ES: Yeah, that's. see, this is almost right on the money. You know .. they just did whatever they had to do. MP: The concept of art for art's sake is somewhere in there, but what is your main objective in recreating the spirit masks? You can't put some little guy next to someone like Daniel Day-Lewis. ES: Well, the doors are opening now. We chose to post them on this site because a great deal of it is relevant to the making of the movie and we felt most of you would be interested in reading it. COURIER || E: Pretty good, thank you! As the film nears the end, the group progresses up a precarious waterfall, one of Hawkeye's friends, Uncas (Eric Schweig) is killed by the men tracking them, and he falls off the edge of the waterfall. I told Vern about that. All they want to do is restrict native roles to native people. It was incredible. They do them and it comes right from ES: Yep! MP: And as opposed to what you do .. acting . doesn't that put you in the spotlight? [Laughs] He just happened to be MP: A lot of the people who come to our web site are coming because of an interest in you. I've never told anyone I am a Marlon Brando or whoever. Not Chimney Rock was that Chimney Rock? SCRIPT || And, you know, it's the And they came to Vancouver and I auditioned once down here and then flew to Los Angeles and auditioned once or twice there on the same day and then flew back flew back down for another one and then flew to North Carolina for two more. When Dances With Wolves came out, the whole thing, it just blew the doors wide open for period pieces about Indian people. You need an Indian to play an Indian and you need a Frenchman to play a Frenchman if you want a realistic looking movie. ES: I guess I'll have to. of symbolic imagery. [Laughter] "Hold on! MOHICAN WWW BOARD. I guess it worked out. There seems to be something simmering below the surface in much of what he has to say. Do you see yourself as having an empathy with these kids, since you've walked in their shoes? trains action stars in the use of different tactical weapons. ES: Oh yeah! MP: Have you had any contact with her since filming LOTM? I lived in Toronto, which is right next to the Six Nations reserve. Where's Marion? So, that's what I'm going to try to do with these guys this week. MP: Personally, I think he was deserving of an Academy Award for his work in The Last of the Mohicans. I haven't seen him in a bit, but I like to hang out with him once in a while but, that's about it. But he said them. It was probably [name omitted] He's the 1st AD. I lived in hostels and I was an alcoholic until 14 years ago. seen any film maker come up with. Do you enjoy the stage? A speech was given by actor-adoptee Eric Schweig on February 19, 1999 at the Vancouver Inner City Foster Care Conference. When not doing that, she's writing books on classic Hollywood, including Lew Ayres: Hollywood's. MP: So, most of what you've been offered, not just yourself, but with a lot of Indian people, . it's always "the Indian" role of a hundred or so years ago? I was born in Inuvik NWT in 1967 and moved south to Ontario with my adoptive family in the early 70s. So, it it is somewhat difficult to have to knock his words. So, while you guys were filming this did you have any sense of bonding? ADOPTION SPEECH DELIVERED BY ERIC SCHWEIG, An oldie, but goodie 1992 ERIC SCHWEIG INTERVIEW. I: Yes, it does. before it was a tad more difficult than we'd anticipated. So I told everybody from the beginning. He is corrupt and if he can't get what he wants done one way, he'll get it done another. MP: So, I get the impression you didn't like Red River much. ES: Hmmm . Well, not . not really. ], MP: [Laughing!] I don't know what Russell's up to. Or, do you even think it should be an issue? E: Yes, we all did, but I like to do as many stunts as I can, except falling off the cliff, of course! So, pretty soon, if you start looking inside yourself for Nobody knows EXACTLY what went on. Other than that, everybody got along. And so, it has to start with YOU. Historical films will always be. Eric Schweig The Missing Interview - YouTube 0:00 / 2:10 Eric Schweig The Missing Interview Ogichidaawi 414 subscribers 174K views 14 years ago Eric Schweig interview from The. You know I told everybody when this started. I've been around horses. there. ES: There's about 14 or 15 kids in it and we get together.. actually, I'm waiting for some plays to come in to a local bookstore here. We go down to the gym and I just. my girlfriend and I, we look around for different monologues and scenes for We got along with him. MP: Do any of the locations stick out in your mind as a favorite place? I don't cut my hair for nobody!" But I made the bottom of the mask protrude a little bit more. People either love it or they hate it and that's what you want. Daniel, he's pretty laid back, to say the least. I didn't think it would make this much money! you have to bring to the forefront. Previous to this "formal" interview, we had had several long conversations with Eric, focusing primarily on his hand carved Inuit masks. MP: How about firing a musket. between walking around the different classes and hanging around the smoking area, it was .. they had a multi-culturalism program that they had figured out for themselves and they were promoting it. We actually talked them out of that! GATHERINGS || Most of the time I was either standing or running. They could stand around and get suntanned. SOUNDTRACK || Perhaps much is taken out of context. EARLY I love jamming. Yeah, I love playing blues. You know, you can't just take a couple of whacks at it with an adze and take off for three weeks and come back and do it, it will take forever. taken care of and respected and THAT is what makes them, keeps them wise. ES: Yeah, but I understand the reason why. For some, those are scenes that evoke a sense of the times more than any other .. they really hit you. In regards to the entire star system and awards systemI don't care who has won what or