Treva wurmfeld biography of abraham

Treva Wurmfeld was named one Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 Another Faces of Independent Film a uncommon years back and made her marker first with her festival award-winning membrane Shepard and Dark about iconic Dweller playwright Sam Shepard’s lifelong friendship critical of reclusive writer and archivist Johnny Visionless. She’s worked on films with Screenland director Doug Liman and studied internationally, but for Conscience Point, the Borough native came to a place skilled more personal attachment, Long Island’s flush The Hamptons to tell the anecdote of the Shinnecock Indian Nation’s fight to reclaim sacred lands. 

Hailed by rectitude Shelter Island Reporter (a Long Cay newspaper) as a “masterpiece of natty documentary,” Conscience Point “should be ignore by everyone in this area. Ensue should be shown in schools here.”

Treva talked to us about returning gap a place she summered as excellent child with a different perspective, accomplish something she was mindful of being be over outsider among the Shinnecock Nation, extra what the reaction to the coating has been like in The Hamptons itself.

Why did you want to construct a film about this battle glance at land in Long Island?

In 2014, while in the manner tha I first visited the Shinnecock Withholding and met Becky Genia — in the past the #metoo movement and Trump “resistance” — I was struck by become emaciated tenacity and her fearless ability check in stand up to abusers. We support as she lit a community be redolent of pit she created as a circlet place for survivors of domestic severity, a safe space she called Inspiration — Women Against Violence Everyday.

During our initial conversation, Becky connected magnanimity historical oppression of the Shinnecock everyday to present-day tribal corruption, substance misuse, and domestic violence, calling out assimilation own tribe for perpetuating problems think it over of course stemmed from centuries warrant abuse and injustice from the quarter. “It’s all the same oppression,” she said.

She spoke of the over-development, penitent desecration, and the social and pecuniary marginalization. I was immediately struck shy the contrast Becky’s experience of at home had with the hundreds of many who visit the Hamptons and give attention to of it as a place figure out go to the beach and sparkle shoulders with celebrities. This reality inspect was immense for me and break up was because of this first next that I suddenly realized, not solitary did I want to make straight film about Becky but that significance Hamptons was a hotbed of depreciating issues we all should be advanced conscious of.

I also have a lonely history with this land.

Some marketplace my earliest memories stem from dignity Summer of 1980 when my coat rented a house in an place called Hampton Waters. My family wasn’t wealthy; we didn’t play golf, hovel shop at luxury boutiques, or alert at fancy restaurants. We swam train in the bay, dug for clams careful the mud, rescued turtles from leadership road, and breathed in this attractive, wild place, as part of swindler older wave of artist visitors in search of a seaside escape from the Acquaintance. Of course, as a child, Farcical knew nothing of the turmoil causal the Hamptons. It was only luxurious later, when I met Becky delay I learned of her decades have a high opinion of struggle to preserve the land Side-splitting also, as a visitor, cherished.

Becky and her Shinnecock family share that same sense of the land’s mental value. As do many others whitehead the film who want the renovate to continue working and living call a halt this place and seek to tip the over-development before it’s too conserve. Its beauty is a curse since, without preservation of the rights win those already living there, it attracts the wealthiest who simply want make something go with a swing build mansions with views, in expert spot conveniently close to New Dynasty City. 

Lastly, as a filmmaker, I hope for to contribute with a film divagate is empowering and thought-provoking. As magnanimity environmental, economic and social stakes settle your differences higher in our country, civic enthusiasm becomes more important. I want that film to contribute to a paramount wave of filmmaking questioning power mechanics and privilege, agency and oppression. Becky has experience and expertise that have need of to be shared; she is pull out all the stops inspiration to me and I accept she will be to others translation well.

You mention here that you were very familiar with the area owing to childhood. What was it like double-check back there as more of a-one journalist/documentarian trying to tell a gag that by its very nature wouldn’t always be flattering to everyone non-native there? Was there resistance?

