 SHERMAN ALEXIE! COME ON DOWN!
We're so proud of your continuing success. Let us discuss all things Sherman!
JULY 2003 -- Like, oh, my god! It's so tough keeping this page updated. I mean, I thought I was busy, but Sherman has got me beat. All of you know that he has yet another new book of short stories out (Ten Little Indians) and that his last film, "The Business of Fancydancing" is already out in the video stores in a brand, new spanking DVD. Man, I'm glad there are Sherman movies out there. It was getting pretty tough having to rent "Thunderheart" every weekend for an Indian fix. AAAY!
I caught up with the Sherman train three times this year -- and each visit is really lots of fun. He was waxing witty at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books in April 2003, then getting down at Los Angeles' Central Library in June. There were a BUNCH of skins in the lobby like me without tickets to this shindig...on a waiting list....crying out things like "Reservation? We don't need no stinking reservation!" or "Yeh, I have reservation. It's in Arizona, 'kay?"
His writing keeps getting better and better -- and you gotta love a human being (not necessarily just an Indian guy!) who casually says, "Yeh, Donna Fargo changed her name from Yvonne Vaughn. Was that not already the most perfect country star name?"
He said some other hilarious things -- but I think I'll treasure meeting his in-laws at the Riverside Barnes & Noble the most. I have challenged Sherman to write some lyrics for a song for my next CD project.
The first thing he came up with sounded like a Disco song to me, and Sherman just flipped. "A Disco SONG? Oh yeh! Did you know that when my brother Arnold would go down to the Indian Bar, get drunk and hit the dancefloor that people would call each other just so they could go down and watch? 'Hurry, get down here,' they'd say, 'Arnold is DANCING!!!,'' he yukked. "Then, there was this this twelve-year-old Indian boy who could do ALL of Travolta's "Saturday Night Fever" moves. His family even bought him a white Travolta suit. Every woman on the Rez wanted to dance with him. They did, but they felt kinda bad about it later. It was humiliating to admit you enjoyed dancing with a twelve year-old in a white Travolta suit with a flat-top haircut."
Keep up the good work Sherman. You really are making us all proud!
November 2002 -- I admit it -- I'm really behind! Not only has Sherman released a new book [Toughest Indian in the World], he's probably written and directed an new movie, done a world-wide tour and appeared on "Late Night With David Letterman" -- or was that "Charlie Rose?"...err...and I'm just getting around to posting my Sherman sighting at Skylight and Vroman Books in Southern California.
I had this picture up on the front page for awhile...with some goofy commentary. But as most of you know, I'm pretty goofy myself!
Let's just say, Sherman has changed in the past few years -- and really, that's a good thing. He's more entertainment industry savvy -- and who wouldn't be after the wild ride that Miramax/"Smoke Signals" was. At both signings there was a smattering of NDN folks there -- in fact at Skylight Books actor Adam Beach turned up. I saw Miss Yvonne Russo (from Red-Horse Native Productions) at the Vroman's signing. It's always nice to see NDN faces, I tell you what!
Sherman did have some interesting things to say -- I do believe he's the Oscar Wilde of NDN country, sometimes. He has a way with the bon mot, the soundbyte, the quotable quote. You know, there's this goofy commercial they run during the late night radio show "Coast To Coast" about a book of "amusing, sometimes scathing quotes" that you can order to spice up your life. My personal favorite is...."Sports don't build character...they reveal it." And so, from my lil' journal, translated from my own personal chicken scrawl, are some Sherman Alexie Quotable Quotes!
Surround yourself with professional people...then get out of the way!
I am Fidel Castro about my own books, but become the Senator from Wyoming when it comes to my movies.
Russell Crowe makes me tingle!
Thanks for being Cherokee!
Some of my best friends are Antrhopologists!
I have a problem with authority. I've been fired from every job I've had.
Well, there you have it. Hope you enjoyed! I've left all of the previous commentary up for ya'll to read as well. And.....I still hope to do a performance with Mr. Alexie sometime in the future. I would love to hear from any of you Sherman fans who've listened to "Man Without A Tribe." It's all about "Indian Killer," ya know!
Since we seem to have an abundance of Sherman goodies, we've broken it down for you a little. (Scrolling does get tiresome, doesn't it??) Check out this links to more fun Sherman stuff:
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