Actor Tatanka Means talks with the GRIN
Velia Moncada
Gila River Indian News
As in previous years before, the Native American All-Star Comedy Night brought together many comedians from different tribal communities. Including Tonia Jo Hall (Lakota, Dakota, and Hidatsa) known from her “Aunty Beatrice” personality, who performed a refreshing new comedic skit as herself; James Junes (Navajo/Hopi) and Ernest David Tsosie III (Navajo), father-like figures of the group both created a delightful laughing atmosphere. Meanwhile, O’odham artists, Wolf Brown (Akimel O’otham/Tohono O’odham), and Teresa Choyguha (Tohono O’odham) joyfully performed their comedic skits with their O’odham wit and sense of humor at the Gila River Resorts & Casinos Wild Horse Pass on Nov. 25.The comedy show was an excellent and enjoyable experience for all.
Laughter echoed through the theater of the sold-out show, which also included comedian and actor Tatanka Means (Oglala Lakota, Omaha, and Navajo). Fresh off his appearance in Director Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Means was among the talented comedians who entertained the audience with his unique sense of humor, as he uplifts and empowers Indigenous communities, while pushing the barriers on film as a Native performer.
Introduce yourself and where you’re from?
Yes. Hello, my name is Tatanka Means, I am Oglala Lakota, Omaha and Navajo. Originally from Chinle, Arizona.
Can you share your journey as an artist?
Yes, it’s been it’s been quite a journey since I first got on this road of acting and comedy.
So, it’s been a lot of ups and downs. You know, sometimes it’s kind of muddy waters, but right now, things are kind of smoothing out, I would say. And I’m hoping for better projects and good things to come. It’s been good.
How did you begin and what made you start?
Yeah, when I first started acting, I was doing stunt work. They were filming a movie in my hometown boxing gym and where I grew up boxing. They needed a stunt double to double the main character. And I had volunteered. This was a few years after I graduated, you know, so I was kind of on a journey at that point, I had been in and out of different schools and kind of trying to figure out what I wanted to do. And this opportunity had presented itself in my hometown. After doing the stunt work and, you know, seeing, the movie come out, I thought, oh, man, I want to give it a shot, I started auditioning for movies. My peers who were in the business gave me encouragement to try it and give it a shot. Also, seeing my father in the Last of the Mohicans, gave me inspiration to see Indians represented differently.
What advice would you like to give to Native actors and actresses who don’t know where to begin?
I would say, research. Try different things, get out of your comfort zone and try performing. Because sometimes people think they want to perform or act, and they find out that you’re acting in front of a crew of 100 people. It’s kind of different than what you might think. Get into acting classes and researching as much as possible and seeing if you enjoy that.
What do you like most about comedy and acting?
I think they help complement each other, with the performing in front of people, I think it helps get the nerves out of the way and I think they just work well together. It’s helped me be able to come out of my shell more. It’s helped me be able to keep work while the actors strike was going on.
What was some advice you’d like to give yourself now, since from when you were beginning?
Don’t be afraid to just speak up, give your ideas and thoughts. Reach out and ask questions and ask for help.
What was your favorite part in the story of Killers of the Flower Moon?
I really enjoyed all the stories that were being covered, you know, all the different characters and people who they were based off real people’s lives. One of those people is Henry Rowen who played my little friend William Value, and he did a really good job. And he had a lot on his plate to represent and I really enjoyed his performance and everybody’s else’s performance as well.
What is your favorite scene from Killers of the Flower Moon?
When we see the director, Martin Scorsese, at the end of the movie up there talking. It hit different; it was really emotional.
How do you keep yourself balance?
I would have to say, my wife, she keeps me balanced. Without her I’d be lost. When I get home, she has everything ready to get back into the swing of home life.
What’s next for Tatanka Means?
I’m filming a new movie right now called Opus with John Malkovich and Juliette Lewis and Amber Midthunder. And it’s kind of a horror-thriller, and it’s a feature film.
It’ll be in theaters next year and it’s backed by A24, and it’s going to be a really cool movie.
And, you know, I’m really looking forward to more things that are coming out that I’ve already filmed and finished. All I can say is that it’s kind of a horror thriller, I am trying to get a break, get outside of that box, and just cast as regular characters.
What’s your favorite acting technique?
To not have a technique to not act, just to be yourself. That was advice that Daniel Day-Lewis had given my dad when they were doing the last of the Mohicans movie, because you want to be seen on screen. You just want to be that character.
Anything else you’d like to say?
I just want to say thank you so much to Gila River Indian Community, for always coming out and supporting these shows here at Wild Horse Pass Casino. You know, it’s been difficult for comedians to get hired by casinos and Wild Horse Pass has taken a chance on us. We’re just thankful for the support that the community gives and continues to give us for Native comedy, and Native entertainment. So, thank you, guys.
