	....	casting associate: Coreen Mayrs
Anya Colloff	....	casting: Los Angeles
Heather Rae	....	extras casting
Jodi Rothfield	....	casting: Seattle

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Henry Earl Lewis	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Earl Lewis)
Bertha Swan	....	additional seamstress

Editorial Department
John Helde	....	assistant editor
Stephen Les	....	negative cutter
Andrew Pratt	....	negative cutter (as Andy Pratt)
Bill Scott	....	color timer
Diana Tauder	....	post-production executive: Miramax

Music Department
David Beal	....	music producer: special vocals
David Beal	....	recordist: special vocals
John Burton	....	assistant music engineer
Tom Cassel	....	recordist: special vocals
Chuck Deardorf	....	musician: electric bass
Vaughn Eaglebear	....	musician: Native American drums and vocals
Don Gilmore	....	music engineer
Brad Hauser	....	musician: electric bass (as Brad Houser)
Steve Hill	....	musician: Taos drums
Sam Hofstedt	....	assistant music engineer
Dimitri Jakimowicz	....	music engineer
Simon James	....	orchestra contractor
Ferdinand Louie	....	musician: Native American drums and vocals
Aaron 'Scarbo' Marchand	....	musician: Native American drums and vocals
Chris Mock	....	associate music supervisor
Dave Peterson	....	musician: electric guitar
André L. Picard Jr.	....	musician: Native American drums and vocals
Pete Semoe	....	musician: Native American drums and vocals
Tim Simonec	....	conductor
Tim Simonec	....	orchestrator
John Sirois	....	musician: Native American drums and vocals
BC Smith	....	music supervisor
Ben Smith	....	musician: Taos drums
Dudley Taft	....	musician: electric guitar
Ulali	....	special vocals
Patrick Watt	....	musician: Native American drums and vocals
Rick Winquest	....	music mixer
Brian Fredrickson	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Diane Eve	....	driver
Dan Fisher	....	transportation captain
Bart Heimburger	....	transportation coordinator
Chuck Howard	....	driver: bus
Vern Johnson	....	driver
Ron King	....	driver
Molly Little	....	driver
Brendan McKeon	....	driver (as Brendan Mckeon)
Bill Powell	....	driver
Joe Soleberg	....	driver (as Joe Soleburg)
Cynthia Williams	....	driver
John Wolfe	....	driver
Clint Yoakum	....	driver

Other crew
Laura Auster	....	first assistant accountant
Alexandra Buresch	....	craft service: Washington (as Alexandra Buresh)
Liza Comtois	....	office manager
Edwin Cook	....	loop group voice
Kristen Corning	....	production coordinator
Justin Crapo	....	caterer: Premiere Catering
Tiffany Crawford	....	office intern
Gregory Cruz	....	loop group voice (as Gregory Norman Cruz)
Janet Fries Eckholm	....	script supervisor
Cynthia Garcia Walker	....	production accountant (as Cynthia Walker)
Todd R. Glinsman	....	set production coordinator (as Todd Glinsman)
Harley Goodbar	....	studio teacher
Cara Mia Harris	....	assistant production coordinator
Wendy Hoffman	....	loop group voice
Michael Horse	....	loop group voice
Sandra Horse	....	loop group voice
Peter Jensen	....	key set production assistant
Peter Jensen	....	post-production accountant
Heather Kay	....	stand-in
Kathy Kozu	....	office manager
Dick Lourie	....	poet: "Forgiving Our Fathers"
Heidi McGowen	....	assistant to director (as Heidi Mcgowen)
Gary Moffitt	....	stand-in
Adam Morrison	....	caterer: Premiere Catering
Deborah Lynn Rathbone	....	post-production accountant (as Deborah Rathbone)
Cristine Reynolds	....	office production assistant
John T. Scanlon	....	helicopter operator: River City Helicopters (as John Scanlon)
Bill Scott	....	film laboratory manager
Kim Sherwood	....	laboratory coordinator
Bingo Sijohn	....	craft service: Idaho
Inez Sijohn	....	craft service: Idaho
Ray Smithwick	....	video dailies
Shaun P. Sullivan	....	location manager (as Shaun Sullivan)
Billy Tonasket	....	stand-in
Roberta Ukura	....	laboratory coordinator