who has done this or that or the other thing. E: The only stage shot was the waterfall and the cave. Out of all the scenes that you did, what was the most difficult? They were doing illegal tampering with time cards, skimming hours off time cards and the make-up artists went on strike. I don't know what he does now, but he was when we were on the set. But we are running out of actors and we need new blood. He's extremely They promote it. E: I'll stay in movies until I can get enough money to buy a ranch in Montana, live the life of a hermit get 10 or 15 dogs sounds good, doesn't it? People in New Zealand are getting this program but people in Seattle can't watch it. I had read up on it a little bit and I told him what had happened, what was going on, and naturally, he knew. LINKS Hollywood for many years, echoed public perception and stereotyped the culture. "In a scene inspired by a Bierstadt painting," says Mann, "they all come together at the creek. Guide book STILL He was somewhat reticent, probably because of the time lapse, about In COLOR! went to a school to speak in Denver. MOHICAN PRESS AMERICAN HISTORICAL SIMULATIONS. So we can .. now we have them. How is he different from them? ES: Yes! One in particular was your party's arrival at Fort William Henry. want them to live like I lived from. you know. when I was drunk for 10 years.. Because it's ugly and it's not us. A war between blue coats and Indians. And I'm waiting to see if I can get the role of Joseph Stone, a cop who's been to Lebanon and all that. ES: Oh You know, I can't remember. E: Oh, that was the hardest time anyone ever had. of the interview, we felt comfortable with him, and he with us. If someone doesn't like you, they are not shy when telling other companies. He exhibits a fine sense of humor. They take their sense of history and their wisdom We sort of guessed at what they would MP: Well, what I mean is that you guys, in the movie of course, went through every possible trial and tribulation. We won't have a leg to stand on We need to come together as a global indigenous community. He runs Many Hawks Special Operations Camp in Columbus, Georgia where he Just a chance to. you can see it in them.. certain monologues that hit home with them. MP: Well, would that be something you would consider? I: How did you get on with the rest of the cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Jodhi May and Russell Means? Just HUGE games. In the past, a hundred years ago, we would watch our toddlers, and what they had predisposition for doing. That's why we had, sometimes, 15 or 16 hour days. I'm not an Indian actor. Of course then he will do something that is sweet and redeeming. GATHERINGS || One of our problems is finding a voice and speaking up, speaking out really loud too, if you want to. E: Yes, to an extent! ES: Yeah. Made for the talented actor and artist that is Eric Schweig. Anything that had to do with the fort . because it was hot in there and it was stuffy. He said it's kind of a double It's impossible to say. ES: Yeah, it's a drag man, our children usually wind up paying the price for society's sins. Available - Free Downloads Only! that would be upsetting, too. If that's all you can get then, yeah, that's a problem. MP: He's been real busy.. doing quite well. MP: Granted, we've held this film up to extreme scrutiny, but how do you reconcile this meticulous behavior with some of the flaws, like the blue cap and megaphone at Massacre Valley, that made it into the final cut? I think we were there till you know, we started at like 6 or 7 in the morning on the first day. That's why they cut that love scene out. I said "You know what? And he has a niece who gets murdered in the city and the police hire him to come to the city to help out. E: Yes, but I got restless. [Laughs] In case people liked ours better! Cause they just kind of stuck us in this little part of the field, when in the 1700s there was a thousand guys on the damn field guys getting killed, bones being broken. I think if ANY Indian actor is going to use their profession, acting, as a forum it should be to advocate things like what happens to you I work with sex trade workers and I try to hook them up with agencies that can help them. But you know, it's expected. infringement! Either your adopted or your natural family? It's there with each of these kids, though, and they'll carry that with them. ES: You know, I don't know where the collection is. ES: Well, we did boycott the set one day because all the extras were getting shit on. Born on the 19th June, 1967, Inuvik, Canada FILMOGRAPHY 1990 : The Shaman's Source : Robert Crow 1992 : By Way of the Stars (TV) :. They were stiff, the leather in them was REALLY stiff, so you could carry it We found the one-year teacher retention rate at GDL in 2010-2011 was 79%; Green Dot Locke teachers, overall, were more highly educated than their . I: What were the good points about the film? MP: Are the original masks, the ones you are recreating are they in museums in Russia? And it was one of the six. But Pierce Brosnan is barely bearable as Sir William Johnson, the tribe's self-anointed protector. shit and it makes me nuts. MP: Okay. With funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CRESST researchers conducted a multi-year evaluation of a major school reform project at Alain Leroy Locke High School, historically one of California's lowest performing secondary schools. MP: If they remain in a family setting, or beyond that even, where they feel their worth, I guess they'll remain very vibrant? ES: Oh, probably Tom & Huck. MP: What was your favorite scene in the movie? I had more fun in that one month than I did in principal photography! MENUS! Guide book STILL Sometimes on the set they have raunchy attitudes and I'd rather be away from it. Does he realize that all history is written from a viewpoint? Your character, Hawkeye, and Chingachgook. there seemed a sense of family. All of our content is free. I was homeless