Sterlin Harjo (Wrtier/Director)

Sterlin Harjo belongs to the Seminole and Creek Nations, and is a native of Holdenville, Oklahoma. Interested from an early age in visual art and film, Harjo studied painting at the University of Oklahoma before writing his first feature-length script. Since then he has studied screenwriting in the University of Oklahoma's Film and Video Studies Program and under the Sundance Institute's Feature Film Program.

In 2004, Sundance Institute selected Harjo to receive an Annenberg Fellowship which provided extended support over a two-year period to facilitate the creation of his feature project. In 2006 Harjo was in the first class of United States Artists award recipients. He was also the youngest recipient. Sterlin Harjo completed a year of development on his feature film script FOUR SHEETS TO THE WIND through the Sundance Institute’s Filmmaker Labs where he worked under the guidance of industry veterans such as Robert Redford, Stanley Tucci, Joan Tewkesbury, Susan Shilliday, Frank Pierson, Walter Mosley, and Antonia Bird. Sterlin’s project was one of 12 projects chosen from a pool of almost 2,500 based on the uniqueness of his voice, the originality of his story and the promise of this feature film offering something poignant to American cinema.

Harjo has directed three short films CROOKED LITTLE HEART, THEY'RE PLAYING HIS SONG, and GOOD NIGHT IRENE which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 05 and has went on to play festivals around the world. The short film has garnered Harjo awards including Special Jury Recognition at the Aspen Shorts Festival and Best Oklahoma Film at the Dead Center film festival in Oklahoma City. In January 2007 Harjo’s first feature film, FOUR SHEETS TO THE WIND, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film garnered warm responses from both audience’s and critics. Tamara Podemski won a Special Jury Prize for outstanding performance for her role in the film as Miri Smallhill. Harjo’s new film BARKING WATER will premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Chad Burris (Producer)

Chad Burris belongs to the Chickasaw Nation and is a native of Oklahoma. He produced the award winning films Goodnight Irene by writer/director Sterlin Harjo, which screened at the Sundance Film Festival, Berlin, Tribeca, Los Angeles Film Festival, Aspen Short Fest and many other notable festivals around the world and Four Sheets to the Wind by Harjo. Four Sheets was invited to participate in the competition section of the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Burris was awarded the Sundance Institute’s Mark Silverman Award for 2007 for his work on independent film projects and is in development on three other feature films. Most recently Burris produced Harjo’s Barking Water which premiered at the 2009 Sundance film festival.

Burris is a graduate of the University of Tulsa Law School, where he received his J.D. with an emphasis in Indian Law. He devoted much of his time in law school toward developing programs that would attract, through federal economic development incentives, film production to lower income areas of Oklahoma and other states. He was a member of the Phi Delta Phi honors organization and Moot court team. Upon graduation, Burris founded the Oklahoma based Indion Entertainment Group (IEG). IEG facilitates financing and production for projects shooting in Oklahoma. The company utilizes Oklahoma state tax incentives to encourage local investment in film projects. Having a background in both film production and law, Burris realized the value of local incentives for film production and set out to construct a business model that would accommodate both in Oklahoma. At present, the company has participated in the financing of three feature films within the state providing over $2M in financing, most notably the horror film Splinter which opened to rave reviews in October of 2008. IEG is also in talks to bring several films to Oklahoma in 2009. Burris has been a speaker for several organizations and industry panels on film, entertainment law, and film finance. He has sat for discussions and presentations in front of the Sundance film festival, the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, the American Indian film festival, and the Producers Guild of America. 

Burris serves as Of Counsel attorney for the law firm of Doerner, Saunders, Daniel and Anderson in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The law firm is Oklahoma’s oldest and most honored, serving the community, state, and region in the practice of numerous fields of law. Burris practices in the areas of Entertainment, Indian law, and Corporate Transactional law.

Casey Camp-Horinek (Irene)

Casey Camp-Horinek is a long time Native Rights Activist, Environmentalist, Actress and member of the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma. As traditional Drumkeeper for the Ponca Pa-tha-ta, Woman’s Scalp Dance Society, Casey helps maintain the cultural identity of the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma for herself, her family, and her community. Casey has been at the forefront of grassroots community efforts to educate and empower both native and non-native community members about both environmental and civil rights issues. In April of 2008 Casey, as a delegate of the Indigenous Environmental Network, was chosen to speak to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues and present IEN’s global platform regarding environmental and native rights. Casey’s love for acting began in the early 1980’s when she was fortunate enough to work to work with the American Indian Theatre Company of Tulsa, whose members have gone on to achieve great success in Hollywood and beyond. Casey has served as a mentor/advisor for aspiring Native American film makers, actors, and actresses from stages as grand as the Sundance Film Institute to local summer programs.

