Did he really think the movie would "stink"? MP: Do you recall any special problems that were presented by the rugged terrain that LOTM was filmed in? That's where their home is and we're fighting over her I: How did you get on with the rest of the cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Jodhi May and Russell Means? He kicked off his acting career in 1985 as a cast member of the theatrical show, The Cradle Will Fall, produced at the Actor's Lab by the Theatre of Change. I wouldn't One in particular was your party's arrival at Fort William Henry. in place of the word. Being brothers, we would be the same. ES: Yeah, absolutely. Was it just a kiss? I said "You know what? Eric was forthcoming and, we believe, candid in his responses; gracious, and willing to discuss everything we asked. What was originally scripted for that scene was pretty graphic. place? Or was it a sex scene? 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? Those guys running around in the wool were so uncomfortable. Did you ever get a feeling of really being in that She is the New York-based writer/podcast editor for Filmoria and film contributor at The Interrobang. . or play a dulcimer, learn how to play a dulcimer. And they wanted us to have shaved heads. Things like that, you know, the time of day or whatever, but .. if you mean were we planning to strike up a business or something or go skydiving, or meet each other's family .. it was nothing for the running and other activities. I never met my biological mother. the real, well .. you see these gang bangers running around blasting each other to smithereens because they think it's cool.. because that's what you do. They sold a lemon to the wrong person and find themselves reverting back to their old ways as mercenaries. went to a school to speak in Denver. So finally, after three or four years of screwing around I got around to it. Regarding the love scene; you said in another interview several years ago that it was filmed and then cut out. All I expect from anybodyand this is what I like about Blackstoneis that people on the show can do their job. MOHICANS He interjects things, seemingly out of nowhere, which had little to do with the question, leading one to suspect there was an agenda waiting to spew forth. MP: Have you had any contact with her since filming LOTM? E: Oh, that was the hardest time anyone ever had. You know, you gotta start somewhere and they're starting small but they're starting. In 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. ES: No, I haven't actually. It's pretty good. you see a lot of them come out of their You have to have some sort of sympathy or empathy for villains like otherwise. I spent thousands of dollars at the Asheville Mall. the answers, and everybody does that well, basically as human beings we know the difference between right and wrong. MOHICAN PRESS If you cultivate that, when he is 30 years old he would be the best possible asset for his community. Now you see movies like Dances With Wolves or The Last of the Mohicans and there is some attempt to show Indian people as people, so when my little girl says to me, while pointing to YOU, "That's one of the good guys", you've done ES: Oh You know, I can't remember. I didn't think it would make this much money! Gees, about time!!! There is no question that the American Indians have been one of the most mistreated peoples in history, certainly on this continent. MP: The photo of the mask you described. on the cover of the book, is that 18th century or 19th century? edged sword because for one thing they kept the masks in really good shape. Why do you think Blackstone is so popular? Powwow Trail (2001- ) Episode: White Man's Indian MP: Did you get closer to Jodhi May would you say, than to say, Madeleine Stowe? And the colors. the picture that was taken of this mask, the colors were a bit off. MP: OK, take all the movies you've been in if you could only be in one of them again, which one would it be? And they put in all kinds of unnatural fears into kids' minds, or potentially can. We wish him a lot of success in all his endeavors and thank him for taking the time to speak MP: Okay! Try to balance it, you know.. go He was just all work, then go home. We won't have a leg to stand on infringement! Yeah, you know, just like locusts. You've known him as Uncas. They don't have anybody to talk to and nobody to listen to them. If he is going to have all his hair there, then we should, too!" I: Was it all shot outdoors or were there any indoor shots, i.e., like the cabin scene? Interviewing is something we hadn't done And you take care of yourself Whew! Born: June 19th 1967 Height: 6'2 Weight: 210lbs Eyes: brn Hair: blk Marital Status: none Heritage/Tribe: Inuit/German country: Canada Just HUGE games. Does he know that the six nations are of the Iroquois, and the Mohawks are one of the six? ES: Uhhh no.. not my adopted family, but I hang out with my Uncle Willie from my biological family once in a while. E: Yes, to an extent! When not doing that, she's writing books on classic Hollywood, including Lew Ayres: Hollywood's. before it was a tad more difficult than we'd anticipated. In COLOR! I went over to his hotel and sat around with him. effects - without our expressed, written permission, constitutes copyright He was in good humor throughout. Not to portray these times would be to "twist" history. COURIER || There's this woman Claudia who's the It was like puppy love basically, this love scene they cut out. E: Michael Mann was running around behind everyone in the editing room making them do it shouting, "What are you doing?". You know, if you get beaten down for so long and then you If they were operable it would have been more fun. (A boyish laughter interrupts the train of thought.). 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). All of a sudden they just start busting out. MP: I know you've had experience framing houses. I'm an actor who just happens to be an Indian. ES: Well, we did boycott the set one day because all the extras were getting shit on. The ramifications and issues surrounding interracial/cultural adoption are, No problem. 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. Blackstone Season 2 - "Eric Schweig interviews Andrea Menard" - YouTube For exclusive content visit: www.blackstonetheseries.com For exclusive content visit: www.blackstonetheseries.com. It would seem that carving is the next step or natural progression of skills you already have. Hopefully, his voice will be heard on this; his "activism" emulated. time or was it just.. you know, "I'm just doing this"? He was into powder rifles and stuff like that. And I get with her. [laughs] I don't know what How would you compare the role to others you've played? [Laughs] They're not making Spaghetti Westerns. The way you're describing it doesn't really sound like the scene that was originally ES: Well, no. Anything that had to do with the fort . because it was hot in there and it was stuffy. ES: Yeah, all up and down there; all over here. MP: Do you see that on the other end of the spectrum too, with the elderly? 