| Dance Me Outside | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Bruce McDonald |
| Written by | John Frizzell Bruce McDonald Don McKellar |
| Based on | Dance Me Outside byW. P. Kinsella |
| Produced by | Brian Dennis Bruce McDonald Duke Redbird |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Miroslaw Baszak |
| Edited by | Michael Pacek |
| Music by | Mychael Danna, Keith Secola |
| Distributed by | Apex Entertainment Shadow Shows Distribution Cineplex Odeon Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $304,852 (USA) |
Dance Me Outside is a 1994 Canadian drama film, directed byBruce McDonald.[1] It was based ona book byW.P. Kinsella.[2]
The film premiered at the1994 Toronto International Film Festival,[3] before going into commercial release in 1995.
On the Kidabaneseereserve inNorthern Ontario lives Silas Crow (Ryan Black), a young man looking for direction in life. He is uncertain about taking an automobile mechanic's course in college. His general confusion with life is most readily evident in his appearance. He wears an old ratty black fedora, a strange assortment of cargo pants, as well as a long, black trench coat. Frank Fencepost (Adam Beach) is Crow's best friend, and Sadie Maracle (Jennifer Podemski) is his girlfriend.
A young girl from the reserve is murdered by Clarence Gaskill (Hugh Dillon); thewhite man's sentence is light, leading the community to demand justice or vengeance.
Ryan Black (Saulteaux) as Silas Crow an 18 year old aspiring mechanic struggling to write a short narrative of his home.
Adam Beach(Saulteaux, plains Ojibwe) as Frank Fencepost the best friend of Silas. Who is joining Silas in becoming a mechanic.
Lisa LaCroix as Illianna, Silas's Sister
Micheal Greyeyes(Muskeg Lake First Nation) as Gooch, former boyfriend of Illiana and returns home from prison
Jennifer Podemski (Anishinaabe,Lenni Lenape, andMétis) as Sadie Maracle
Tamara Podemski (Anishinaabe) as Little Margaret
Dance Me Outside was the first acting role for Dillon, who was previously known as a rock singer.[4] He later starred in McDonald'sHard Core Logo, and has since gone on to become an acclaimed actor in television series such asDurham County andFlashpoint.
The rock bandLeslie Spit Treeo and singer-songwriterVern Cheechoo appeared in the film, performing in concert at the reserve's community hall, "The Blue Quill Hall".[2] Blue Quill is a borrowed name of a community inW.P. Kinsella's hometown ofEdmonton. Other contributors to the soundtrack included thefolk music duoKashtin, singer-songwriterKeith Secola and Dillon's bandThe Headstones, as well as previously recorded songs byRedbone andThe Ramones, and an instrumental score byMychael Danna.
The film was shot primarily on theShawanaga andWasauksing First Nations reserves nearParry Sound, with a small amount of location shooting in Parry Sound.[5]
A television series,The Rez, was spun off from the film in 1996.[6] In the series, Frank Fencepost was played byDarrel Dennis instead ofAdam Beach, who was instead given the role of the chief's son, Charlie. Ryan Black and Jennifer Podemski kept their roles, while Podemski's sisterTamara played a new character named Lucy.
The film won twoGenie Awards at the16th Genie Awards in 1996, forBest Editing (Michael Pacek) andBest Sound Editing (Steve Munro, Andy Malcolm, Michael Pacek, Peter Winninger and Michael Werth).[7] It was also nominated, but did not win, forBest Overall Sound (Keith Elliott, Peter Kelly, Daniel Pellerin and Ross Redfern).[8]
After the film's spring 1995 theatrical run, the film was released on videocassette in 1995 byA-Pix Entertainment and in Canada that same year byCineplex Odeon. The Canadian tape contained the music video for "Cemetery" performed byThe Headstones.Video Service Corporation released the film on DVD in 2008.