Biographies
Main Page | Bios | Directions

Rick Stevenson
Director/Writer/Producer

Rick Stevenson is a Seattle native known for his work in film and television in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Stevenson's production credits include PRIVILEGED (1983) starring Hugh Grant; RESTLESS NATIVES (1985) starring Ned Beatty, PROMISED LAND (1987) starring Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland; SOME GIRLS (1989) starring Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Connelly and Andre Gregory: and CROOKED HEARTS starring Jennifer Jason-Leigh, Noah Wylie, Juliette Lewis and Peter Coyote. Stevenson made his feature film directorial debut in 1995 with MAGIC IN THE WATER, starring Mark Harmon and Joshua Jackson. His next, widely lauded, feature film was THE DINOSAUR HUNTER with Christopher Plummer (1999). This was followed by ANTHRAX (2001) starring Cameron Daddo, David Keith, William B. Davis, Ed Begley Jr. Most recently, Stevenson directed, co-wrote and produced EXPIRATION DATE(2006) starring Robert Guthrie, Dee Wallace Stone and David Keith. Stevenson has directed many programs for television including ED for NBC and his work as a director of television commercials has garnered a myriad of awards. In 2004, Stevenson founded thefilmschool with Tom Skerritt and Stewart Stern. He holds a PhD from Oxford University, a master's degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor's degree in history from Whitman College in Washington State. Rick is married with four children.
www.expirationdatethemovie.com

Brian Young
Director/Writer/Producer

Brian has been acting, writing, directing and producing for film, television and theater for over 20 years. Born and raised in Northwest Washington, he and his family call the Skagit Valley home. He wrote and directed the films "Counting Days", "Chapel Hill" and the award winning "In the Garden Growing". He is currently in pre-production on the Native themed feature film "Spirit Water." His company is Jet City Films:
www.jetcityfilms.com

Tracy Rector,
Executive Director
Tracy Rector, Seminole, is currently earning her Masters in Education and Teacher Certification from Antioch University's First Peoples Program. She specializes in Native American Studies, traditional plant medicine and documentary film. As the Co-Producer of the award winning films Teachings of the Tree People and Teachings of the Tree People: The Work of Bruce Miller, Tracy has developed an awareness and sensitivity to the power of media and film as a modern storytelling tool. Her work has been featured at National Geographic's All Roads Film Project and at the Smithsonian's Museum of the American Indian. As a Native Education specialist Tracy offers unique insight to her projects. Her vision is to bring traditional and contemporary education together in a foundation based in environmental stewardship, utilizing film and nature as a pathway for learning. Tracy's involvement in the Pacific Northwest Native American community includes experience as a community advocate, indigenous garden designer and curriculum developer. In conjunction with the Seattle Art Museum, the Northwest Folklife Council has recognized her "Teachings of the Tree People" curriculum as the "Gold Standard" model. She is currently working with the museum as a consultant and Native Naturalist for the Olympic Sculpture Park and in planning for the new expanded Native American wing of the Seattle Art Museum and traveling Coast Salish Exhibit. Tracy is also currently developing curriculum for IslandWood, an environmental education center. She is the Co-founder of Longhouse Media/Native Lens and a proud mother of two boys.
Elaine Miles
Actress
Elaine is a Cayuse/NezPerce actress best known for her role as Marilyn Whirlwind on the Emmy winning award show Northern Exposure where she was a regular all six seasons. She is an award winning actress recognized by First Americans in the Arts for her role as Marilyn in '92, '94, & '95. In November of 2001, she received the Eagle Spirit Award from the American Indian Film Institute.
She has done seven movies: Skins (2001), Business of Fancy Dancing (2001), Tortilla Heaven (1999), Smoke Signals (1997), Scattering Dad (1997), Pandora's Clock (1995), Mad Love (1994).
She has worked in Canada on CBC's half hour series, "The Rez" in 1997, co-starring as the medicine woman, Etta.
Swil Kanim
Actor, Performer
Swil Kanim is a world class virtuoso violinist who advocates self-expression to create stronger community. He has been featured on KIRO TV NEWS, National Public Radio's Earth on the Air, Northwest Public Radio, NW Cable News Network and the Canadian Chum Network's New Canoe.

In addition to appearing in 24 episodes of CBS's Northern Exposure, his music and acting ability were highlighted by starring in Sherman Alexie's critically acclaimed The Business of FancyDancing.

He was selected to perform as part of the Bellingham's Sister City Program in Teteyama, Japan where he continued on to Seoul, Korea for a memorial/reunion concert for orphans of the Korean Conflict.

The Indigo Girls asked Swil Kanim to be their opening act in Seattle to kick off the Honor the Earth Concert tour of North America.

Swil Kanim also performed for five years with the Growth and Prevention Theater Company (GAP Theater), based out of Seattle. The GAP Theater Company presented professional plays about racism and varying forms of bigotry for institutions across the Great Northwest.

He has done school assemblies for elementary and secondary education in Washington State, British Columbia, Canada, and in Sitka Alaska.

At the American Indian Film Awards in San Francisco, Swil Kanim performed on stage, he was featured on the soundtrack of a documentary about Indian Boarding Schools, which won the Best Documentary award.

Swil Kanim has received the Certificate of Virtuosity from the Whatcom Chapter of the Washington State Music Teachers Association, the Bellingham Municipal Arts Award for Promoting Self-Expression in Community, and Woodring College of Education Professional Excellence Award.

Gene Tagaban
Actor, Storyteller
Gene is noted as a Tlingit storyteller and actor, who shares his wisdom and talent via dance, native flute and storytelling and has appeared in several movies, including the Business of Fancy Dancing.

Gene Tagaban/Guy Yaaw': T'akdeintaan Raven red sockeye clan, Wooshketaan Yadi, Child of an Eagle/Shark. Gene is Tlingit, Cherokee and Filipino. He grew up in Juneau, Alaska. Gene has traveled across the country as a trainer, consultant, storyteller and actor; facilitating workshops and performing dance and theatre. Gene has toured with Naa-ka-Hidi Theatre, co-developed Ravens Voice Theatre and collaborated with Coyote Gathers His People. Gene is now living in the Pacific Northwest performing with Kuteeya, an Alaskan native dance troupe, Under One Sky Ensemble native flute, drums and storytelling and has created Raven Dreaming Productions, specializing in training, workshops, consultation, motivational speaking, storytelling and performing arts.

Stories are more than entertainment. According to Gene Tagaban, stories teach. The spirits of our ancestors, who have much to teach, live in stories as well as in songs and dances. Gene brings his tales to life with the use of traditional flutes, drums and rattles, dance and movement, and masks and regalia.

Freddy Lane
Television, Documentary Producer
Freddy works for Lummi Nation News. He has done reporting for NWIN and has does voice work for KVOS-TV. He has done documentaries for various film festivals. Currently, he is the director of the Paddle to Lummi, an historic event in Bellingham taking place in late July.
Robert Guthrie
Actor
Robert is an accomplished actor who is the lead in Expiration Date. He has appeared regularly on television as well as film.