Wiikwemkoong actress to be featured in world premier of Wild Indian at 2021 Sundance Film Festival

By Rick Garrick

MASSEY — Wiikwemkoong actor Lisa Cromarty is looking forward to the upcoming world premiere of Wild Indian, where she played the sister of one of two leads, in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Written and directed by Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr., an Anishinaabe director from Wisconsin, Wild Indian is one of 10 films in the U.S. Dramatic Competition.

“I feel really excited, I’m kind of shocked and I’m kind of surprised,” Cromarty says. “I played the sister to one of the leads, Chaske Spencer, and I’m just really happy to have been offered this gig and to work with Chaske. The character is a very strong Indigenous woman living in her community. I was just really happy with the way this character was represented.”

Wild Indian, a thriller about two Anishinaabe men bound together after covering up the savage murder of a schoolmate, was produced by Corbine Jr., Thomas Mahoney, and Eric Tavitian with a cast of Michael Greyeyes, Spencer, Jesse Eisenberg, Kate Bosworth, Phoenix Wilson and Julian Gopal.

“I shot my scenes in Guthrie, Oklahoma, which is just outside of Oklahoma City,” Cromarty says. “It was a totally different landscape but it was so gorgeous. We were shooting at a private residence and I was like, ‘Is that a tornado shelter?’ and the crew responded, ’It’s pretty common around here.’”

Cromarty says she shot her scenes with Spencer and Greyeyes during the filming process.

“They were so generous, so kind,” Cromarty says. “It was my first time being on a film set like this, so they were just very supportive of me. They brought the best out of me so it was really good.”

Cromarty says she tapped into some of her own personal experiences while performing her role in the film.

“It was a pretty heavy role — it dealt with some very intense matters,” Cromarty says. “I was able to bring my life experiences to my character and the relationship she had with her brother.”

Cromarty also performed recently in the APTN drama series, Unsettled, and the CBC drama series, Coroner.

“I filmed a scene, a principal role for Coroner — I think that begins airing Feb. 3,” Cromarty says. “I have a recurring role on Unsettled, which was created by Jennifer Podemski and Derek Diorio. There is no air date yet but it is coming up [this] year.”

Cromarty began acting about 10 years ago and has since been working in film and television for about three years.

“I’m excited to be an Indigenous actor now in Canada,” Cromarty says. “There are many more opportunities for Indigenous actors and actresses than even three years ago, and not only that, but there are more Indigenous writers, producers and directors behind the camera who are able to ensure representation in all roles to lead Indigenous stories.”

Cromarty began pursuing theatre after taking an Aboriginal Theatre Course while studying Indigenous Studies at Trent University.

“I’ve always had a curiosity and I was drawn to acting even though I didn’t pursue it,” Cromarty says. “So after just one theatre course, I just lived in that theatre for the rest of my undergrad. I did stage management, I helped with the lights, I helped with doing the front of house, I performed, I was backstage helping the other performers.”

The 2021 Sundance Film Festival will be held on a digital platform and in-person on satellite screens across the country where permitted by public health from Jan. 28-Feb. 3.