Richard Ray Whitman (Frankie)

Mr. Whitman began his film career in 1969 as a principal character in the documentary “Red Reflections,” produced by the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM where he was a student of painting and film. He was one of the original participants in the Community Film Workshop in Santa Fe, and made his theatrical film debut in 1970 as a stunt riding warrior in “The McMasters,” directed by Alf Kjellin. Since then, Mr. Whitman has appeared in documentary and theatrical films including “War Party,” directed by Franc Roddam, “ Lakota Woman,” directed by Frank Pierson and produced by Jane Fonda and “Missionary Man,” directed by Dolph Lundgren. He has also appeared in award-winning independent films including Sterlin Harjo’s “Four Sheets to the Wind,” and “American Indian Graffiti,” by Steven Judd and Tvli Jacob. He has co-produced and appeared in documentary and experimental films including “Carriers of the Light” and “The Grand Circle.” In addition to his work as an actor and filmmaker, Mr. Whitman is an internationally acclaimed artist and photographer whose works have been exhibited at museums and galleries nationally and internationally - including a solo exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian Heye Gallery in NY, La Biennale di Venzia in Venice Italy, and the nationwide touring exhibits Honor the Earth - “Impacted Nations” and Artrain USA - “Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture.” Richard Whitman grew up in Gypsy, OK. He is a Yuchi tribal member, enrolled in the Muscogee/ Creek Nation. He attended the Oklahoma School of photography, California Institute of the Arts and graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM in 1970. In 1973 he participated in the People’s struggle at Wounded Knee – an experience that expanded his vision of his role as an artist and tribal citizen. Mr. Whitman is the father of five children and has ten grandchildren.

Jon Proudstar (Roger)

My name is Jon Proudstar and I am a Film Maker here in the border city of Tucson Arizona. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to make movies. As a child I was drawn to comedians like The Mark Brothers, Benny Hill, John Ritter, Woody Allen, Carol Burnett, Harvey Cormen, Tim Conway, Peter Sellers, Steve Martin and the great Gene Wilder. But as time went on I began to notice that there were no films which included funny people of an Indigenous background. I entered the film business on my eighteenth birthday with the hopes that I could be the next Groucho Marks or Gene Wilder. But Hollywood had different plans for me. I eventually started landing parts in films but they were all related to my race. I usually got cast as the heavy, the introspective warrior, the killer, drunk, abusive Dad, yadda, yadda, yadda. My agents would only send me out for these roles as well. When I announced to them that I wanted to be considered for comedies they shook their heads and frankly did not know what to do with me. As time went on I became a father of two wonderful children. When my first born Alexandria showed up I knew my career in movies would have to be put to the side for a while.

I began working with Violent Youth Offenders and Survivors of Child Molestation. I truly do love working with those kids but my heart always yearned for film making. Fast forward twenty three years later. For the past twenty three years I have dreamt of making movies, making people laugh. In 2004 I was accepted into The Sundance Film Institutes Director’s Lab. I was brought in as an actor. This would allow me to meet with Robert Redford who I explained my passion for Directing to. He was gracious enough to sneak me into as many of the Director’s labs as possible. In the end it was Redford who guided me toward my dream. I explained my trials and tribulations to him and my concerns of people maybe not wanting to see a Native being funny. Redford told me to write what I know and make what I want to make. That night I wrote the script for DUDE VISION. When I returned home (Now thirty eight years old.) I swore this would be my first film. Armed with One Hundred and forty-seven dollars I set out to make a film that would put Tucson on notice. In January of 2005 I won the Arizona International Film Festival for Best Comedic short. Three other awards would follow, but it was Arizona I had to win. Following that I won the Tribecca Film Festivals Signature Series Screen writing competition with a script my friend and I wrote titled UP THE RIVER. The response to DUDE VISION has been overwhelming. I will never forget the first night waiting for people to laugh. I was worried they may not accept a Native guy being funny. But I knew I could not leave this world without trying. As a child I envied the afore mentioned comedians. As an adult I watched these great men and women of comedy entertain the masses. Why not me? This is America right. I certainly had the right to make people laugh. Well happy to report that I am achieving my life’s dream. Not only did DUDE VISION entertain people but it introduced everyone to a new funny guy, Jon Proudstar.

I am dedicated to creating quality films that entertain and make people laugh. I feel If I stick to those rules I will always be successful in my endeavors. I recently began filming on THE CHAOS EFFECT my first feature length romantic comedy.

Aaron Riggs (Elvis)

Barking Water marks Aaron Riggs second performance for Director Sterlin Harjo. He also appears in Harjo's earlier feature, Four Sheets to the Wind.

Laura Spencer (Wendy)

Laura Spencer is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK and has a BFA in Theatre/Drama. Before joining the cast of Barking Water she had appeared in The Familiar (2009) as Laura and had a role in the movie Pearl (2009), a production of the Chickasaw Nation.

