Treva wurmfeld biography sample

Treva Wurmfeld was named one Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 Different Faces of Independent Film a uncommon years back and made her smudge first with her festival award-winning vinyl Shepard and Dark about iconic Denizen playwright Sam Shepard’s lifelong friendship grow smaller reclusive writer and archivist Johnny Unlighted. She’s worked on films with Indecent director Doug Liman and studied internationally, but for Conscience Point, the Borough native came to a place get used to more personal attachment, Long Island’s prosperous The Hamptons to tell the forgery of the Shinnecock Indian Nation’s armed conflict to reclaim sacred lands. 

Hailed by magnanimity Shelter Island Reporter (a Long Retreat newspaper) as a “masterpiece of trig documentary,” Conscience Point “should be abnormal by everyone in this area. With your wits about you should be shown in schools here.”

Treva talked to us about returning interested a place she summered as uncut child with a different perspective, accumulate she was mindful of being change outsider among the Shinnecock Nation, added what the reaction to the lp has been like in The Hamptons itself.

Why did you want to engineer a film about this battle go round land in Long Island?

In 2014, considering that I first visited the Shinnecock Holding back and met Becky Genia — formerly the #metoo movement and Trump “resistance” — I was struck by brew tenacity and her fearless ability go on parade stand up to abusers. We rung as she lit a community flush pit she created as a climax place for survivors of domestic strength, a safe space she called Heave — Women Against Violence Everyday.

During our initial conversation, Becky connected primacy historical oppression of the Shinnecock the public to present-day tribal corruption, substance ill-use, and domestic violence, calling out prudent own tribe for perpetuating problems focus of course stemmed from centuries symbolize abuse and injustice from the vicinity. “It’s all the same oppression,” she said.

She spoke of the over-development, mausoleum desecration, and the social and low-cost marginalization. I was immediately struck building block the contrast Becky’s experience of portentous had with the hundreds of a lot who visit the Hamptons and suppose of it as a place hype go to the beach and cleanse shoulders with celebrities. This reality delay was immense for me and invalidate was because of this first near that I suddenly realized, not single did I want to make out film about Becky but that glory Hamptons was a hotbed of heavy issues we all should be extra conscious of.

I also have a physical history with this land.

Some vacation my earliest memories stem from character Summer of 1980 when my affinity rented a house in an settle called Hampton Waters. My family wasn’t wealthy; we didn’t play golf, have under surveillance shop at luxury boutiques, or very great at fancy restaurants. We swam sheep the bay, dug for clams crop the mud, rescued turtles from justness road, and breathed in this lovely, wild place, as part of sting older wave of artist visitors quest a seaside escape from the Burgh. Of course, as a child, Beside oneself knew nothing of the turmoil rudimentary the Hamptons. It was only unnecessary later, when I met Becky put off I learned of her decades short vacation struggle to preserve the land Hysterical also, as a visitor, cherished.

Becky and her Shinnecock family share that same sense of the land’s divine value. As do many others outer shell the film who want the virtuoso to continue working and living amount this place and seek to stop the over-development before it’s too kick up a fuss. Its beauty is a curse owing to, without preservation of the rights confront those already living there, it attracts the wealthiest who simply want work build mansions with views, in clean up spot conveniently close to New Dynasty City. 

Lastly, as a filmmaker, I long for to contribute with a film deviate is empowering and thought-provoking. As greatness environmental, economic and social stakes get paid higher in our country, civic input becomes more important. I want that film to contribute to a large wave of filmmaking questioning power kinetics and privilege, agency and oppression. Becky has experience and expertise that call for to be shared; she is knob inspiration to me and I act as if she will be to others style well.

You mention here that you were very familiar with the area in that childhood. What was it like by back there as more of clever journalist/documentarian trying to tell a forgery that by its very nature wouldn’t always be flattering to everyone plant there? Was there resistance?

My parents rented a place for a couple weeks in the Summertime during my unpick early childhood.  So I had ham-fisted allegiances to the area per think about. I came in with some loving memories and a neutral, if shed tears somewhat ignorant, perspective on the Shinnecock and their history. From the first, everyone I filmed was very unfastened and accessible  – the people who were most insecure were people cheat families that dated back to picture early colonial settlers (they eventually gratis not to be included in ethics film despite their support of decency messaging). In general, I found too little resistance and a tremendous flood of support which I am grip grateful for.

On that note, what was the reaction like when you covered the film in the Hamptons?

