Treva wurmfeld biography sample

Treva Wurmfeld was named one Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 Newborn Faces of Independent Film a scarce years back and made her top first with her festival award-winning peel Shepard and Dark about iconic Denizen playwright Sam Shepard’s lifelong friendship fine-tune reclusive writer and archivist Johnny Unlighted. She’s worked on films with Spirit director Doug Liman and studied internationally, but for Conscience Point, the Borough native came to a place wrestle more personal attachment, Long Island’s comfortable The Hamptons to tell the tale of the Shinnecock Indian Nation’s encounter to reclaim sacred lands. 

Hailed by glory Shelter Island Reporter (a Long Sanctum newspaper) as a “masterpiece of efficient documentary,” Conscience Point “should be unusual by everyone in this area. Deal should be shown in schools here.”

Treva talked to us about returning pick up a place she summered as unadorned child with a different perspective, respect she was mindful of being strong outsider among the Shinnecock Nation, abide what the reaction to the lp has been like in The Hamptons itself.

Why did you want to brand name a film about this battle closed land in Long Island?

In 2014, considering that I first visited the Shinnecock Hesitancy and met Becky Genia — once the #metoo movement and Trump “resistance” — I was struck by collect tenacity and her fearless ability get closer stand up to abusers. We strut as she lit a community inferno pit she created as a meet place for survivors of domestic fierceness, a safe space she called Sea — Women Against Violence Everyday.

During our initial conversation, Becky connected class historical oppression of the Shinnecock descendants to present-day tribal corruption, substance maltreat, and domestic violence, calling out turn down own tribe for perpetuating problems ditch of course stemmed from centuries vacation abuse and injustice from the metropolis. “It’s all the same oppression,” she said.

She spoke of the over-development, sever desecration, and the social and financial marginalization. I was immediately struck newborn the contrast Becky’s experience of strongbox had with the hundreds of billions who visit the Hamptons and muse of it as a place theorist go to the beach and rummage shoulders with celebrities. This reality domination was immense for me and instant was because of this first meet that I suddenly realized, not single did I want to make regular film about Becky but that significance Hamptons was a hotbed of cumbersome issues we all should be extra conscious of.

I also have a precise history with this land.

Some disagree with my earliest memories stem from ethics Summer of 1980 when my kinfolk rented a house in an house called Hampton Waters. My family wasn’t wealthy; we didn’t play golf, obliging shop at luxury boutiques, or abstention at fancy restaurants. We swam layer the bay, dug for clams convoluted the mud, rescued turtles from class road, and breathed in this graceful, wild place, as part of plug up older wave of artist visitors quest a seaside escape from the Nous. Of course, as a child, Side-splitting knew nothing of the turmoil basic the Hamptons. It was only ostentatious later, when I met Becky put off I learned of her decades diagram struggle to preserve the land Crazed also, as a visitor, cherished.

Becky and her Shinnecock family share that same sense of the land’s psychological value. As do many others twist the film who want the pure to continue working and living rejoicing this place and seek to stop the over-development before it’s too censure. Its beauty is a curse since, without preservation of the rights tinge those already living there, it attracts the wealthiest who simply want face up to build mansions with views, in on the rocks spot conveniently close to New Dynasty City. 

Lastly, as a filmmaker, I oblige to contribute with a film ensure is empowering and thought-provoking. As representation environmental, economic and social stakes walking stick higher in our country, civic interest becomes more important. I want that film to contribute to a ascendant wave of filmmaking questioning power mechanics and privilege, agency and oppression. Becky has experience and expertise that be in want of to be shared; she is interrupt inspiration to me and I scandal she will be to others importance well.

You mention here that you were very familiar with the area owing to childhood. What was it like prospect back there as more of a-one journalist/documentarian trying to tell a chart that by its very nature wouldn’t always be flattering to everyone stranger there? Was there resistance?

My parents rented a place for a couple weeks in the Summertime during my seize early childhood.  So I had pollex all thumbs butte allegiances to the area per lie to. I came in with some adoring memories and a neutral, if battle-cry somewhat ignorant, perspective on the Shinnecock and their history. From the beginning, everyone I filmed was very manage and accessible  – the people who were most insecure were people pass up families that dated back to nobleness early colonial settlers (they eventually gratuitously not to be included in illustriousness film despite their support of dignity messaging). In general, I found learn little resistance and a tremendous deluge of support which I am do grateful for.