Thanks
Tailinh Agoyo	....	thanks (as Tailinh Prado)
Cochise Anderson	....	thanks
Rose Anderson	....	thanks
Alice Arlen	....	thanks
Lynn Auerbach	....	special thanks
David Beal	....	special thanks: Noise Productions Inc.
Dean Curtis Bear Claw	....	thanks
Holly Becker	....	thanks
Shaz Bennett	....	thanks (as Shazz Bennett)
Sharon Bialy	....	special thanks
Brad Bond	....	thanks
Mary Bowannie	....	thanks
Diane Bracey	....	thanks
Donna Brook	....	thanks
L.M. Kit Carson	....	thanks (as L.M. 'Kit' Carson)
Rachel Chanoff	....	thanks
Maggie Considine	....	special thanks: Taos drums
Tim Craig	....	thanks
Rindy Dallas	....	thanks
Steve Dallas	....	thanks
Allen Daviau	....	thanks
Patrick Doyle	....	special thanks: Pacific Title/Mirage (as Pat Doyle)
Ben Dupris	....	thanks
Sally Jo Effenson	....	thanks
Morgan Entrekin	....	thanks
Boris Frumin	....	thanks (as Boris Fruman)
Randy Gaiber	....	special thanks
Nelson George	....	thanks
Carlin Glynn	....	thanks
Susan A. Grode	....	thanks (as Susan Grode)
Jim Gulian	....	thanks
Ava Hamilton	....	thanks
Susan Harmon	....	thanks
Rene Haynes	....	thanks (as René Haynes)
Robert Hershon	....	thanks
Patricia Hilden	....	thanks
Blake Himm	....	special thanks: Taos drums
Janet Hirshenson	....	special thanks
Michael Hirshenson	....	special thanks
Judy Hottensen	....	thanks
Gretchen Hulzinga	....	thanks
Donna James	....	thanks: City of Seattle Film Office
Jane Jenkins	....	special thanks
Bob Johnson	....	thanks
Susy Kellett	....	thanks: Washington State Film Office (as Suzy Kellett)
Jon Kilik	....	thanks
Alex Kuo	....	thanks
Steven LeBret	....	thanks
Jadina Lilien	....	thanks
Mark Long	....	thanks
Debi Manwiller	....	thanks
Peter Masterson	....	thanks
Kathleen McInnis	....	thanks
Craig McKay	....	thanks
Tyler McKenzie	....	thanks
Daniel Melnick	....	thanks
Miwa Messer	....	thanks
Paul S. Mezey	....	thanks (as Paul Mezey)
Jacqueline Milles	....	thanks
Adam Moos	....	thanks
Alex Moradian	....	special thanks: Hollywood Film and Video
Susan Muir	....	thanks
Jeremiah Newton	....	thanks
Mindee Nodvin	....	thanks
Richard Pagano	....	thanks (as Rick Pagano)
Maricel Pagulayan	....	special thanks
Mark Pawlak	....	thanks
Lori Pourier	....	thanks
Eric Price	....	thanks
Chris Roberts	....	thanks
Bettie Roecks	....	special thanks
Lou Rosenfelt	....	in memory of
Leo Rossi	....	thanks
Reed Ruddy	....	thanks: Studio X
Michelle Satter	....	special thanks
Elizabeth Schmitz	....	thanks
Ron Schreiber	....	thanks
Gil Silverbird	....	thanks
Kelly Simpson	....	special thanks: The Panavision New Filmmaker Program
Nancy Stauffer	....	thanks
Ernie Stensgar	....	special thanks: Coeur d'Alene tribal chairman
Cindy Stillwell	....	thanks
Wesley Strick	....	thanks
Gary Stroutsos	....	thanks
Wray Wade	....	thanks
Lila Wallace	....	thanks: Reader's Digest Writers' Award
Ann Wilson	....	thanks
Andy Wolk	....	thanks

Production Companies

• ShadowCatcher Entertainment (in association with: Sherman Alexie)
• Welb Film Pursuits Ltd. (produced in association with)

