Joanelle Romero is an award-winning director and producer of film, television, and other media -- being the only American Indian director, producer, writer, shortlisted for an Academy Award by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science Documentary Branch in 2000 for her award-winning film 'American Holocaust: When Its All Over I'll Still be Indian. To date this is the only documentary that addresses the American Indian and the Jewish Holocausts.June 2016, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science invited Romero to be a lifetime member #Class2016. Romero that same month was invited to Washington D.C. by President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Oprah Winfrey to share her vision and initiatives of her Native Women in FILM, inclusion in bringing national attention to the multi- cultural diversity issues we face as a nation.Romero has worked in directing and producing original content for online streaming television and commercial advertising through her company Red Nation Television Network - The World is Watching Native is Here, since 2006 and others including ITVS.Romero being the first American Indian to receive an Humanitarian Award, the Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award given to projects that have "the vision to see the truth and the courage to speak it." Romero's expertise and passion in producing and directing media content centers around her love of storytelling and humanity. Romero's commitment in the film industry has been consisted in having established a career of 40+ years and still going strong. In 2007, Romero was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.Acknowledgements Joanelle Romero was further acknowledged by Ellen Snortland, former President of United Nations Association, Pasadena Chapter in the Pasadena Weekly, 2006: "American Indians have every right to despise white folks and curse us, rather than bless us. And yet, there are leaders like Romero who boggle the typical pedestrian mind. Like Nelson Mandela, she is a prime example of forgiveness in action. Mandela had every right to call for a bloodbath when he was finally released from prison in South Africa. Mandela-like, Romero stands on his mighty global shoulders and calls for oneness, love and what she describes as female energy." --partial quote.Romero is a Media Proprietor, her companies include Red Nation Television Network (2006 - reaching 10 million viewers in 37 countries), Red Nation Film Festival - the Authentic Voice of American Indian & Indigenous Cinema (2003), Native Women in FILM (2003), Native Youth Matter - If I Can See It I Can Be It and the longest standing Native Arts & Culture nonprofit organization in Los Angeles Red Nation Celebration Institute (1995). Joanelle Romero's, production company Red Nation Films is an award-winning company in producing American Indian documentaries and independent films.Romero has a long and impressive career as an actor, starring in the first Contemporary American Indian Women's Story ever producer in 1977 "A Girl Called Hatter Fox", this film marked the first time a Native actress carried a leading role in a contemporary movie. To starring in 1989 Handmade Films Cult Classic "Pow Wow Highway," the film that paved the way for contemporary native filmmaking. Sundance award winning feature film. Roger Ebert's review 'Thumb's Up"Romero has been a SAG-AFTRA member since 1977 and is the longest standing American Indian member in the union. She sat on the SAG-EEOC committee from 1998 to 2001 and for many years was the only American Indian representing the native voice to the union. At SAG-AFTRA she produced numerous events including the panels "Where Are We (Native Americans) in Film, Television and Radio" (2000) and "Native Women in Film & Television"(2012).Romero has worked such notable directors as: George Schaefer, Oliver Stone, Fred Schepisi, Gregory Hoblit, Charles Band, Mel Damski, Ricky Schroder, and Aaron Lipstadt.The Legendary Leonard Cohen discovered singer/songwriter Joanelle Romero. Romero was the first female artist that Mr. Leonard Cohen produced. Leonard Cohen produced her first recordings at A&M Records; Joanelle was the only American Indian recording artist on the world's famous Sarah McLaughlin "Lilith Fair Tour" with Sara McLaughlin, Sinead O'Connor, the Indigo Girls and Natalie Merchant; first all female tour; before being asked to join the "Lilith Fair" Joanelle launched Native Women in Music concert series.In 1991, Michael Jackson helped launch Ms. Romero's production company. Jackson became the leading force in making Romero's company known to the world. Due to Jackson's insight, he added her newly founded production company (1991) in his press interviews in Entertainment Weekly.Joanelle Romero was instrumental in bringing American Indian dancers to Jackson's music video, "Black or White" this music video. Romero was able to negotiate for the American Indian dancers to be paid over and above any dancers on any music video ever, due to the fact they were traditionally dressed (the wardrobe did not come from western costume). To date, they are the highest paid dancers in the music video industry. Also, this segment was the first clip of American Indian dancers in a music video without being a Native American music group/artist.Romero's most current performances have included, 2016 asked by Ed Begley Jr to sing traditional water song at Enviromental Media Awards in honoring Shailene Woodley along with Frances Fisher and Josh Fox. 2015 Dalai Lama's 80th Birthday Celebration in the United States @ The Honda Center. Romero spoke on Native Women and Sacred Water, was asked to sing by Holiness Dalai Lama.Romero has been invited to sing Traditional Blessing Spiritual songs by such notables as Jane Goodall, Cesar