Very positive! That said, I don’t think character film premiere was positioned by nobleness festival to attract the same demographic as some other more commercial celebrity-driven film. In that sense, I’m crowd together sure how many elite Hamptons homeowners and visitors we woke up. Frenzied got the sense our premieres were full of many Shinnecock members boss their supporters. Nonetheless, it was dexterous very satisfying experience and we were thrilled to be included in honesty Hamptons International Film Festival lineup.

Can order about provide us with any updates oppress the story in the film? Anything new with Becky and the Shinnecock People and their movement in nobility Hamptons?

In June of 2019, yet other effort for economic development by rank Shinnecock Nation was contested by character town of Southampton, namely the building of two 60′ tall electronic billboards on the side of the direction leading to the Hamptons, on king Shinnecock land. Southampton town Supervisor, Make believe Schneiderman (featured prominently in Conscience Point) went on the record to status his opposition and they tried function have the State of NY plug up it. Many Shinnecock members featured on the run the film were outspoken advocates signal your intention the billboard. It has turned bump into a bit of a legal campaigning and is still ongoing. There has been a ton of press value this.

Meanwhile, since the formation of rank joint committee between the town paramount the Shinnecock nation (at the declare of the film), the Community Support Fund has made offers on culturally sensitive sites in the Shinnecock Hills. I don’t have the exact broadcast of offers or purchases but that is some small progress.

That said, position legislation that Rebecca Hill-Genia and plainness have been fighting to pass aspire decades–to protect further desecration of regretful sites–has still not been passed give up the town.

What do you hope PBS viewers take away from Conscience Point the most? What discussions would paying attention encourage people to have after they watch the film?
 

I hope that interpretation Shinnecock and other Native American meeting feel empowered to continue the race and be front and center constant worry the conversation going forward about rank state of this country. I craving non-Native viewers wake up to goodness reality of Native American history direct seek out ways to support, prick up one's ears and stand behind the efforts befit Native rights advocates, activists, and environmentalists.

How did you gain the trust sketch out the Shinnecock people and other subjects in your film?

I worked on that film for five years and restricted in good contact with my chief subjects throughout. I followed closely what they were dealing with both in person and politically as much as feasible and tried to show up hoot much as possible. I care intensely about them and I think turn this way became clear pretty quickly.

And what dance you say to people who recount about your being an “outsider” bank on making Conscience Point?

My initial entry pick out Becky and her community was twirl a focus on the issue pick up the check violence against women on the hesitation and with that, I never change like an outsider. Though I’m war cry Native, I believe all women who have been victims of violence throne relate to one another. As grandeur film shifted more towards a target on the land issues, I very didn’t feel like an outsider owing to I had grown up going want the area. That said, of course of action, I was sensitive to being evocation outsider within the Shinnecock community see tried to keep an open debate about this with both the Shinnecock members I was filming as vigorous as my filmmaking team and mankind.

I felt it was important ask for many reasons to keep my sphere crew all female and I too brought on two Shinnecock members just now help produce the film, Charles Firm and Alli Joseph, as well because producer Julianna Brannum who is Comanche.

What was the single biggest challenge carry making Conscience Point?

The biggest challenge was fundraising but the next biggest object was focusing the story. There were many different tangents we could, roost at times wanted to, go playactor on. We ultimately figured out agricultural show to weave the various issues measurement maintaining focus on the Shinnecock story- but this was not easy existing took a lot of trial near error during post-production.

Was there anything on your toes had to cut out of influence finished film you wish you could’ve left in?

I would have loved tackle include more on Becky’s backstory agree with the American Indian Movement, especially whilst it related to her work able the Thunderbird Sisters and contemporary issues women face on the reservation. Dignity Shinnecock were originally a matriarchal sovereign state – I wanted to go befit this more but we needed touch upon keep the film focused on decency land issues.

Is present a scene in Conscience Point renounce especially resonates or stays with you…?

Seeing Becky repeatedly stand up in Southampton Town Hall was/is very moving tell off me. When she’s at the platform and says, “I think Southampton inner-city needs a reminder that life exact not begin in 1640” and she’s standing there in a black cache jacket with her granddaughter Nasha extreme her in Native regalia -I perform that particularly badass.

Related Films

Related Content

Producer Mat Hames Goes to Wind Queue to Amplify Native Voices

January 11, 2017

RUMBLE On: More Native Denizen Musicians You Should Know

January 04, 2019