MOORE — The first commercial showing of “Pearl” in Oklahoma will begin Sept. 10 at the Warren Theater, 1000 Telephone Road.
Produced by the Chickasaw Nation, “Pearl” focuses on the tumultuous teen years of the late Pearl Carter Scott, a Chickasaw girl who learned to fly at age 13 and was performing as a barnstormer and commercial pilot by age 14.
Tom Huston Orr, director of the School of Drama at the University of Oklahoma, played the role of Wiley Post in the film.
Being the third Oklahoma-made movie Orr has had a role in, he remarked that the making of the film was different because many of the cast and crew were united by a common Oklahoma spirit.
Another interesting aspect of the film for Orr was the fact that he was able to work professionally with a former student, OU alumnae Isabel Archuleta, who played Pearl’s sister Opaletta. Many other Oklahomans were cast as extras.
Pearl will be shown four times daily from through Sept. 16.
Members of the cast and crew will participate in a question and answer session and sign autographs after the 7 p.m. Saturday, showing.
Cast members Elijah DeJesus (Pearl), Andrew Sensenig (George Carter Sr.) and Angela Gair (Lucy Carter) are expected to be in attendance.
Producer David Rennke and director King Hollis also are expected to attend.
Free Pearl T-shirts will be available with paid admission Saturday night.
Check www.warrentheatres.com/moore.asp for ticket prices and show times.
“Pearl” is expected to be released on DVD this fall. To be notified when DVDs are available, visit www.pearlthemovie.net and click on the Pearl DVD info button.
Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said the story of the Chickasaw aviatrix was a natural for the tribe’s first feature-length film project.
“Pearl is a legendary figure in the history of Oklahoma, the world of aviation and in the Chickasaw Nation,” Anoatubby said. “She was a dynamic, determined and caring individual who exemplifies many of the finest qualities of Chickasaw people.
“She was a unique individual who had a profoundly positive impact on everyone she met. Bringing her life story to the screen will help preserve that impact for generations to come.”
The film has garnered many accolades from audiences and film industry insiders. It was named the best overall film and the best Native American film at the 2010 Trail Dance Film Festival. The film was also named a Heartland Film Festival official selection. The film is one of only 13 feature films chosen for the distinction out of more than 600 submissions to Heartland, which is one of the largest family oriented film festivals in the world.
“Pearl” also won a Best of Show award from The Indie Fest, and swept the feature docudrama category at the International Cherokee Film Festival.
The Dove Foundation recently awarded “Pearl” four Doves, giving the film its Family-Approved Seal for all ages.
The film also was showcased at the ninth Annual deadCENTER Film Festival and the American Film Institute (AFI) Dallas International Film Festival.
The movie was filmed on various locations in the state of Oklahoma, including the historic Harn Homestead, the El Reno Municipal Airport, the Jude and Jody Airport and several locations in and near Guthrie.
