Lorraine Norrgard
1. Lorraine Norrgard is an Native American documentary film maker who spent most of her childhood growing up in Chicago. She received her MA in educational communications at the University of Hawaii. Norrgard spent time working for the United Nations, creating educational films for foreign countries. Most of her films are for education of, not only non-Native Americans, but to teach the traditions to young Native Americans. She works with Turtle Island Productions, who aim to create corporate broadcasts as well as dramatic, documentary and educational videos about Native American issues and stories. Turtle Island productions does a lot of work right here in Minnesota, and most of their work in the Midwest specifically dealing witht he Ojibwe tribes
2. Lorraine is most well known for her direction in the film "Looks Into the Night," which was, " is an award winning Native American dramatic short film focusing on American Indian womens' contemporary issues. Based on a true story, it powerfully portrays the profound story of Laura, a medical student in Los Angeles, of Chumash Tribal Decent, who, as a child was "adopted out" and separated from her family after her parents died in a tragic car accident. Disturbing dreams and visions propel Laura on a journey of self-discovery." When it made it's debut in 1996 at the Annual American Indian Film Festival it won best dramatic short film. It was viewed at a number of other film festivals in which it was nominated from a number of awards. Lorraine also directed, "A Gift to One, A Gift to Many: James Jackson Sr., Ojibwe Medicine Man" (a documentary), "Enduring Ways of the Lac du Flambeau People" (an informative film), "A Healthy Way of Life," "Follow Your Dreams" as well as "Ojibwe Oral Tradition."
3. I was unable to actually view any of her work. I found links to websites that either I had to be a member to view it, or they had not trailer of any kind. Even youtube.com didn't recognize her name or any of her films. I was only able to view a short documentary that was located on the Turtle Island Productions website, which was more about Native Americans in Minnesota; which was a very slight overview of what it is that TIP does.
4. I learned about Lorraine Norrgard by googling some version of women film directors/women in film type keyword. She was listed on the Sixth Annual Women of Color Film and Video Festival listed in what films will be shown at the festival.
5. It was difficult to find the names of women of color film makers, as well as find out anything about them. It took some searching to find lists of names of any directors, and once I'd find one, there would be almost no information about her. At best I'd find a list of films she would have made, but hardly any background (bio) information. There's not much detailed information about these women, especially if the films they are producing are not very mainstream or are covering a topic that is "interesting" to most people. I don't know if it's just that there isn't enough interest, so no one wants to dedicate websites solely to them, but there's almost no information out there. It seems that independent films tend to fall more under the radar whether they're women, women of color, or any other non-mainstream producer.
References:
"About TIP." Turtle Island Productions. 2003. 6 Oct. 2007
"Looks Into the Night." Turtle Island Productions. 6 Oct. 2007
"Lorraine Noggard." Native Networks. Apr. 2005. Smithsonian National Museum of American Indians. 6 Oct. 2007