One writer's big break in movies dashed

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Usually when my editor knocks on my door, she's there to assign stories, not to send me on a casting call for a movie, but that's exactly what she did on one recent Friday afternoon. I read the newspaper clipping that requested slim Aboriginals with long hair go to the Wingate Inn in Edmonton and apply to work as extras for the movie production of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

The first thing I thought was 'I'm not really thin,' the typical reaction of girls my age. Anyways, I agreed to go and as I was driving to the casting call Saturday, Nov. 4, all I was thinking about were questions to ask during the interview I was expected to get, not about an acting part as a background performer.

The TV movie depicts the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the murders of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse and the massacre at Wounded Knee. The HBO production is tailored from American author Dee Brown's book published in the 1970s which recounted the Indian Wars. It tells the story from the Native viewpoint, a group of people displaced or killed.

As I entered the room, Brenda Morphew of the casting crew was there to greet me. I told her I was with Alberta Sweetgrass and explained my intention to get an interview with the casting director for our paper. A few moments later, Alyson Lockwood, the extras casting director herself, joined us and as we were talking, I got the sneaking suspicion they were sizing me up. My suspicion proved correct because Lockwood asked if I would consider darkening my hair. I said sure. I was asked to come back the following day to join the other extras on the bus to Calgary to begin four days of filming. I was somewhat taken back by the proposition, but excited.

I completed my interview with Lockwood, snapped a few pictures and proceeded to my car.

Before I got in, I did a little happy dance, which I immediately stopped because of the laughter that started behind me. My audience automatically knew that my little performance was because I got a part as an extra. I knew this because between chuckles he said 'I guess you got in.' I quickly said 'Yes, how can you tell' and jumped in my car.

Once at home, I told my husband and kids the good news and right away my daughter was shouting 'Mommy the superstar.' Little did I know that my fantasy of breaking into the movie business was about to be crushed by my beautiful editor. I think I already knew that going out to Calgary was a little short notice and untimely because of the newspaper production schedule and stories I still had to write for the issue the following week. I guess I was hoping to hear the unimaginable from my editor as I called to inform her of the good news, but that wasn't the case.

I guess for now I will stick to what I know and put my background acting career, or lack thereof, on the backburner.

All Aboriginal background performers were to be paid $ 12 an hour, with time-and-a-half after eight hours.

Justin Johnson of Bigstone Cree Nation and Terrell Gladue of Calling Lake were among the 200-plus Aboriginal extras working on the film.

"It just gets bigger and bigger," said Lockwood.

Some of the extras were to ride horses, act in camp scenes and even play dead frozen Native people for the massacre. The movie features Aidan Quinn, Oscar winner Anna Paquin and Canadian actors August Schellenberg, Adam Beach and Gordon Tootoosis.

The film is directed by Yves Simoneau from Quebec. Filming began Sept. 21 and will wrap up in late November.