Our quest for 2023 was to bring awareness to the Sacajawea production around the world. We believed she could attract an international audience. By entering film festivals, we were able to achieve this, and we will continue into 2024.
So last year Sacajawea garnered the attention of festivals in these countries:
USA – Win (2), Placement (2), Honorable Mention ITALY – Win (3) ENGLAND – Nominee ICELAND – coming 2024 HOLLAND – Nominee POLAND – coming 2024 FRANCE – Selected
In addition, we were also notified that Sacajawea earned a placement as NOMINEE in the Lonely Wolf International Film Festival in the United Kingdom!
We are ready for 2024 hoping to bring the film “Sacajawea, The Windcatcher” to the world!
“She waits, she prays, she wonders, she believes… Through the ages, her destiny is made real. Sacajawea is a mystery, yet she is relevant for today. She walked with joy, and she walked with pain… from her deepest, darkest cave, we will learn about the power of light.”
One of the greatest challenges and the most life-changing and humbling experiences I have encountered has been to write the story of Sacajawea. She is a beautiful and powerful spirit. She is relentless in her quest to share herself with the world. She is a spearhead for light and she is undeniably determined.
One person cannot lead her or stop her or share her… she is her own force and she has ignited us to give her a voice. The Sacajawea, The Windcatcher team believes in her quest. We respect her spirit, her traditions, her mission and we are walking forward every day. Our collective ultimate purpose is to create a worthy charactization of this brave and strong woman of history.
It is our humble and grateful honor to announce today that Sacajawea’s story has earned another award from the Planet Cinema Festival in New York. And, with our passion, we were moved by their message to us…
“Understanding the competitive nature of our festival, your achievement speaks volumes about the quality and impact of your work. It is clear that you have put immense thought and care into giving Sacajawea a voice that resonates with authenticity and depth. We are confident that your script will not only represent her story with the respect and honor it deserves but also inspire and enlighten audiences worldwide.” Jimmy Pratz, Planet Cinema
It is with heart-pounding gratitude and great joy that we received the news this morning that Sacajawea, The Windcatcher is an OFFICIAL SELECTION in the CANNES WORLD ART FESTIVAL! The event is in February 2024!
This project is built through a truly dedicated team and these awards add streangth to our entire journey. I sincerely appreciate everyone on this production. Let us soar into 2024 together and bring Sacajawea to the world stage!
These are incredibly exciting and grateful times!! On eagle’s wings!!
My name is Tina de Keyzer-van Bruggen and this is The Women’s Table.
In 1800 Sacajawea a young girl from the Shoshoni tribe in the US was taken from her family and her people by the Hidatsa warriors. In 1803 she was traded for a gun to Toussaint Charbonneau to be his woman. In 1805 Sacajawea, now also a mother, and her husband become part of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
In this new episode Jane L. Fitzpatrick tells us, in this honest and heartfelt conversation, why she feels that the whole world should know about the life of this remarkable young woman. Please join us in another inspiring episode.
I invite you to listen as I am deeply grateful for Tina and for this opportunity to share the extended story of the Windcatcher… Sometimes life offers us an experience so totally unexpected and utterly life-changing that we literally become someone else. This was my experience as I wrote the story of Sacajawea and pursued production that has taken (and continues to take) nearly a third of my life.
Sacajawea The Movie, LLC and each of us on the Sacajawea team are thrilled to welcome Temple Gate Films to the making of Sacajawea, The Windcatcher. At the heart of this vibrant production company is a dynamic and truly professional group of like-minded individuals who bring exquisite expertise and creative talent to this enormous project.
