Children of the Setting Sun presents
The Sound is a coming-of-age TV drama that follows a group of Indigenous Coast Salish teens as they travel through their ancestral waterways in a traditional canoe. Their journey starts as an escape from hurt and trauma, but soon becomes a purposeful route to transformation and self-discovery.
Starring Stormee Kipp (Prey, Sooyii), Ta’Kaiya Blaney (Kayak to Klemtu, Monkey Beach) and Paul Nutarariaq (The Grizzlies), The Sound harnesses the momentum created by recent successes in Native American film and television, this time bringing Coast Salish cultures to the forefront.
The Sound’s pilot episode is complete and we are now seeking partnerships to complete a 10-episode series for distribution via a major streaming platform.
Characters
Tiss
(played by Ta’Kaiya Blaney – Kayak to Klemtu)
Tisiphone, or “Tiss” for short, is a rebel looking for a cause. She is never satisfied with the answers to the difficult questions she poses. Her experience is pained by historical trauma and its modern-day implications; the loss of her father, family dysfunction and substance abuse. begins the journey to become the strong warrior that she always dreamed her father was, learning to channel her rage into action.
Ray
(played by Stormy Kipp – Prey, Sooyii)
Ray is multitalented. He’s a leader in the classroom, and the captain of his rowing club, where he is the only Native among White peers. He has always tried to be grateful for ‘the opportunities’ that his White adoptive parents gave him. But Ray is conflicted. He straddles two worlds: too White to be Indian and too Indian to be White. Now he must search for his authentic self and learn to assert himself fully.
Frog
(played by Benairen Kane)
Ray’s brother, Frog, refuses to conform to White Western norms. He is impulsive, impetuous and proactive. His roguish charm makes him attractive to women. He is naturally daring with an appetite for risk and adventure. Underneath the tough exterior, there is an intelligent, conscious and loyal person, but Frog must learn that his rashness is not only foolish, but dangerous.
Weaver
(played by Paul Nutarariaq – Grizzlies)
Frog’s best friend, Weaver, had to survive on his own his whole life.He has had to scrap for everything. He’s half White, half Native; He’s learned he doesn’t belong anywhere and that he’s better off dipping in and out of worlds. He is the joker in the pack. A true motorhead, he learned to fix engines young. The truth is, he can fix almost anything. He just doesn’t know it yet.
Purpose
Tell me a fact and I’ll learn. Tell me a truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever…
It is our responsibility to respond to the daunting mental health crisis that many young people face today. Through the time-tested practice of storytelling, The Sound provides pathways to wellness for Indigenous Youth in this time of crisis. As our characters navigate their own mental health struggles, they offer the audience opportunities to reflect on their own lives, to embrace strength and courage, and to grow in their own journey.
Stories are how we come to understand ourselves and the world around us…
The Sound provides an opportunity for Indigenous Youth to see themselves represented in an authentic way that reflects their reality today. The project comes at a time when Native Americans across the nation are reclaiming their narratives and sharing their stories on major platforms. The Sound is harnessing the momentum of this movement to share a story that reflects the real-life struggles of many Coast Salish Youth today.
Embracing the Next Generation of Native Filmmakers
We believe that the process of film production is just as important as the end result, and we make it our mission to help create the next generation of Native filmmakers. As we produced the pilot for The Sound, we engaged Native Youth in the production process. They were exposed to industry-standard practices and actively participated in the process of production.
