Navajo-Hopi Observer

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Holt Hamilton Productions, producers of the Native American hit films Turquoise Rose and Blue Gap Boy'z, have just announced the Flagstaff premiere of their third film entitled "Pete & Cleo."

The film is scheduled to be shown for the first time in Flagstaff on Saturday Sept. 25 at the Orpheum Theater. Show times are at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Additional information is available at www.orpheumpresents.com. Film director Holt Hamilton will also be at the Saturday evening showings.

The film stars Navajo actors Beau Benally (Blue Gap Boy'z), Ernest David Tsosie, III (Blue Gap Boy'z), and Ethel Begay (Turquoise Rose). The film is the fictional story of two very different brothers who are forced to spend a week together cleaning out the family's spare hogan. The hilarious adventure picks up speed when Cleo (Benally), an NAU college student on spring break, is forced to confront his older, and more "rez'ed" out brother Pete (Tsosie) back on the family homestead in Fort Defiance.

The film was shot almost entirely on the Navajo Reservation in Fort Defiance and on Northern Arizona University's campus. "The Navajo Nation film office and NAU were once again a pleasure to work with," producer Travis Hamilton commented. "We hope to work with them on a variety of other projects in the near future."

Hamilton graduated from NAU in May of this year with a degree in anthropology. He also went on to state, "I loved my experience at NAU. You will see much of its influence on me in this film. I wanted to look at real issues in our world and the impact those issues have on all of us."

Ethel Begay, who warmed audiences hearts as the legendary grandmother in Turquoise Rose, is back for her second feature film as the brother's mother.

"Ethel was simply amazing. She brings back much of that fun comedy and motherness that so many Native people can relate to. Her performance should capture a few more hearts in this film," Hamilton said.

The film has already played successfully on a few screens across Arizona and a few locations in New Mexico, but this will be the first time to play in Flagstaff.

"We are excited to bring this film home. It's always fun to show it in the place where the story was written and partly shot in. I hope anyone interested in current affairs on the Navajo Reservation will come out and support the film," Hamilton said.

The film is expected to be released on DVD later this year.