Chavez National Holidays, Gandhi's Grandson for Peace Day, Earth Day Celebrations.Romero with her Indian Country blues band has opened for notable artists as Rick Danko of The Band, Kris Kristofferson, Stevie Wonder, Eric Anderson, John Trudell, Paul Butterfield, Tin Machine, Freddie Fender, Ritchie Havens and Roseanne Cash.Romero's produced work in social justice forums include: "Native Women in Film & Television Initiative"; "Native Youth Matter - If I Can See It I Can Be It"; "Warriors Against Aids"; ""The Power of Film"; "Native Fashion with Social Action" to name a few.Born 1957 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the first child of Rita Rogers Mescalero Apache/Sephardic Jew an actress and father Robert Romero Mescalero-Chiricahua Apache/Cheyenne. Joanelle was born in to this industry. At age 3, she acted with her mother and grandma in plays in New Mexico. In the 60's, Joanelle's mother was signed to Universal Studios, her mother was in nine Elvis Presley films. At age 9, Joanelle used to go to the set on MGM Lot with her mother and hang out with Elvis and Nancy Sinatra, where she learned her love for filmmaking. As a young girl at age 12, Dennis Hopper became her legal guardian. At age 18, Joanelle was cast in her first leading role "A Girl Called Hatter Fox" and went on to study at Lee Strasberg Actors Studio in Hollywood. Red Nation Film Festival www.rednationff.comLos Angeles Red Nation Film Festival (RNFF) - The Authentic Voice of American Indian & Indigenous Cinema, the first American Indian Film Festival in Hollywood. Red Nation Film Festival has helped launch feature films such as; Frozen River with Melissa Leo and Misty Upham which went on to garner two Academy Award nominations and six Spirit Awards nominations. (2008); Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian with Benicio Del Toro, Misty Upham and Gary Farmer; Yellow Rock with James Russo, Michael Spears and Eddie Spears; The Cherokee Word for Water with Kimberly Guerrero, Mo Brings Plenty and Steve Reevis; and Chasing Shakespeare with Danny Glover, Graham Greene and Tantoo Cardinal. In 2013, in collaboration with Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox, the RNFF became the first urban venue outside the Navajo Nation, to screen the Navajo language dubbed version of George Lucas film classic, Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.Red Nation Film Festival partnered with Summit Entertainment's "Twilight- New Moon" screening Twilight- New Moon, before the film had its premiere and going into public theaters, this was a first for Summit Entertainment in regards to screening their franchise at any film festival. (2009)Red Nation Film Festival has launched numerous documentaries like "Honor the Treaties" and The Garden, among others. The Garden was nominated for an Oscar in 2009.Industry Related: http://www.rednationff.com/industry/Red Nation Film Festival 'On the Road' Tour. http://www.rednationff.com/tourdates/RNCI Red Nation AwardsTo acknowledge the work of Native Americans in the entertainment industry, Romero established the "Red Nation Award" that honor actors, filmmakers and producers for "exceptional achievement" and "filmmaking excellence." The award ceremony, held on the last day of the Red Nation Film Festival, became the first American Indian entertainment industry award show to be broadcast nationally in 2013 on Camcast and then live in 2014 on Red Nation Television Channel. The LIVE broadcast takes place annually in November.Native Women in FILM www.nativewmenfilmtv.comTwo years after founding the Red Nation Film Festival, Romero created the Native Women In Film & Television *Film Festival (NWIF). Since it's launch in 2003, Native Women in FILM has helped launch numerous Native women's documentaries. In addition to providing a venue for the screening of their work, the organization provides multiple collaborative opportunities with entertainment industry leaders, professionals and mentors.Red Nation Television Network www.rednationtv.comLacking media outlets to broadcast Native American content, Romero (CEO) founded the first American Indian Television Channel, Red Nation Television Network - Native is Here (RNTV). Launched in 2006, the network provides all native programming, includes feature and independent films plus original programming. The on-line streaming network has over 10 million viewers in 37 countries.Red Nation Celebration Institute www.rednationcele.orgRomero, in 1995 founded the Red Nation Celebration Institute (RNCI), an American Indian arts and cultural non-profit organization. Through her advocacy she successfully lobbied the City and County of Los Angeles to designate each November, American Indian Heritage Month. For this groundbreaking effort she has received numerous awards and acknowledgments.One of RNCI's most important projects is Native Youth Matter - If I Can See It I Can Be It. Through it's community outreach program, its mission it to build relationships with Native Youth on reservations and in urban communities through education in film, music, dance, sports and the arts. Since 1995, RNCI has produced numerous Native youth workshops and short films, some of which have aired on Red Nation TV. "Lead Forward: Native Youth Matter is part of a larger RNCI strategy to develop a community of indigenous media-makers. RNCI's partners have included; the Jane Goodall Institute; Screen Actors Guild Foundation; American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco; Southern California Indian Center; United American Indian Involvement; Sherman Indian High School; San Pedro Mid-School; Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico and; Indian Studies departments at UCLA, USC and Cal State University Northridge.
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