I didn't know the Russians, the Europeans, came from the west coast. I: And I presume the Hurons were speaking French? An anger at how history has unfolded itself. 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, That's who you have to focus on. Something that minuscule I wouldn't remember. Or WE start making films of our own, which a lot of us has. 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 the historic events, but also of the people, particularly the northeastern woodland Indians? E: Michael Mann was running around behind everyone in the editing room making them do it shouting, "What are you doing?". Eric Schweig was originally born as Ray Dean Thresher, in Inuvik, Northwest Territories on June . Not just a regular 20th century guy? LINKS E: There was a lot of gratuitous violence in the movie and it could have been cut out. I started volunteering with Resource Assistance for YouthRaY Inc., and and they hired me to work with them. ES: [Laughter] Yeah! It's not in the middle of downtown San Francisco where they MUSINGS || Eric Schweig makes for a dashing Joseph Brandt, the young Iroquois all the girls swoon over. He also creates his own designs and concepts. I: The editing in the film is a little off sometimes. We come from two different distinct worlds. Anyway, Vern picked it up one day and said "Hey, this is wild, man. I. You know what I want to do, I want to get a bunch of jackets for them, a bunch of Drama Club jackets and put the name of their band on it. All they had to do was put at the end of the movie, " All these characters are based on fiction". We had a love scene that was cut out. She is the New York-based writer/podcast editor for Filmoria and film contributor at The Interrobang. And that works to create a well-rounded villain. Hollywood will flog it to death. that would be upsetting, too. You know, even though they stole them, they kept them in excellent condition to put on the front of this book so you can duplicate it. I thought it would stink! have been because they had aged so much and the paint had flaked off. it was aged down, but we just took a shot at it and it turned out wicked. Guide book STILL He was ALWAYS doing that. ES: Yeah, it's a drag man, our children usually wind up paying the price for society's sins. place? And we didn't finish till, I don't know, 11, 12 something like that, anyway. In the past, a hundred years ago, we would watch our toddlers, and what they had predisposition for doing. just dump you off and you're there. They're very well It comes from people not talking to their elders and not listening to them. Want To Purchase One Of Eric's Videos? He opens up about the joys and challenges of being a new foster caregiver to two siblings. That was a pain in the ass, to say E: Yes, it was. MP: So, on the set then, he would just do a scene and then go off by himself? I wouldn't I: And you were out there for five months in the Smoky Mountains what was it like? I: Yes, it does. MP: To date, you've been in two movies with him, The Last of the Mohicans and The Broken Chain. So, the more contemporary films we can do and be allowed to be a part of society and society's subconscious, then the better it will be. He's pretty likeable. MP: Yeah! It's all hard to fathom it goes against our grain. the least. If there was a young boy who could not keep his hands off his father's or uncles' hunting implements and then he whined when they went out hunting, chances were that thats what he wanted to do. AMERICAN HISTORICAL SIMULATIONS MP: The diverse cast - a microcosm of the French and Indian War, really - must have made things interesting on the set. Georgia and me, Wes, Russell, Daniel, and Steven Waddington went out there for about a month and that was about as close to bonding we got. MP: How about firing a musket. No problem. their heart.. and it's pretty wild to watch them do these kind of things.. We'll have them over for barbecues and things like that and I'll let them do improvisation with each other. MP: I guess you believe that judgment on any society falls on how they treat their children and their elders? I: How do you feel about Indians being depicted in films by white people, in earlier movies? [Laughter] We just stood there with those guys. COURIER || Could you tell him Eric said "hello"? All three of us stood there with them. Born in Canada's Northwest Territories and of Inuvialuit lineage, Schweig was adopted into an abusive family as a baby and suffered under their treatment until, at age 16, he ran away to Toronto.. Even Daniel did. Gorgeous Men. Things got ugly sometimes and I don't sit around like some of these lap dogs. Mohawks all over the place! E: Yes, to an extent! We were in contact in regard to showcasing Eric's Inuit wood carvings here on our Site, not to discuss this or any other interview. It was incredible. He worked most of the time. 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. MP: Okay, many people are sincerely anxious to see you in more films. It's cool, everything's cool. well, it's getting better, What was the most trying on you personally? But Pierce Brosnan is barely bearable as Sir William Johnson, the tribe's self-anointed protector. It's scheduled for June in North Carolina. It was hot and it was annoying because Michael wanted to .. you know, like I said before.take after take. I don't think. 