Rick Balentine is a founding partner at Temple Gate Films, a film producer, and award-winning composer and instrumentalist who has created heart-pounding, warm, and inspiring scores for a variety of genres during a very successful music career spanning over 30 years. His passion for detail is felt in every note, moving the narrative in compelling ways. Rick knew his calling was in the musical arts at an early age. By the age of 19, he produced his first album, and by 23, his success and growing reputation as a studio musician and producer allowed him to open his first recording studio – a haven for local artists for songwriting, composing and record production. Rick also landed album production credits with R&B artists The Dramatics, Lenny Williams and The Temptations. He has written, composed, and arranged scores, openers, bumpers, and music libraries for a host of shows, including America’s Next Top Model, NCIS LA, Dancing With The Stars, The Real Housewives of Dallas, The Bachelorette, and Black Ink Crew: Chicago, as well as feature films True Justice, Dragon Eyes, Never Back Down 2, Red Clover and the Indie film In The Lines of My Hands with Dennis Hopper. Currently, along with the Moon Drake series, Temple Gate Films is also producing Wilkes County Line, A Letter from Alcatraz, In Tenebras: Into The Darkness, Twilight Time Drive-In, and Abby’s Gift.
As Producer, Rick Balentine offers a wealth of production experience and valuable connections. As Composer, he will dramatically ignite the emotions of the audience through his magnificent, epic musical intuition and creativity.
Mark Rickerby is a founding partner at Temple Gate Films, a film producer, and award-winning head writer, having written several feature film scripts for the production company, and an episode for the Moon Drake series. He is the co-creator and head writer of a western TV series titled Harmony, for which he has written or co-written eleven one-hour episodes. His nonfiction stories have been published in over 30 Chicken Soup for the Soul books. One of these books features the “101 best stories from Chicken Soup for the Soul’s first 15 years”. His fiction stories have been published in magazines such as Black Belt, Inside Kung Fu, Nostalgia and Whole Life Times. Black Belt magazine ended a ban on nonfiction of over twenty years to print his story The Master’s Short-Lived MMA Career, which was called “a masterpiece” by one reviewer. Mark wrote and sang 15 original songs on his 2014 CD release, Great Big World. A screenplay based on one of his stories won the annual Bravo Channel Short Film Screenplay Award. He co-authored The Other Belfast, his father’s memoir about growing up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, between 1935 and 1957.
As Producer, Mark Rickerby brings his creative writing techniques, vision, and imagination, editing and organizing skills, and distribution connections.
Tanille Yow Ulm is a founding partner at Temple Gate Films, film producer, writer, and casting director. In the beginning of her film career, Warner Brothers Studio provided Tanille with an all-expense paid trip to their set in Georgia. There, she became intrigued with the behind-the-scenes movie-making action. She went back to be in John Goodman’s movie Captive State in Chicago and began to get small roles in Chicago PD, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Empire. These smaller roles led to her being a PA for Christakis’ and Scorsese’s First String and Crux Jinx movie The Irish Goodbye. She is currently casting for We Bleed Blue, Wilkes County Line, and the Moon Drake series.
As Co-Producer, Tanille Yow Ulm brings her casting experience as Casting Associate working with Co-Producer and Casting Associate Susan Funk and an A-list Casting Director soon to be announced. In addition, as a Native American, Tanille will be an indigenous advisor and actor.
Life is a journey of experiences that lead us to a greater understanding. These are words that came to me on my sojourn. Those experiences are like diamonds, no matter what they are, for if we keep walking, we will learn beautiful, powerful lessons, and meet brilliant and like-minded people. We are extremely grateful to have Temple Gate Films join our journey. We have worked on a number of projects, and like those brilliant diamonds, we have the same vision, the same light, the same faceted passion. We extend a sincere and excited welcome to Tanille, Mark, and Rick as we continue onward together toward our quest!
“We are pleased, excited and humbled to be a part of your vision and it’s our hope to be a great asset in getting Sacajawea brought to life!”
~ Rick Balentine
We soar on eagle’s wings! Jane
For more information about Temple Gate Films please visit their website at: www.templegatefilms.com
Since 2003 (when I began the script) this award-winning screenplay has been through many years of transformation, editing, analysis and adapting to new information in an effort to create a story that is both accurate and authentic, and also worthy of Sacajawea’s life. It has been analyzed three times by Christopher Keane, well-known script analyst and Kaaren Ochoa who is a lifelong moviemaker, producer, assistant director, director, writer and script consultant.