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, Zusammenfassung: An interview with the director of the series. They'll suck all MP: Another scene that may have been filmed but didn't make it in the final cut was when you were approaching the fort. I don't think. I assume that you didn't have much knowledge, before landing the role of Uncas, of the period history behind LOTM not only of Your character, Hawkeye, and Chingachgook. there seemed a sense of family. ES: Yeah, they could have it's all politics. And I'm a damn hand with a harmonica! 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. You know, he hung out and he talked to . anybody. 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? The girls would have been scared of everything! 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. Both musical pieces heard during this interview are by Tudjaat, Many visitors have commented upon the quality of your masks. E: I had fun, really. ES: Yep! I was born in Inuvik NWT in 1967 and moved south to Ontario with my adoptive family in the early 70s. There are a couple of words we just couldn't make out, indicated by a [??] And it has a real trains action stars in the use of different tactical weapons. We've been asked to extend to you an invitation to the gathering on behalf of these people. And if he could magnify that with a damned megaphone, he was happy as hell. It's all hard to fathom it goes against our grain. MP: You feel like it left something undone in the relationship by cutting out the scene? Could you tell us about it? MP: To date, you've been in two movies with him, The Last of the Mohicans and The Broken Chain. LINKS E: The terrific points about the movie was the cinematography on the locations and the costumes. Want To Purchase One Of Eric's Videos? It was wonderfully portrayed between the two of you, but would it have been correct in those days? retrospect, how do you feel about the quality of that film? ES: You know what? There's got to be a lot of women in order for there to be a lot of guys MP: Well, in that regard, most of the film takes place where you wouldn't expect to FIND a lot of women, on the battle front. Filled up with all those bodies in there.. in the fort. But I did a thing recently called Broken Chain, and I'll use that as a reference. PATHFINDING || MUSINGS || I can't remember which scene it was. I: Have you seen the whole film unedited? .. We'd sit and talk about playing guitar. MP: Yeah, Chimney Rock. Personal use on your own home PC is permissible! They can get egotistical. Just a cop. 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. We just see the rushes. And you know, most of them are but where most of them will do 3 or 4 takes of something, whether it's a close up or an establishing shot he'll take 12 [laughs] . or 13. They said "We'll miss you!" I like walking with my gun and my dogs in the woods near here. It was hot and it was annoying because Michael wanted to .. you know, like I said before.take after take. I'm getting sick of looking at the same usual suspects all the time. E: No, I don't! That's what I love about it. 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. Well, it's one of the biggest small towns. 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. 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. Available - Free Downloads Only! MOHICANS The stupidest idea or concept I've ever They take their sense of history and their wisdom ES: Yeah, it didn't have to be as epic as the battle scene in the valley there, but maybe with half the all the guys but not the inten [breaks off] let's have a hockey game! Mohican Press - ALL I don't know what he does now, but he was when we were on the set. MP: And as opposed to what you do .. acting . doesn't that put you in the spotlight? For example, the beginning of the movie in the woods Day-Lewis' shirt appears and disappears! I have done bit parts in Bordertown and The Black Stallion. Regarding Vern MP: Okay. We realize many of you are huge Eric Schweig fans. We come from two different distinct worlds. EARLY I am an outreach worker in real life. MP: True. This is to be shot in Vancouver, if it all happens. 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. I: Firstly, I have to say that I enjoyed your role in Mohicans very much and I thought the film was excellent! That's Andy Fraser. I guess it turned out alright. 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. All kids want to do now is rap, which is great and I understand when you turn 15 or 16 you want to express yourself. [laughs] There could have been a few more women. Yeah, they cut that out, they must have. Perhaps things were twisted by the editing of the interview. I would. All they had to do was put at the end of the movie, " All these characters are based on fiction". MP: I guess you believe that judgment on any society falls on how they treat their children and their elders? We were pleased with the results and hope you are too. For some, those are scenes that evoke a sense of the times more than any other .. they really hit you. 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. That would've been really cool if they'd have done that. Or maybe it would be a You know, that's the impression people have. GATHERINGS || And, if there should be any activism it should be to talk to kids you see, if you're going to solve a lot of the problems within the Indian community, as far as civil In COLOR! We have feasts around here and they eat first. Sitting out there in a big flotilla and it was really windy. I lived in hostels and I was an alcoholic until 14 years ago. [2] I: And I presume the Hurons were speaking French? I guess it worked out. ES: Yeah. ES: Yeah, start sending out pamphlets to customs [Laughs], just to tell them . MP: Okay. ES: [Laughter] Yeah! Do you have a message for these people? In COLOR! MP: The vehicle that has placed you before the public eye is, of course, The Last of the Mohicans. When you do that you really have to commit. So, by the time I told Vern about that. Making it more subtle? And we didn't finish till, I don't know, 11, 12 something like that, anyway. We hope all who read this feel they've gained more insight, or a better Previous to this "formal" interview, we had had several long conversations with Eric, focusing primarily on his hand carved Inuit masks. They put them in. You know the difference between Indian elders and a lot of other elders? Glad we did! MP: I imagine they do! Good humor throughout, candid in his responses ; gracious, and everybody does that well, no problem times! That with a damned megaphone, he was into powder rifles and stuff like that when! 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