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. Previous to this "formal" interview, we had had several long conversations with Eric, focusing primarily on his hand carved Inuit masks. That's what I like to see. Put us into 1992 along with everyone else. MP: Then this must be a source of satisfaction for you. to work with them? This may be bad energy but it is energy nonetheless and that is power. Because it took so long to shoot, six months to shoot that and so many things went on. AMERICAN HISTORICAL SIMULATIONS Everything just soars in it. It's about me and this guy his name is Christoph and he's from France. I've never told anyone I am a Marlon Brando or whoever. I'm getting a script in a couple of days. MP: Regarding the children's drama group that you're involved in . your girlfriend's name is Gail? Probably the fort scenes. ES: Well oh man. So finally, after three or four years of screwing around I got around to it. ES: I got along with Russell. I: I saw the movie three times and honed in on the role of Uncas. Did you ever feel like "us against them" or "we've got another obstacle to go through and we've got to watch out for each other"; or was Powwow Trail (2001- ) Episode: White Man's Indian Eric Schweig has spoken freely about his alcoholism. Rick, I think. ES: Yeah, Wes was cool. Guide book STILL There's these assholes running around kidnapping kids. MUSINGS || 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. You can find some of his films, including his two favorites, "Tom and Huck" and "Pontiac Moon", listed [Laughing! So we can .. now we have them. If you want to turn things around, maybe children are where you need to do it. She wasn't as inward. unless they start writing scripts about contemporary things. MP: As a follow-up to that many people who have seen the movie have been inspired to learn more about the period. There seems to be something simmering below the surface in much of what he has to say. MP: Compared to other directors you've worked with since Michael Mann, how does he fit in to the over all mold of the other directors? When not doing that, she's writing books on classic Hollywood, including Lew Ayres: Hollywood's. The following interview with Eric Schweig was conducted, via telephone, on February 1 and 2, 1998. All of this stuff is a direct connection between that and Blackstone and a lot of these topics come up in Blackstone. Has Eric ever heard of "running the gauntlet"? There was eleven thousand gallons coming through a pump into the pool and then it's sucked back through to create the waterfall. I: When the movie first premiered, did you think it would be such a hit as it has been? We haven't put anything on yet but we're planning on it. I just wish this had a bit more exposure down in the States. [Sad voice. With films like Dances With Wolves, The Last Of The Mohicans and a host of lesser films casting American Indians in real-life roles And, while we're at it, should Braveheart be criticized because it portrays savage-like Scots of the 13th & 14th centuries rather than present-day Scotland? infringement! It was really hard to get that damn ball. Madeleine Stowe. I don't know what he does now, but he was when we were on the set. Senility is a social disease. It was stupid not to! I: What were the good points about the film? Sometimes I felt like I wanted to scream or something. E: No, I don't think so at all. It's so big. MP: I hate to tell you this but it's supposed to be released over here, real soon, in English. It will be cool because it will be the first time I'll be on a set and.. abstaining. I've been around horses. I haven't met them yet, but I'm going to sit down and try to talk to them and try to get them out of their shells somehow. Yeah, ask any actor and they will tell you one of the most fun things to do is to make a departure from yourself and play a villain. Stars: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, Alexander Calvert, Sarah Troyer, Jonathan Cherry, Eric Schweig Writer: Davy Perez, series created by Eric Kripke Director: Nina Lopez-Corrado . There was a golf tournament out there. I am an outreach worker in real life. Even in the 70s, or the 80s . the early 80s. Their living conditions were bad, like one loo [bathroom] for 400 guys. ES: Let me think about that. You know, Robert DeNiro and Val Kilmer didn't go out to the closest available reservation and give him an eagle feather oh, sorry, Al Pacino didn't give him an eagle feather to join his division downtown in Los Angeles. And if he could magnify that with a damned megaphone, he was happy as hell. If you go onto a reservation and you see the dogs and their heads are hanging, that's a bad sign . you know, people don't care about them. it's not that big a deal whether they're historically correct or not because they never can be. HISTORY || Nobody gives a We could work out something. I'm busy!". And we have hired more Native journalists in the past year than any news organization and with your help we will continue to grow and create career paths for our people. So, after putting it off and saying "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah". at the time I was running around a lot and too busy to Available - Free Downloads Only! He was in good humor throughout. Even at night. They just. a lot of it was really dark but it was incredible. Eric Schweig (born Ray Dean Thrasher; 19 June 1967 [1]) is an Indigenous Canadian actor best known for his role as Chingachgook 's son Uncas in The Last of the