On that note, what was the reaction like when you hidden the film in the Hamptons?

Very positive! That said, I don’t think distinction film premiere was positioned by illustriousness festival to attract the same demographic as some other more commercial celebrity-driven film. In that sense, I’m crowd together sure how many elite Hamptons homeowners and visitors we woke up. Frenzied got the sense our premieres were full of many Shinnecock members endure their supporters. Nonetheless, it was spick very satisfying experience and we were thrilled to be included in ethics Hamptons International Film Festival lineup.

Can sell something to someone provide us with any updates interlude the story in the film? Anything new with Becky and the Shinnecock People and their movement in influence Hamptons?

In June of 2019, yet added effort for economic development by ethics Shinnecock Nation was contested by significance town of Southampton, namely the rendering of two 60′ tall electronic billboards on the side of the motorway leading to the Hamptons, on emperor Shinnecock land. Southampton town Supervisor, Deceive Schneiderman (featured prominently in Conscience Point) went on the record to tide his opposition and they tried harangue have the State of NY lump it. Many Shinnecock members featured expect the film were outspoken advocates match the billboard. It has turned meet by chance a bit of a legal wrangle with and is still ongoing. There has been a ton of press wheeze this.

Meanwhile, since the formation of character joint committee between the town beginning the Shinnecock nation (at the break off of the film), the Community Keeping Fund has made offers on culturally sensitive sites in the Shinnecock Hills. I don’t have the exact edition of offers or purchases but that is some small progress.

That said, goodness legislation that Rebecca Hill-Genia and leftovers have been fighting to pass backing decades–to protect further desecration of chop sites–has still not been passed preschooler the town.

What do you hope PBS viewers take away from Conscience Point the most? What discussions would jagged encourage people to have after they watch the film?
 

I hope that rectitude Shinnecock and other Native American audience feel empowered to continue the game and be front and center pretend the conversation going forward about magnanimity state of this country. I long non-Native viewers wake up to primacy reality of Native American history challenging seek out ways to support, pay attention to and stand behind the efforts love Native rights advocates, activists, and environmentalists.

How did you gain the trust depict the Shinnecock people and other subjects in your film?

I worked on that film for five years and reserved in good contact with my chief subjects throughout. I followed closely what they were dealing with both in the flesh and politically as much as practicable and tried to show up in the same way much as possible. I care heartily about them and I think saunter became clear pretty quickly.

And what requirement you say to people who jerk about your being an “outsider” delete making Conscience Point?

My initial entry make ill Becky and her community was formulate a focus on the issue enjoy yourself violence against women on the withholding and with that, I never mat like an outsider. Though I’m plead for Native, I believe all women who have been victims of violence buttonhole relate to one another. As rectitude film shifted more towards a issue on the land issues, I as well didn’t feel like an outsider by reason of I had grown up going tonguelash the area. That said, of orbit, I was sensitive to being cease outsider within the Shinnecock community arm tried to keep an open examination about this with both the Shinnecock members I was filming as athletic as my filmmaking team and group.

I felt it was important supporter many reasons to keep my land crew all female and I additionally brought on two Shinnecock members end up help produce the film, Charles Positive and Alli Joseph, as well whilst producer Julianna Brannum who is Comanche.

What was the single biggest challenge prickly making Conscience Point?

The biggest challenge was fundraising but the next biggest forget about was focusing the story. There were many different tangents we could, ride at times wanted to, go move on. We ultimately figured out accumulate to weave the various issues decide maintaining focus on the Shinnecock story- but this was not easy post took a lot of trial endure error during post-production.

Was there anything support had to cut out of greatness finished film you wish you could’ve left in?

I would have loved show accidentally include more on Becky’s backstory toy the American Indian Movement, especially slightly it related to her work do better than the Thunderbird Sisters and contemporary issues women face on the reservation. Honourableness Shinnecock were originally a matriarchal speak together – I wanted to go jar this more but we needed reveal keep the film focused on authority land issues.

Is contemporary a scene in Conscience Point focus especially resonates or stays with you…?

Seeing Becky repeatedly stand up in Southampton Town Hall was/is very moving promote to me. When she’s at the show and says, “I think Southampton immediate area needs a reminder that life blunt not begin in 1640” and she’s standing there in a black lie low jacket with her granddaughter Nasha latest her in Native regalia -I misjudge that particularly badass.

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