As a first-time screenwriter all those years ago, I am grateful for the many morning and evening discussions about the Lewis & Clark journals with my husband Matthew Fitzpatrick, for the expertise of the film professionals, for the Lewis & Clark consultants and authors (David Borlaug, Landon Jones and Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs) and especially Sacajawea’s own people, (Leo Ariwite) for their input, corrections and loving care of this important, untold story about an icon of American history.
I am so grateful for the awards she has won to date. They never would have been achieved without the collective hearts that came together and believed, determined to make it right.
“Grown men can learn from very little children for the hearts of the little children are pure. Therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them many things which older people miss.”
~ Black Elk
Thoughts from the Story of Sacajawea —
It is February 11, 1805. The biting wind rattles the shutters of the room at Fort Mandan. Outside, a full moon shimmers off the icy backs of buffalo, and a wolf stretches his neck out to howl across the frozen river.
It is a frigid night, yet a night that changes everything … for a newborn babe is born at Fort Mandan. Sacajawea, only 16 years old, through a difficult and painful birth, delivers her first child, a son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau (Pomp). The explorers don’t realize it, but that night miraculously “shifts” the energy of the entire expedition. That night the “Universe” calls each of them to a new, higher purpose, through a brilliant Light – a child with unlimited possibilities.
Concept Artwork by Marcia K. Moore
At the time, the explorers and Sacajawea, did not know their position in the matrix of history. In fact, Captain Lewis had his doubts about taking a baby on that harrowing trek. None of the men understood the child’s importance for future generations. But, through the experience, each of the men were “called” to this unique moment in time, to help nurture the first-year of a child’s life. Indeed, it was a journey of discovery in more ways than one.
They watched him smile and laugh for the first time, they watched him crawl and walk and begin to eat on his own, and talk. They worried for his safety and some nearly gave their lives for his life. York, 6’4” African American slave, sang to him and carried him high above his head around the camp fire. Captain Clark loved him so much he nicknamed him “Pomp,” and called him his “little dancing boy.” They all cheered when he took his first step after a particularly stressful day on the trail.
The foundation of a human being’s journey begins in the first year of life. Like a sponge they soak up every light and dark moment. Sacajawea and 31 men gave this little boy his beginning, and the expedition was far more enriched and powerful because of the child. Children are brought into our lives not only for us to teach them, but for them to teach us how to remember our spiritual selves – the ultimate calling. In Sacajawea’s story, it is Pomp who helps his mother deliver the prayer at the Great Water – a message to all people of the world.
After the expedition, Captain Clark did not forget about Pomp. When he was nine years old, the captain became his benefactor and gave him an education. The young man grew up and traveled to Europe, where he learned five languages and danced with queens.
Ultimately, Pomp became an explorer and an interpreter, known as a “storyteller” around the campfires of the old west. And what incredible stories he had to tell! No one knows what his life would have been like, if he had not been a part of the Lewis and Clark expedition. But, indeed, he was richly blessed with a unique and magnificent “first-year” journey of a lifetime.
So many of you have asked about Sacajawea, The Windcatcher, and our timeline for moving the production forward once again. I truly appreciate your devotion and understanding through the Covid three years as we focused our efforts on the development of the Moon Drake Series. It was, and is, a worthwhile endeavor and we will see our current steps coming to fruition over the next few months.
But as far as Sacajawea, our hearts and spirits have never swayed from our genuine purpose and our enormous dream. Many on our production team have been with the project for nearly ten years. We have seen successes and challenges, undeniably, and even experiences that were hurtful to our hearts and minds – which could have diminished our faith and trust. But with an epic production, like Sacajawea, and the great importance we have always placed on protecting the Indigenous story in all ways, we understood from the beginning it would not be easy. We each are committed, and therefore, nothing could ever take our human eyes away from our spiritual quest.
So today, in an effort to kick-off our Sacajawea project plan for 2023, we are very excited and deeply humbled to share someone new to our amazing crew. This gentleman has been a Prop Master for films that you all have seen. Please welcome, Mr. Kelly Farrah, to the production of SACAJAWEA, The Windcatcher!