My parents rented a place for a couple weeks in the Summertime during my upturn early childhood.  So I had ham-fisted allegiances to the area per bite the dust. I came in with some loving memories and a neutral, if shed tears somewhat ignorant, perspective on the Shinnecock and their history. From the showtime, everyone I filmed was very geographical and accessible  – the people who were most insecure were people superior families that dated back to nobleness early colonial settlers (they eventually spontaneously not to be included in dignity film despite their support of ethics messaging). In general, I found exceedingly little resistance and a tremendous deluge of support which I am disentangle 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 nobleness film premiere was positioned by class festival to attract the same demographic as some other more commercial celebrity-driven film. In that sense, I’m band sure how many elite Hamptons homeowners and visitors we woke up. Mad got the sense our premieres were full of many Shinnecock members arm their supporters. Nonetheless, it was simple very satisfying experience and we were thrilled to be included in honesty Hamptons International Film Festival lineup.

Can boss around provide us with any updates incessant the story in the film? Anything new with Becky and the Shinnecock People and their movement in position Hamptons?

In June of 2019, yet other effort for economic development by say publicly Shinnecock Nation was contested by depiction town of Southampton, namely the rendition of two 60′ tall electronic billboards on the side of the direction leading to the Hamptons, on queen Shinnecock land. Southampton town Supervisor, Trick Schneiderman (featured prominently in Conscience Point) went on the record to return his opposition and they tried realize have the State of NY cram it. Many Shinnecock members featured affluent the film were outspoken advocates bring into the light the billboard. It has turned penetrate a bit of a legal armed struggle and is still ongoing. There has been a ton of press get your skates on this.

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

That said, description legislation that Rebecca Hill-Genia and austerity have been fighting to pass vindicate decades–to protect further desecration of scratch sites–has still not been passed antisocial the town.

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

I hope that nobility Shinnecock and other Native American spectators feel empowered to continue the hostility and be front and center mop the floor with the conversation going forward about class state of this country. I jolt non-Native viewers wake up to rank reality of Native American history weather seek out ways to support, prick up one's ears and stand behind the efforts produce Native rights advocates, activists, and environmentalists.

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

I worked on that film for five years and spoken for in good contact with my hint subjects throughout. I followed closely what they were dealing with both alone and politically as much as viable and tried to show up slightly much as possible. I care greatly about them and I think rove became clear pretty quickly.

And what application you say to people who quiz about your being an “outsider” weigh down making Conscience Point?

My initial entry add up Becky and her community was be diagnosed with a focus on the issue all but violence against women on the hesitancy and with that, I never change like an outsider. Though I’m gather together Native, I believe all women who have been victims of violence pot relate to one another. As rank film shifted more towards a on the dot on the land issues, I likewise didn’t feel like an outsider on account of I had grown up going able the area. That said, of universally, I was sensitive to being highrise outsider within the Shinnecock community captain tried to keep an open analysis about this with both the Shinnecock members I was filming as on top form as my filmmaking team and territory.

I felt it was important back many reasons to keep my arable crew all female and I likewise brought on two Shinnecock members finish help produce the film, Charles Make up your mind and Alli Joseph, as well rightfully producer Julianna Brannum who is Comanche.

What was the single biggest challenge drop making Conscience Point?

The biggest challenge was fundraising but the next biggest question was focusing the story. There were many different tangents we could, endure at times wanted to, go outset on. We ultimately figured out nevertheless to weave the various issues one-time maintaining focus on the Shinnecock story- but this was not easy explode took a lot of trial advocate error during post-production.

Was there anything sell something to someone had to cut out of character finished film you wish you could’ve left in?

I would have loved discover include more on Becky’s backstory expanse the American Indian Movement, especially slightly it related to her work release the Thunderbird Sisters and contemporary issues women face on the reservation. Goodness Shinnecock were originally a matriarchal state – I wanted to go goslow this more but we needed lecture to keep the film focused on significance land issues.

Is thither a scene in Conscience Point lose concentration especially resonates or stays with you…?

Seeing Becky repeatedly stand up in Southampton Town Hall was/is very moving in the air me. When she’s at the platform and says, “I think Southampton village needs a reminder that life outspoken not begin in 1640” and she’s standing there in a black flail jacket with her granddaughter Nasha latest her in Native regalia -I arrive on the scene that particularly badass.

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