Meet the Filmmaker - Michele Noble // Reclamation: The Rise at Standing Rock
Meet the Filmmaker: Michele Noble - Reclamation: The Rise at Standing Rock
Michele Noble is a director, writer and producer for film, theatre and television.We recently had an opportunity to interview Michele about her experiences in making Reclamation: The Rise at Standing Rock, and here is what we learned.
Firstly, can you tell us a bit about the film?
My film is a documentary short which details through interviews of Native leaders, Native history and footage from the frontline of the Native Nations peaceful resistance at Standing Rock North Dakota to the 3.8 billion dollar Dakota Access Pipeline which unlawfully went through their treaty land, desecrating their burial and ceremonial sights. It was the first time in 150 years the Native Nations united to protect Mother Earth. Their sacred peaceful spiritual resistance to this pipeline awakened the world. The resistance grew from a handful of Native "water protectors" in the spring of 2016, to over 15,000 people from all over the world in December of that same year. They remained peaceful in spite of the huge militarized police respond to their righteous resistance.
What was your biggest inspiration to make this film/How did you get involved or attached to the project?
I am a documentary filmmaker and activist and some Native friends told me something was happening with the Native people at Standing Rock with regards to the Dakota Access Pipeline and I should grab my cameras and get down there. I arrived early summer and was inspired by these young Native leaders ages 19, 20, 21, who were in the process of fulfilling their sacred destiny by uniting the Native Nations to peacefully oppose the pipeline. They were protecting Mother Earth. They awakened the world.
As a filmmaker there are many ups and downs in the process, what was your absolute favourite and/or funniest part of making/producing this film?
Filming and standing in solidarity with the Native Nations at Standing Rock was transformative for me. It was life changing. I realised my life’s work as a filmmaker and activist had led me and helped inform my experience there. I arrived at Standing Rock in early summer to witness a camp of 200 people declaring opposition to the 3.8 billion dollar Dakota Access pipeline. I had only a basic understanding of the plight of the determined Native water protectors and their non-violent resistance to protect Mother Earth. As I filmed the young Native leaders and their spiritual elders from an almost idyllic summer through the harsh winter the camp had swelled to over 15,000 people and my basic understanding had evolved to a deep belief and profound honouring of their situation, their history and their sacred destiny. I saw their courageous sacrifice as they faced a huge militarised police force/response of tear gas, water cannons, concussion grenades, and violent arrests. They stood untied, remained peaceful and in prayer committed to protecting Mother Earth. At the end of my time there, after the chanting, praying, direct actions of resistance to power, in the bright voices for justice around the wake of the big roaring fire, I too found a home, a family, and in many ways, my true self.
What does a film festival like Byron Bay Film Festival mean to you and your work?
It's our Australian premiere. And we are thrilled to be part of such a prestigious film festival. To be a part of this Film Festival means our work has merit and our documentary is compelling.
Byron Bay Film Festival showcases an array of entertaining, inspiring and thought-provoking films. Do you feel that your film helps people ‘Dream With Their Eyes Open’? And if so how?
Yes I do. Our film inspires, enlightens and immerses the audience into the world of the Native people. We dream their dreams and learn about their personal and historical struggles as well as their peaceful resistance to the pipeline.
What was the most challenging part of the filmmaking process?
Making a film is a struggle so find your passion with a project first whether it's in the story or theme or message and then go for it full throttle.
What is the best piece of advice you can give to future independent filmmakers?
Making a film is a struggle so find your passion with a project first whether it's in the story or theme or message and then go for it full throttle.
What was the most challenging part of the filmmaking process?
Finding the money to make the film.
If some or all of the team is coming to the festival at Byron Bay. Who is coming and what are you looking forward to?
We are figuring that out now. But I am hoping as the director/producer to attend. And I want to meet other filmmakers and see their films.
Any upcoming projects for you, your team or key creatives involved in your film?
We are working on a 10 part documentary series.
Any upcoming projects for the filmmaking team?
Yes. I've worked with my supervising editor, Travis Rust on three previous films (a feature documentary, narrative short and experimental film) and with my d.p. Geza Sinkovics on a feature film and an experimental film before doing this short documentary with him.
What drives you as a filmmaker?
The power of film. I think film has the power to change people's hearts and minds. Art can foster understanding and inspiration. I grew up in Los Angeles steeped in the intoxicating company of artists, activists, actors, musicians, and all kinds of Hollywood dreamers. I yearned to be a storyteller. Film became my early passion. First learning the history, then making them. I love the power and intimacy of film. I hope to tell good stories and to always honour the truth in the telling.
Anything interesting or unique about the filmmaking process for this film, any hiccups along the way, any happy coincidences that changed the films direction?
As a documentary filmmaker there is a proper distance between you and your subject and/or the event you are filming. With Standing Rock , I filmed and also stood in resistance on the front lines with them in solidarity. So there was an involvement, there was being a part of the Native community, there was no distance. Also, the Native people are brilliant storytellers and prefer to answer in their own way to questions so my interview style shifted to invite their wonderful ways of weaving their history, their culture, insights and ideas.
Reclamation: The Rise at Standing Rock screens Friday 25 October at 5pm at the Byron Community Centre.
You can meet many of our filmmakers at the BBFF Filmmakers Breakfast on Monday 21st October at 8:30am and other special events including the Opening Night Gala and Closing Night Gala.
Reclamation: The Rise at Standing Rock
In 2016 from the summer through the harsh winter at Standing Rock, North Dakota, the youth of many tribes unite the Native Nations for the first time in 150 years and rise up in spiritual solidarity to non-violently fight for Unci Maka (Mother Earth) against the 3.8 billion dollar Dakota Access Oil Pipeline (DAPL). These young Native leaders known as water protectors join together to honour their destiny as they pray and protect Mother Earth by leading a peaceful movement of resistance which awakens the world.
