A handful of tribes are turning their sights to Hollywood and investing in movies and other entertainment ventures.

The Oneida Nation of New York formed Four Directions Entertainment, a film and television company, that produced "The World of American Indian Dance," a documentary s shown on NBC in 2003. The tribe has also held nationwide talent searches and organized showcases to put Indian actors, actresses and comedians before NBC executives.

The Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut had a role in producing and promoting "Black Cloud," an independent movie about a Navajo boxer who joins the U.S. Olympic Team. Actor Rick Schroeder of "NYPD Blue" fame approached several tribes about financing his picture.

The Oneida Nation has other projects down the line. The tribe is pitching "Indian Country Today on TV," a spinoff of sorts of the newspaper, to PBS.

Get the Story:
Indians Investing, but Carefully, in Hollywood (The New York Times 4/25)
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Relevant Links:
Four Directions Talent - http://www.fourdirectionstalent.com

Black Cloud - http://www.blackcloudthemovie.com
Native Celebs - http://www.nativecelebs.com

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