As a seasoned gamer and history enthusiast with a penchant for Western-themed games like Red Dead Redemption and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, I eagerly anticipate the release of American Primeval on Netflix. The trailer promises a raw, gritty exploration of the birth of the American West, which aligns perfectly with my love for immersive narratives set in the harsh frontier.
The preview for “American Primeval” takes place amidst the fierce, unforgiving wilderness of America in 1857, with the single objective being to endure and survive.
Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin spearhead a vast cast embarking on a cross-country journey westward, in this gripping Netflix limited series that delves into the gritty, thrilling origins of the American West. Regarding the depiction of violence within the show, as suggested in the trailer, the Native consultant for the series, Julie O’Keefe, stated to Tudum in an interview, “The violence depicted in American Primeval is relatively mild compared to historical accounts of what occurred to Native Americans during that era.
The show is characterized as a fictional portrayal and exploration of the turbulent clash between culture, religion, and society, where individuals struggle and perish over the contested territories of the harsh American frontier. Included among these people are several Native Tribes who have traditionally inhabited the land: the Shoshone, Paiute, and Ute.
Under the direction of Pete Berg (of “Painkiller”), with screenwriting, creative direction, and executive production by Mark L. Smith (“The Revenant”), and joined by Eric Newman (“Narcos”) and Alex Gayner in executive roles, the series “American Primeval” features performances from Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Derek Hinkey, Joe Tippett, Jai Courtney, Preston Mota, Shawnee Pourier, and Shea Whigham. Smith and Newman serve as the show’s primary writers and managers.
1857, I find myself in America – a world where right seems wrong, pain is relentless, and serenity fights a losing battle against hatred and dread. Tranquility is dwindling, and the few who cling to peace are outnumbered. Compassion is scarce, and grace is even rarer. There’s no haven from the brutalities of this land, and the only goal that matters is survival.
All six episodes release Jan. 9, 2025, on Netflix.
To ensure an authentic representation of the three indigenous tribes featured in the series, American Primeval enlisted O’Keefe as their Indigenous Cultural Advisor and Project Consultant. In conversation with Netflix’s Tudum, O’Keefe shared her role in collaborating with a network of native artists, artisans, and cultural experts to craft an on-screen depiction that reflects the lifestyle of these distinct tribes accurately.
“My approach comes from an academic approach focused on authenticity. It is assumed by the majority in Hollywood that one person can answer any ‘Native American’ question. There are 574 federally recognized Tribal Nations in the U.S., so that is literally impossible,” she said. “The goal for a Native consultant, even though I refer to myself as an Indigenous Cultural Consultant, is to make sure the director and all departments are provided with the accurate information so that different Tribal cultures are not borrowed or mixed together to portray some kind of a hodgepodge of cultures that have nothing to do with the Tribe being portrayed. Imagine if you buried the Pope in lederhosen with a Buddhist nun officiating Catholic rites, while everyone danced with a Union Jack flag. That is what it looks like to see your culture misrepresented.”
I excitedly exclaim, “The era of ‘Gunsmoke’ and ‘Bonanza’ has passed. Gone are the days of using brown paint or strange tribal symbols on people’s faces. The dialogue is now genuine, and clothing doesn’t mimic Geronimo’s attire. Not every tribe resides in tipis, and even if they do, it’s not the same as what you see in ‘American Primeval’. The depiction has evolved.
Berg remarked about her part, “Julie was consistently present, ensuring accuracy in every aspect – the hair, jewelry, clothing, language, behavior, even the time period and cultures. Her expertise filled in the gaps of what I didn’t know, helping us all to strive for authenticity. We are acutely aware of the importance of representing each group accurately and faithfully, so we put great effort into our research and portrayals.
Craftspeople, native language speakers from various Tribes, who contributed to the project American Primeval, comprise: Hovia Edwards-Yellowjohn (Shoshone Bannock-Navajo), Pete Yellowjohn (Shoshone Bannock), Georgette Running Eagle (Shoshone Bannock), Robert Perry, Kugee Supernaw (Quapaw and Osage) and Son Supernaw (Quapaw-Osage and Caddo), Joe Cheshawalla (Osage) Debbie Cheshawalla (Choctaw) and Molly Murphy Adams (Oglala Lakota). In simpler terms, these are the skilled artisans and native language speakers from different tribes who worked on American Primeval. They include Hovia Edwards-Yellowjohn (Shoshone Bannock-Navajo), Pete Yellowjohn (Shoshone Bannock), Georgette Running Eagle (Shoshone Bannock), Robert Perry, Kugee Supernaw (Quapaw and Osage) and Son Supernaw (Quapaw-Osage and Caddo), Joe Cheshawalla (Osage) Debbie Cheshawalla (Choctaw) and Molly Murphy Adams (Oglala Lakota).
Paramount Network’s hit Western series Yellowstone, created by Taylor Sheridan, could be concluding its main storyline following impressive ratings and sparking a craze for the genre. The ongoing season 5B has been confirmed as its final season, but discussions for a sixth season are ongoing.
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2024-12-05 18:55