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DARK PONY PRODUCTIONS
“Toby’s Moccasins” was the first film that the Hughes duo tackled. On a hot summer day in 2002, Valorie set up her camera equipment at the edge of the yard and asked her fluent Cherokee speaking husband to demonstrate on film how to make a traditional pair of moccasins. Toby gathered his tools and a deerhide and sat up a small work table. Valorie had only one special request for him, that he spoke only in the Cherokee language. Toby looked at his wife in a puzzled manner and said, “Very few people will understand what I’m saying.” Valorie smiled and answered, “We’ll put English subtitles on the film!” After editing the film, the polished version was submitted and approved for broadcasting on KRSC-TV in the fall of 2002. Dark Pony Productions had been launched. The husband and wife team are just a little different to say the least. Toby was born and raised in Oklahoma and is a fluent Cherokee speaker that feels more at ease speaking his traditional language. Valorie is half Mohawk from western New York state and doesn’t have a clue what her husband is saying when he speaks Cherokee. So out of courtesy, he almost always speaks English to her. Toby is computer illiterate, Valorie is a self-taught gadget/computer whiz. Pushing those differences aside, the couple found common ground and blended their talents together and began creating educational films and translation booklets for those interested in the Cherokee language and culture. On a cold January day in 2003, the Hughes shot their second film. “Toby’s Flute” was to be a 30 minute educational film teaching the viewer how to make a 6 hole cedar flute from start to finish with only the use of hand tools. The intent was to film outside on that Sunday afternoon. As the wind blew harder and the temperature continued to drop, they were forced inside their house. “What now?” Toby asked. Valorie looked around the living room and said, “We’ll just do it in here!” Toby looked at all the furniture that would have to be moved and said, “Well, it’s a whole lot warmer in here than outside.” The two shoved the furniture aside and hooked up proper lighting and began to film. The same editing procedures were applied, with the use of English subtitles. In the spring of 2003, “Toby’s Flute” was aired on cable TV through KRSC-TV. In the fall of 2003 Toby and Valorie Hughes donated their time and effort to create a one hour film documenting the last 40 years of service that the Cherokee Historical Society has provided to the public and a tribute to it’s founder Martin Hagerstrand. “Window to the Past” is an unique film featuring the Cherokee Heritage Center’s Museum, Ancient Village, Adam’s Corner Settlement, the Trail of Tears Drama, Heritage Pottery and much more. The film was narrated in both Cherokee and English. “Window to the Past” debuted on Jan. 14th, 2004 on cable TV through KRSC-TV. Since the airing of their first film, Toby and Valorie have learned that the sense of pride within the fluent Cherokee speaking communities is overwhelming. Cherokee Elders smile with pride when they hear their Native language being spoken on public television. As one elder mentioned, “The language, the traditions, and the culture is what makes a Cherokee a Cherokee.” Toby and Valorie Hughes have also produced Cherokee language CD’s and booklets to help those trying to learn to speak the Cherokee language. The Cherokee language is dissolving at an alarming rate and some have predicted that within the next 50 years the language known as “true Cherokee dialect” will be forever gone. Dark Pony Productions is privately owned and operated by Toby and Valorie Hughes. They have received no outside funding to produce these educational tools. Their only goal is to preserve, document and enlighten the public of the old Cherokee ways. |
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All material is Copyright 2002 by Toby and Valorie Hughes |
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