when I was a kid. Massive games; twice the size of a football field and we are, For example, the beginning of the movie in the woods Day-Lewis' shirt appears and disappears! With the village? That, perhaps, is petty stuff. discussing The Last of the Mohicans, but became extremely animated when talking about certain topics, particularly his masks and his involvement in a children's drama group. I have done bit parts in Bordertown and The Black Stallion. Schweig plays Andy Fraser, the chief of the fictional Blackstone First Nations tribe alongside an award-winning ensemble cast that includes Gemini winning actor Michelle Thrush, Gemini nominee Carmen Moore and others. They wanted to keep it up, but it wasn't that sound and they had to take it apart. Besides that, North Carolina is Probably the fort scenes. But you know who they don't ban? Making it more subtle? I: The scene on the mountain when you run to save Alice at the end you didn't wait for Hawkeye and your father, as per the book? I don't If they were good sticks .. it was kind of a bummer .. it would've been a better game. Was it just a kiss? They sort of fashioned him after Tony Soprano, I think. COURIER || AMERICAN HISTORICAL SIMULATIONS Of course, like you were saying before, the old films from the 50s were horrible .. the Indians were the bad guys and they had to be eradicated no matter what. couple of days we had it down to 20 or 30 seconds. By the way, you did a play called The Cradle Will Fall. And it has a real The people at the music store said. when I said "Well, we're almost done here. His filmographic credentials include a slew of TV series such as . Even Daniel did. Please Note: This interview is the property of Mohican Press. What was originally scripted for that scene was pretty graphic. 1992 ERIC SCHWEIG INTERVIEW PLEASE NOTE: We originally ran this interview with Eric Schweig, and the commentary that follows, well over 3 years ago, but removed it after we had done our own with him (see: ERIC SCHWEIG: AN INTERVIEW ). I: And I presume the Hurons were speaking French? He'd rap with the extras and . anybody who was around. Eric Schweig was born in Inuvik, Canada, on 19 June 1967. Does he? I: And you were out there for five months in the Smoky Mountains what was it like? But this big uranium mining company finds out he has all this uranium on the property and they come to buy him out. Are you satisfied with the caliber and supply of Native acting talent these days? I get to wear my hair in braids, a black bolero hat and chaps, and I get to ride! Let us digress we very much want to like Eric Schweig. We had a love scene that was cut out. I'm not trying to be antagonistic. Then I thought about it and it's just that his work ethic is different than everybody else's. I'll do it. We find the content startling in several regards, and will comment, at length, following the conclusion of the interview. At first it took us about a minute or a minute and a half when we first got a hold of them to get them ready to fire. Was that ever filmed? ES: Yeah. and I saw the most amazing art work in this school. Sometimes I felt like I wanted to scream or something. That's where their home is and we're fighting over her Uhm hmm. E: I would go on and on about the things that were wrong in the movie. Senility is a social disease. Just like a long haired actor .. if the only thing anybody wanted him to play is a drug crazed hippie from the 60s, you know, It's sort of, if you think about it, it kind of leaves the audience going, "How did all these guys To imply that Hollywood is still "sucking the blood" of the Indian is downright misleading. And we didn't finish till, I don't know, 11, 12 something like that, anyway. I try to say this to kids: It has to do with that fear of success. It's not a monumental, you know, a paradigm change, but it effects them. It's absurd. In an interview with ICTMN, Schweig discussed life experiences that have helped him to play his role in Blackstone, his belief in giving back to the community, and how he has obtained such success in his career. So, that's good to see. We have to take advantage of this because it's gonna burn out, they're gonna flog the shit out of it and then there's gonna be nothing." I can't remember. My birth name is Ray Dean Thrasher while my adopted legal name is Eric Kurt Schweig. No one really knows, it should have gone in there Hopefully, it will be on the extended version when it's on video. I started volunteering with Resource Assistance for YouthRaY Inc., and and they hired me to work with them. You know .. especially the people that buy them. An anger at how history has unfolded itself. [More laughter]. MP: Is that the movie with a band of Cheyenne Dog Soldiers hidden out in the mountains somewhere in modern times? Ex mercenaries that have seen and done horrible things decide to retire and open up a used car lot. There's this woman Claudia who's the The way you're describing it doesn't really sound like the scene that was originally ES: Well, that's hard to say because mostly all I did was run. MENUS! Some of my friends are Mohawks. That and the part where Alice jumps from the cliff are some of the finest in the film! There was a golf tournament out there. They employed 250 carpenters and they smacked it all up. Previous to this "formal" interview, we had had several long conversations with Eric, focusing primarily on his hand carved Inuit masks. discussing The Last of the Mohicans, but became extremely animated when talking about certain topics, particularly his masks and his involvement in a children's drama group. It was huge. This may be bad energy but it is energy nonetheless and that is power. You know Wes Studi's got his own film company and he's doing . [Wardancer Film Group] Actually, the same school that had kicked them out, that couldn't handle them, were phoning them back and saying "How do we start this multi-culturalism in our school?" 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