Film reveals history behind Indian gaming

“It’s really been a journey to get here,” he explains. “I can’t wait to tell this story.”

	Online To learn more about Jeff Franken’s project, “Neon Buffalo,” visit www.neonbuffalo.com

“Neon Buffalo” tells the story of Indian gaming from the first bingo halls to today’s destination resorts.

Franken says the film delves deeper into Indian gaming than slot machines and blackjack tables. He says it will examine the role as the economic manifestation of a social revolution that began throughout Indian Country decades before the first casino doors opened.

The story is told through the words of the people who laid hands to the bricks and mortar, fought the battles on Capitol Hill, operated gaming facilities, gained employment when there was none and fought for the legal significance of the word sovereign. It is based on the book, “Sovereign: An Oral History of Indian Gaming in America.”

“It’s taken so much work to gain the trust of all the tribe leaders,” he says. “Now that we have the trust, we’re looking to tell the story as completely as we can.”

Production will begin in New Mexico and will focus on many of the area pueblos’ casinos.

In addition to filming New Mexico, crews will also head to Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., and Florida.

Franken is one of the producers of “Neon Buffalo” and many of the top-of-the-line jobs are held by New Mexicans. He also is producing with Daniel Montaño, while Pierre Barrera will be directing. Corey Weintraub will be director of photography and Alton Walpole will be the line producer. Joseph Lujan will be a co-producer and Roy Montibon will be an associate producer.

“Assembling the team happened very organically,” Franken says. “It was a blessing to get all of the talent we have to work on this special story.”

If that wasn’t enough, the film recently picked up Marcos Rodriguez and David C. Traub as executive producers. The duo are the team responsible for bringing together the financing for Ashton Kutcher’s “jOBS” biopic.

“There’s an entirely different life taking place on Indian lands and most Americans know very little about it,” Rodriguez say. “With the ‘Neon Buffalo’ movie, we can take the audience inside that life and take a close look at one of the most dramatic and controversial elements – casino gambling.

“Today, American Indians are so closely associated with gaming halls and bright neon lights that it’s become almost a stereotype. However, the cultural history significance of Indian gaming is far deeper and more interesting.”

Franken says Indian gaming is an important part of the tapestry of American history.

He says most people understand very little of the roots and significance of bingo halls and roulette wheels on Indian lands. The film is told from the perspective of the American Indians who fought for the right to open gaming halls on the reservations, and in so doing, fought for a new kind of independence.

“We’ve planned to go all around the country to get all the stories that we can,” he explains. “This is important because this industry is a $26 billion a year industry. These gaming areas truly provide an economic impact. It’s been a difficult battle for them but they’ve gotten there.”

A HISTORY in N.M. FILM: What do Gregory Peck, Bob Hopes, Lucille Ball, Burt Lancaster and Jerry Lewis have in common with actress Mary Pickford? The celebrated actors all appeared in films that were made in New Mexico. And Santa Fe resident Jeff Berg is going to tell you about them.

Berg has spent the last decade digging up obscure films that were made in New Mexico. He will present his final installment – “Made in N.M. Westerns: The Last Shootout” – at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 at the Guild Cinema, 3405 E. Central. Tickets are $7 and the program runs 100 minutes.

Berg’s program consists of clips from about 15 different westerns, starting with a 1912 oddity starring silent-film star Pickford and continuing up to present day. After each short clip is shown, he then does live narration, offering tidbits about the film, such as where it was shot, any historical reference and sometimes even if it is worth your time to see the entire movie.

“When I started doing this series, I was down in Las Cruces and presented it at the Farm and Ranch Museum,” he says. “They went over really well.”

Since then, Berg has expanded his research and was able to build up a five-part series; all have been screened at The Guild.

He says while doing the research, he was surprised to find that Las Vegas, N.M., and Las Cruces were hotbeds for films nearly a century ago.

“A lot of these films are hard to find and I’m providing an education of those films,” he explains. “It’s really fun to discover which films have a history in New Mexico.”

SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.