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• New Films International (1998-1999) (non-USA) (all media)
• Arthaus Filmverleih (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Buena Vista International (2001) (Argentina) (all media)
• Gativideo (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RCV Film Distribution (????-????) (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (????-????) (Luxembourg)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• Art Matters Foundation  thanks
• Baker Winokur Ryder Public Relations (BWR)  publicity (as Baker - Winokur - Ryder)
• Baron & Baron Studios  thanks
• Brasher Sound  post-production sound facility
• Budget Car and Truck Rental  production vehicles (as Budget Rent-A-Truck)
• Buena Vista Sound  post-production sound facility
• Casio Electronics  grateful acknowlegement and thanks (as Casio Inc.)
• Cinema 100  produced with the support of
• Cineric  main title digital FX (as Cineric)
• City of Seattle Mayor's Film Office  thanks (as City of Seattle Film Office)
• Coca-Cola Company, The  grateful acknowlegement and thanks (as Coca-Cola Enterprises)
• Coeur d'Alene Tribal Council, The  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Creative Entertainment Services  product placement
• Digital Devoid  digital transfer
• Eastern Washington Security  security
• Eastman Kodak  film stock
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car  production vehicles (as Enterprise Leasing)
• Euphrata Ambulance Service  on-set medics
• Evergreen Stage Line  picture car
• Filmlites Ltd.  grip and electric equipment
• Grant County Fire Department  fire safety
• Hanging Loose Press  poem: "Forgiving Our Fathers" by Dick Lourie, courtesy of
• Hollywood Film & Video  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• JanSport  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Joan Pearce Research Associates  clearances
• Jonas Jensen Studios  crane
• Kinema Junpô Co.  sponsor: Cinema 100/Sundance International Award (as Kinema Junpo)
• Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Goodman  legal services (as Lichter, Grossman, Nichols & Adler Inc.)
• Media Services  payroll
• Minolta  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Motion Picture Magic  product placement
• NHK Enterprises 21  sponsor: Cinema 100/Sundance International Award
• NHK  sponsor: Cinema 100/Sundance International Award
• NT Audio Visual  optical sound track (as N.T. Audio)
• Native American Producers Alliance  thanks
• Noise Productions  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Nora Beverages  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Nortel  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• North by Northwest Productions  additional grip equipment
• Northwest Sinfonia  orchestra
• Oppenheimer Cameras  additional camera equipment (as Oppemheimer Camera)
• Pacific Title/Mirage  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals production
• Panavision New Filmmaker Program  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Plummer Fire Department  fire safety
• Post Falls Ambulance & Rescue  on-set medics
• Premier Entertainment Services  product placement
• Premiere Catering  caterer
• RAM Sports  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Reader's Digest Writers' Award  thanks
• Red Bird Construction  construction: Idaho
• Reel Good  film stock supplied by
• River City Helicopters  helicopters
• Rockefeller Foundation Intercultural Film Fellowship, The  thanks
• Rutherford Productions  thanks
• Security Management  security
• Seiyu Ltd.  sponsor: Cinema 100/Sundance International Award
• Small Talk  looping group
• St. Marie Construction  construction: Washington
• Straight Cut, Seattle  editing services and facilities
• Studio X  music recording and mixing facility
• Studio X  thanks
• Sundance Institute, The  developed with the assistance of
• Sundance Institute, The  sponsor: Cinema 100/Sundance International Award
• TVT Soundtrax  soundtrack available on
• Taos Drums  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Thrifty Car Rental  production vehicles
• Tim Girvin Design  main title concept
• U.S. Bank of Washington  banking services
• UPP Entertainment Services  product placement (as UPP Entertainment Marketing)
• Union Bank of California  banking services
• Washington State Film & Video Office  thanks (as Washington State Film Office)

Also Known As:

Le secret des cendres (Canada: French title)
This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some intense images.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #35626) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | France:U | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, Plummer, Idaho, USA

Company:

ShadowCatcher Entertainment

Trivia:

The first movie to be written, directed, and co-produced by a Native American.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Thomas offers Victor money to help get him to Phoenix, his braids change position. In one shot, they are both in front. In the next shot, his right braid is over his shoulder. This repeats several times.

Quotes:

Thomas Builds-the-Fire: Hey Victor! I remember the time your father took me to Denny's, and I had the Grand Slam Breakfast. Two eggs, two pancakes, a glass of milk, and of course my favorite, the bacon. Some days, it's a good day to die. And some days, it's a good day to have breakfast.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Wahjeeleh-Yihm

One of the most unique movies I've seen

"Smoke Signals" is one of the most unique movies I have ever seen. From the combinations of stories, characters, and filmmaking. The acting in this movie was witty, funny, serious and heartbreaking all at the same time. Even though this is a movie about Native American culture, it is a movie that talks to everyone no matter what there ethnic background may be. I am of Italian heritage but this movie still got to me. It tackles issues of family, culture, and tradition as well as friendship. The acting is this movie is superb and the filmmaker's shots and different ways of filming scenes and how each one flowed into another was amazing. In school we had to read some stories by Sherman Alexie and then we watched the movie. If it weren't for my English teacher I may have missed watching one of the most brilliant independent films ever made.