Private Project

Mindjimendamowin (Blood Memory)

The journey of a young, contemporary Native American man in a birch bark canoe, following the Old Shore Indian Trail (now the U.S. 23 Heritage Route), carved out by his Native ancestors along the shores of Lake Huron. The film highlights the natural beauty of NE Michigan as well as educating the audience on the historical sites and oral stories along the Route from Saginaw Bay to Mackinaw City. The narration is presented as poems, songs, storytelling as well as traditional narration from Native American tradition bearers and elders. The focus is Land, Sky and Water.

  • Mary Ellen Jones
    Director
    Executive Producer - The Tarnished Eye (in development) Director/Writer/Producer - Mindjimendamowin (Blood Memory) in post production Director/Writer/Producer - Life in Mikado (in post production) Director/ Co-Writer/Producer - The Teacher and the Student Director, Producer Dinner With Friends Alpena Civic Theatre, Alpena, MI Director, Producer, Writer Quintetto Sonare Alpena Civic Theatre, Alpena, MI Director, Moesha Freelance Executive in Charge of Production, Supervising Producer, Producer, Co-Producer, Line Producer, Associate Producer, Post Production Supervisor for hundreds of episodes of television shows including The Army Show, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wayans Bros., Moesha, Thea, & Soul Train and over twenty pilots. I’ve worked for Castle Rock Entertainment, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros., to name a few, and delivered hundreds of hours of projects to ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, NESN and other networks. FOX-TAPE, FOX TELEVISION STATIONS, INC. Staff Unit Manager for the follow series: Small Wonder, Mama’s Family, 227, Gimme A Break, Soul Train, Hour Magazine, and People’s Court
  • Mary Ellen Jones
    Writer
    Co-Writer, "The Teacher and the Student"
  • Mary Ellen Jones
    Producer
  • Zachary R. Irving
    Producer
    Zach has worked on professional videography productions for eight years. Working as a freelance videographer for multiple PSAs, Commercials, Short Films, Features, and grant funded programs including: Chicago Rot, Frost Bite, Mindjimendamowin, The Anishinaabe Way, Chef K.O., Northeast Michigan Basement Tapes, Farm To Fork Alcona PSA, Michigan Micro Adventures (Vol. 1)
  • Travis Agosa
    Key Cast
  • Chase Stevens
    Key Cast
    "Anishinaabe Spirit Guide"
  • Lee Sprague
    Key Cast
    "Nanaboozo"
  • Curtis P. Chambers
    Key Cast
    "Anishinaabe Narrator/Storyteller"
  • Zachary R. Irving
    Cinematographer
    Zach has worked on professional videography productions for eight years. Working as a freelance videographer for multiple PSAs, Commercials, Short Films, Features, and grant funded programs including: Chicago Rot, Frost Bite, Mindjimendamowin, The Anishinaabe Way, Chef K.O., Northeast Michigan Basement Tapes, Farm To Fork Alcona PSA, Michigan Micro Adventures (Vol. 1)
  • Zachary R. Irving
    Editor
    Zach has worked on professional videography productions for eight years. Working as a freelance videographer for multiple PSAs, Commercials, Short Films, Features, and grant funded programs including: Chicago Rot, Frost Bite, Mindjimendamowin, The Anishinaabe Way, Chef K.O., Northeast Michigan Basement Tapes, Farm To Fork Alcona PSA, Michigan Micro Adventures (Vol. 1)
  • Travis Van Horn
    Sound
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Indigenous, Educational, Environment
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 44 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 20, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Thunder Bay International Film Festival
    Alpena, MI
    United States
    January 25, 2018
    North American Premiere
  • Idyllwild Festival of Cinema
    Idyllwild, California
    United States
    February 5, 2018
    California Premiere
    Winner: Best Director Documentary, Featurette; Nominations: Best Documentary Short or Featurette; Best Director Documentary Short or Featurette; MARY AUSTIN AWARD EXCELLENCE IN DIRECTING FEATURETTE; MARY AUSTIN AWARD EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCING FEATURETTE; MARY AUSTIN AWARD EXCELLENCE IN SCREENWRITING FEATURETTE
  • Sunrise 45 Film Festival
    Alpena, MI
    United States
    August 19, 2018
    Best Documentary
Director Biography - Mary Ellen Jones

Writer "Life after Life" Dramedy Pilot

Executive Producer - The Tarnished Eye Television series (in development)

Director/Writer/Producer - Mindjimendamowin (Blood Memory) Short Documentary Film - completed 2018

Director/ Co-Writer/Producer - The Teacher and the Student Short Narrative Film - completed 2015

Director, Producer Dinner With Friends
Alpena Civic Theatre, Alpena, MI

Director, Producer, Writer Quintetto Sonare
Alpena Civic Theatre, Alpena, MI

Director, Moesha

Freelance Executive in Charge of Production, Supervising Producer, Producer, Co-Producer, Line Producer, Associate Producer, Post Production Supervisor for hundreds of episodes of television shows including The Army Show, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wayans Bros., Moesha, Thea, & Soul Train and over twenty pilots. I’ve worked for Castle Rock Entertainment, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros., to name a few, and delivered hundreds of hours of projects to ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, NESN and other networks.

FOX-TAPE, FOX TELEVISION STATIONS, INC.
Staff Unit Manager for the follow series: Small Wonder, Mama’s Family, 227, Gimme A Break, Soul Train, Hour Magazine, and People’s Court

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

There is nothing more satisfying than telling stories of the First People in Northeast Michigan - my new home.