Breaking through the film industry glass ceiling

Tsailii Rogers grew up with a love for theater and fashion after attending art schools as a child and spending time with family connected to the independent film industry in Los Angeles.

But as a Navajo and Latina woman, she didn’t think she could pursue those things professionally, given the limited opportunities traditionally available for Native American and minority artists in the mainstream film and media industries.

So she instead focused on her personal commitment as an adult to contribute to positive change in underserved communities by creating her own grant-writing service business in 2013 to assist aspiring entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations.

By 2017, however, the New Mexico film industry was growing rapidly. And, with digital technology becoming more affordable and social media expanding exponentially, Rogers realized she could launch her own media production company to not only break into the film industry, but to create opportunities for other struggling Indigenous artists as well.

She then pivoted her grant-writing business into a broad film and media platform dubbed Silent T Productions, which she runs from a home office in Los Ranchos.

“I leveraged my own business background to support creative media focused on positive change,” Rogers told the Journal.

The company now works with mainstream studios to help produce movies and TV shows, while also producing its own films and commercials. And it continues to provide grant-writing services to help under-represented creators fulfill their passions and missions through the arts, Rogers said.

She personally has worked on numerous films and TV shows in New Mexico, such as the Netflix series “Longmire” and The CW Network’s “Walker: Independence.”

“I’ve opened a lot of doors, which I attribute to my work ethic — always treating people the way they want to be treated — and being observant about what’s needed in the industry,” Rogers said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s a blessing, and I love it.”

Still, creating positive change by opening up more opportunities for creative Indigenous and culturally diverse artists remains Roger’s driving passion.

“As a Diné and Latina woman, I’ve seen a huge lack of Native and Latino talent on sets in New Mexico,” she said. “I’ve always known Indigenous people to be so creative, and from my experience, the industry’s entry barriers are way too high.”

To increase Silent T Productions’ impact on underserved communities, Rogers is working to scale up her business operations and broaden their reach.

To do that, she joined the “Creatives Indigenous” program, which the Creative Startups business accelerator launched last year to offer intensive training bootcamps for Native American-run businesses. She’s now receiving mentoring and assistance through the program to develop her most ambitious production project to date.

Although details remain confidential, Rogers said it will be a “community-driven” production that takes place in an undeveloped area in New Mexico to help creative innovators in film, music and performing arts “bring their visions to life.” And she’s hoping to get funding from Creative Startups newly-formed investment firm Skoden Ventures to help finance the project.

“Indigenous creatives need a safe community where they can access resources, and funding is vital,” Rogers said. “Skoden has similar values, and I’m hoping they will see the value this project can bring to the community.”