Nicole Petranchuk
ONS excited for Lacrosse Movie Premier
Wadeñ nwa’ Aweñha
May 3, 2012
Wadeñ nwa’ Aweñha
May 3, 2012
Onondaga Nation- There is a lot of excitement in the air at the Onondaga Nation School and the Nation itself. Usually there is a lot of excitement when there is a lacrosse game, but this time there is a lacrosse movie premiering soon. Not just any lacrosse movie, but Crooked Arrows featuring many of our boys.
“I am really excited to see the movie” says Ivy a 6th grader who traveled to Boston to be a part of the cheering fans during the filming of the championship game. “My brother is in it, I can't wait!”
“I am really excited to see the movie” says Ivy a 6th grader who traveled to Boston to be a part of the cheering fans during the filming of the championship game. “My brother is in it, I can't wait!”
Last summer, the casting call went out for lacrosse players who were interested in being in a movie. The directors went to Baltimore and Long Island to scout out players for the movie. Hundreds of interested players came and earned rolls. But to make the movie authentic, they need a native team.
Jamison Koesterer (former Cazenovia HS player) who was working on casting players reached out to LaFayette High S
chool coaches Kevin Gale and Brad Powless as well as Skaneateles coach Ron Doctor to help set up a tryout.
Jamison Koesterer (former Cazenovia HS player) who was working on casting players reached out to LaFayette High S
chool coaches Kevin Gale and Brad Powless as well as Skaneateles coach Ron Doctor to help set up a tryout. “We were just finishing our season when I started getting emails about the project”, said Brad Powless. “We started to get the word out. But we also knew that summer means box lacrosse and we had to set up a tryout date that didn’t interfere with that (box lacrosse) was important.”
Koesterer and director Steve Rash took the time to drive around the Onondaga Nation to get a feel for what Onondaga was all about. Koesterer and Rash knew about Onondaga's Oren Lyons’ All-American lacrosse days at Syracuse University and Oren’s work to bring back World Championship field lacrosse to the originators of the game through the creation of the Iroquois Nationals. Koesterer and Rash were then thrilled to run into Neal Powless, an attackman on the 1996 Iroquois Nationals team who earned a spot on the All-World Team.
“I was very excited in the idea of a lacrosse movie which focused on a Haudenosaunee viewpoint” says Neal Powless. “It had potential, but it was missing a lot about who we are and what the game means to us. Nine re-writes later, I think that people will get a better understanding of what lacrosse mea
ns to us at Onondaga and the other Haudenosaunee communities.”
As long as there have been a school at Onondaga, students carry their sticks with them to school hoping to catch a game before school begins, maybe pass and catch during recess, or meet some friends at the outdoor box after school. And now that the filming is over and the Crooked Arrow posters are up on the walls at the Nation school, the kids twirl their sticks while looking at the boys who are in the movie.
ns to us at Onondaga and the other Haudenosaunee communities.”As long as there have been a school at Onondaga, students carry their sticks with them to school hoping to catch a game before school begins, maybe pass and catch during recess, or meet some friends at the outdoor box after school. And now that the filming is over and the Crooked Arrow posters are up on the walls at the Nation school, the kids twirl their sticks while looking at the boys who are in the movie.
“That’s my cousin” says Jimerson from the 1st grade as he stands on his tip toes to touch his cousin’s picture. “He’s a Crooked Arrow.”
And Jimerson, like the rest of his classmates, can’t wait to see.