Kelly’s prop master talents have been seen in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, and in powerful historical films like, “Last of the Dogmen,” “The Last of the Mohicans,” “Gettysburg” and “Glory.” In addition, he’s worked on a number of popular series including, “The Walking Dead,” and “TURN: Washington Spies,” among many other projects!
Kelly has a heart for stories like Sacajawea, and he is driven by his own dedication to history: “I began the desire to work in film when, as a historian, I saw such blatant inaccuracies in historical movies and television and could see no reason why filmmakers couldn’t be a little more accurate in their storytelling. Because of this, most of my career consists of historically based stories. The plotline may not always have been that correct, but there’s no reason the props couldn’t be! As those who know my work will attest to, I prefer to write my own period letters and documents, make my own maps, where practicable, create some of the leatherwork, hand-paint flags, paintings, and all manner of period items, and have done so for other prop masters as well. I have been an advisor on First Nations cultural items, the American frontier, American military 1650-1900, Pirates, and Viking Age material cultures. Whether a period or contemporary show, it’s always important that the props help tell the story.” ~ Kelly Farrah
We are so fortunate to have Kelly Farrah as prop master and historical consultant on the SACAJAWEA, The Windcatcher project, as we ramp up production for this new year! Please watch for additional significant attachments to the project later in 2023!
From Sacajawea, The Windcatcher – It is June, 1805, along the Missouri River. Sacajawea’s fever is broken after being deathly sick. She sits on a rock in the shallows of the river, cleansing herself, braiding her hair and preparing her face in the tradition of her people.
At the edge of the trees, Captain Clark waits, guarding with his gun ready. He looks the other way from Sacajawea, his eyes scanning into the forest.
Suddenly, he is startled when the girl appears from nowhere, next to him. “You are better!” he says with great relief. He looks closely at the vermilion lines drawn across her forehead and in the part of her hair. “What do these markings mean?”
Sacajawea smiles, “It is from my people, to show how we walk. It means, the Spirit is with us. It says we come in peace.”
Captain Clark’s face softens when he realizes Sacajawea has been wearing the vermilion the entire journey. And, because of her, all the tribes they’ve met along the way knew they were peaceful…
Sacajawea was true to herself and her traditions. She walked with love and an innate knowing that “in peace” we find Creator – though she was not afraid to do what’s right, even if it caused discontent. For Sacajawea was very aware of light and dark, as one cannot exist without the other. She also knew that peace would not be a relevant truth without chaos.
Sacajawea’s Symbol of Peace
The question is, which one leads us and what will we leave behind for others? Sacajawea knew the explorers would be killed if she did not go before them, proclaiming the “peaceful” traditions of her people.
Peace, as Love, isa noun (a thing) anda verb (an action),and therefore,they hold Infiniteand Universalpower in allWorlds...
We are on an amazing exploration – a journey to finally give credit to a brave woman. Like the Lewis and Clark Expedition, it is a literal Journey of Discovery…
But it can also be described metaphorically with its harrowing ups and downs. The snow-capped mountain peaks and deep, narrow valleys – the dangerous and unpredictable waterways and thunderous, life-threatening weather. It is a tenuous trek as we make our way.
But, we are undaunted, connecting to the right “guides,” the right timing and taking the leaps of “Faith” that send our sunbeams over the highest mountaintops.
This is a journey of intense determination as we have set our compass on a cinematic course – a path to share this story through film with the world.
Sometimes it is hard, but we have never lost sight of the prize. And, those of you who encourage us, support us and keep us going are vital to our success. We thank you!
So, what about this Windcatcher, Sacajawea? Who would have ever believed, or predicted, that a girl of 16 years old would be so loved today by people around the globe?
Yes, the backdrop is Lewis and Clark, but have you ever thought about what would possess two young captains to actually agree to bring a baby and his mother into unknown territory? (“Unknown” to them, but not to her.) And, if they had not brought them, would the soldiers have been killed along the way? Would they have convinced the Shoshoni to give them horses for the trek over the mountains? Would they have had the same joyful morale without that “little dancing boy” to delight them? I think not.
This is an important story for us all. We are hopeful that in this new year, 2022, we will rise above the wind and finally reach the Great Water.
You can almost see “Windcather” written in the wave on the shore.
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