Mohicans (1992). ES: Yeah. them in the first place. Certainly, we have a new found appreciation for interviewers! good idea to have one of your masks displayed in the vicinity. There is no question that the American Indians have been one of the most mistreated peoples in history, certainly on this continent. So, by the time They put them in. You know the difference between Indian elders and a lot of other elders? on our Book Store page. I: Well, I was thinking more along the lines of your [??] AMERICAN HISTORICAL SIMULATIONS There was a real enthusiasm projected when discussing his masks. He was one of the leaders of the 70-day siege at Wounded Knee in 1973, an incident which arose out of an AIM dispute with federal and tribal authorities. I forgot his name MP: Yes . this is one of the masks in his so called "collection"? MENUS! them to do. So, gradually it will get better and .. we won't be so misunderstood and maligned. SOUNDTRACK || PATHFINDING || I'll do it. AMAZON.COM/LOTM STOREFRONT. Eric was forthcoming and, we believe, candid in his responses; gracious, and willing to discuss everything we asked. it's burnt out. MUSINGS || You're always poor. ES: Tell them, "Thanks for your support. MP: Is this role already accepted or is it something you're considering? Eric Schweig The Missing Interview. Anything that had to do with the fort . because it was hot in there and it was stuffy. I broke the cycle by not drinking and finding out what I'm NOT. Do you enjoy the stage? Etzerza, who has been Eric's carving "guru"; in previous conversations Eric has said Vern and he have known each other a long time and he considers Vern to be one of his best buddies. a couple of days and then meet the director, I guess. He's a really funny guy. If he is going to have all his hair there, then we should, too!" He will muscle people or threaten them, he is duplicitous and two-faced when he has to be. Born: June 19th 1967 Height: 6'2 Weight: 210lbs Eyes: brn Hair: blk Marital Status: none Heritage/Tribe: Inuit/German country: Canada ES: Yeah, they taught us how to pack the wadding and the powder and the ball and all that kind of stuff. Some of my friends are Mohawks. But that was a superb scene! That, though, can go on endlessly. Mostly it was an hour and a half long sprint! a half, two years ago, Jessica State . she was 9 or 10 years old, about 200 yards from a ball field full of people, she was raped and had her throat cut and one of her hands cut off. If the movie makes $80 million, they don't care what I say. I don't know what either one of them is doing. Your masks are recreations of traditional ceremonial masks of the Inuit. In playing this character I can appreciate the other side and I can pull my own weight on the show. 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. Who is Eric Schweig? but you couldn't cradle it as well. There are some we really WISH we asked. They scratched the money together and made T-shirts. . Guide book STILL Filled up with all those bodies in there.. in the fort. A lot of elders are sharper than most 16 year olds 20 or 30, they're sharper than people half their age. Please do not reproduce it, in any form, without our permission. It was probably [name omitted] He's the 1st AD. We hope this helps you to know him as he is MOHICAN PRESS: We've read many bits and pieces of information, in print and on the Internet, by people who claim they know who you are. ES: Yeah, absolutely. MP: Okay. MP: The vehicle that has placed you before the public eye is, of course, The Last of the Mohicans. I keep trying to get people to get into acting so we have someone who can focus on just being a funny guy or a bad guy or a psycho or a love interest. Interesting as the article may be, it is so wrought with errors of fact, and of assumption, that it's hard to determine WHERE to begin. impact, and it's art imitating life and vice versa. We sort of guessed at what they would you know, and isn't psychotic. you have to bring to the forefront. That would've been really cool if they'd have done that. MESSAGE BOARD, STOREFRONTS! understanding of who Eric is. I would. it take to coerce you to be there? Both musical pieces heard during this interview are by Tudjaat, He doesn't really think that just because an American Indian becomes a director that he will be able to craft a totally objective, and accurate, film? 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. E: I would go on and on about the things that were wrong in the movie. And that's not the way it's supposed to be. You know I told everybody when this started. You know.. just in town here, right beside the baseball field.. and this is a small town, there's about 10,000 people. right beside the ball field, this young girl, about a year and Some people actually got hurt. We realize that there are many more questions we could have asked Eric Schweig. before it was a tad more difficult than we'd anticipated. That EARLY think I'd hesitate. If someone doesn't like you, they are not shy when telling other companies. What's he like on the set?" One of the six and French, so that they could talk amongst themselves. I have done bit parts in Bordertown and The Black Stallion. Things usually turn out if you do it that way. He is corrupt and if he can't get what he wants done one way, he'll get it done another. MP: Please correct me if I'm getting the wrong assumptions here. 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