Filmmaker Billy Luther on Why Authentic Casting Is Crucial for Native American Movies

This past summer, filmmaker Billy Luther headed to New Mexico to film his narrative feature debut, “Frybread Face and Me.”Luther’s previous credits include the documentary “Miss Navajo” and the 2018 reality TV series “Alter-Native.” With “Frybread Face and Me” selected as part of the 2020 Sundance Institute and Film Independent Directors and Screenwriters Labs, Taika Waititi hopped on board to executive produce.Below, as part of Native American Heritage Month, Luther shares his experience from writing a personal story, to shooting his first feature during the pandemic and the importance of Native representation.You’re currently in post-production for “Frybread Face and Me” — what was the genesis of the story and what inspired it?I’m multi-tribal – Navajo, Hopi, and Laguna Pueblo. Identity was something I was always been challenged with as a kid. People tend to put “Native Americans” into one box. They don’t realize tribes have different languages,...