Quese iMC (Cvpon, Irene's Nephew)

Quese iMC is a muscian. Born in Oklahoma City, he joined with others that shared his enthusiasm for hip-hop and rap and performed with the group Culture Shock Camp which merged hip-hop and Native music.

Ryan Red Corn (Mike, Irene's Nephew)

A member of the Osage nation, Ryan Red Corn is co-chair of NVision, a Native run non-profit youth media organization headquartered in Denver. In 2008 Red Corn participated in ReelNative, a traveling training workshop for new directors that is a project of the We Shall Remain documentary series produced by WGBH’s American Experience. He has also appeared for the first time on screen in film, in the feature Barking Water (d. Sterlin Harjo). Red Corn attended the University of Kansas, where he graduated in 2003 with a B.F.A in graphic design. In his work with Demockratees, a political T-shirt company, and his design firm, Red Hand Media, Red Corn integrates Native American imagery to produce work that is both specific to the tribal culture he is representing and contemporary in design and message. He currently lives and maintains his graphic arts business in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

 “As indigenous artists, the responsibility to re-brand our community to ourselves and the world at large rests largely on our shoulders, and is contingent upon an uncompromising volume and quality of work that will wrest control from non-Native story-tellers.

As to my indigenous identity, I am a product of my environment. I know of no other way to speak (than) from that which is the culmination of my life experience. Culture and experience are indistinguishable threads of the same fabric.”

-Taken from The Native Networks website.

Beau Harjo (Janitor)

David Michael Maurer (Editor)

David Michael Maurer has established himself as an innovator and valuable fresh face in the world of Motion Picture Editorial. His performance background and understanding of story has made him a creative asset for dramatic projects and his technical skills have helped numerous projects with the latest high definition and tapeless workflows.

Maurer's versatile career spans from the early years of reality television to contemporary scripted feature films in multiple genres.  In Primetime reality television, Maurer’s work has been seen by hundreds of millions of viewers throughout the world on such hit shows as “American Idol”, "The Apprentice", “Oprah Winfrey’s The Big Give”, “Sheer Genius”, “Paradise Hotel”, and many more.  Maurer garnished 2004 & 2005 Emmy Nominations for his work on "The Apprentice".

In feature films, Maurer edited the critically acclaimed “Four Sheets to the Wind” for writer/director Sterlin Harjo, which was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress Tamara Podemski, as well as a Special Jury Prize for Best Actress at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

In 2007, Maurer edited Toby Wilkins’ terrifying and stylish theatrical feature “Splinter” which won numerous awards including Best Editing from the Screamfest Film Festival.  The film reviewed rave reviews for it's performances, scares, and innovative editorial style from Variety, Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, USA Today, and many more.

"Barking Water" marks Maurer's third feature film and second collaboration with Sterlin Harjo.

In addition to editing, Mr. Maurer has directed/produced multiple television pilots, studied Meisner Acting technique with film/television coach Andrew Benne and story with Hollywood guru Robert McKee.

Frederick Schroeder (Cinematographer)

Frederick Shroeder was the director of photography on Sterlin Harjo's earlier feature, Four Sheets to the Wind, and came back to work with him again as the cinematographer for Barking Water. He also appears in the film as a clerk. Since working on this film, he has been cinematographer for several other projects including the TV series Heroes: Nowhere Man (2009) and Vampire Diaries: A Darker Truth (2009) and the film Very Dirty Things (2010).

Ryan Beveridge (Composer)

Composer Ryan Beveridge has leant his unique style to many projects. He co-composed with Stewart Copeland on Spyro the Dragon 3 (2000) video game and scored many films and television episodes such as Brutally Normal (2000), Taboo (2002), Dirty (2005) starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Zyzzyx Rd (2006) starring Katherine Heigl and Tom Sizemore, Heist (2006), and his recent work Five Star Day (2010) just to name a few. 

Greg Hulett (Production Designer)

Spring Houghton (Wardrobe Supervisor)

Barking Water marks Spring Houghton's second project with Director Sterlin Harjo. She also worked on wardrobe and costuming for Harjo's earlier feature, Four Sheets to the Wind.

Chuck Foxen (Still Photographer)

Chuck Foxen also worked as the still Photographer on Sterlin Harjo's earlier feature, Four Sheets to the Wind. He has also worked with the Circle Cinema in Tulsa, OK, as Office Manager. The Circle is one of Tulsa's best theatres, is non-profit, and shows countless independent films a year.

Chris Freihofer (Casting)

Chris Friehofer was originally from Quakertown, PA and studied acting at the University of Oklahoma. His casting credits in addition to Barking Water include, Four Sheets to the Wind (2007), The Gray Man(2007), Splinter (2008), The Familiar (2009), and Pearl (2009) a production of the Chickasaw nation just to name a few. He is currently casting for Terrence Malick's untitled project being filmed in Bartlesville, OK.

Carmen Richardville (Hair and Makeup)