Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025 (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
Location: Big Sky Studios – 1771 Inkster Blvd.
*This session is free to attend, but you must register in advance – Walk-ins are not allowed.
Register for Demystifying Cultural Consultants Session – FREE
About the Session:
In recent years, viewers of film and television productions are wanting stories that are authentic and respectful of communities that are unrepresented in the medium. As a result, more productions are employing Film Industry Cultural Consultants who aid the productions in creating and delivering realistic and accurate projects.
During this lecture and Q&A, Film Industry Cultural Consultant Julie O’Keefe and Alaina Maker will provide in-depth learning for the attendees to learn more about this important position within the film industry.
About the Instructors:
Julie O’Keefe (Osage) grew up in the heart of Osage Nation in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Her passion for design has taken her all over the world. Julie spent several years in Northern Virginia, raising her son, but always kept her community in her heart. As her Native American design collections garnered a following, she launched a pioneering Native American women-owned company that specialized in continuing the traditions of Native American regalia for community events and dances.
Her authentic design style has earned her respect within the Nations due to her understanding of cultural norms and requirements across a diverse landscape of Native American communities. Julie has focused her personal and professional life in the service of giving back to her Native American community advocacy.
Julie’s most recent work includes serving as the Osage Wardrobe Consultant on the movie set of Killers of the Flower Moon, a major motion picture. She assisted with research, produced costume pieces, assisted in costume choices, and worked with and dressed principal actors. In addition to working on the movie set, Julie is also acting as a consultant for the First Americans Museum – having procured Native artwork for the retail store and produced four product lines with deliverables of 19,000 items. She worked with 200 Native artists across 39 nations.
She has specialized in working beside Native American companies to help provide support and inspiration on projects that directly impact the economic well-being of her native community. She has worked with clients and project managers across the country including: Neiman Marcus, Horchow, Ballard Design, Marriott Corporation, Kinspan Corporation, Foxwoods, Aqua Callienta, Cherokee Enterprises, Mohegan Sun, Yosemite National Park and the Gray Canyon. She attended Oklahoma State University and has continued her passion as a program manager and community developer for over 20 years.
Julie continues to serve on several boards and program committees, including the Smithsonian National Museum of American Indian, Martha’s Table, and two terms on The Osage Nation Foundation.
Alaina Maker (Osage) is a skilled ribbon work maker and traditional Osage shirt maker for men and women in the Osage Tribe. Alaina comes from a long line of traditional ribbon work makers. Her family, the Lookout Family, has pieces in several museums and private collections.
Her credits as a Costumer include the films Killers Flower Moon, Fancy Dance and the TV series Reservation Dogs. On Killers of the Flower Moon, she worked with Costume Designer Jacqueline West and the costume department team on how to make traditional Osage shirts, ribbon work skirts and leggings for all principal actors, including dressing Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cara Jade Meyer, Janae Collins and Jillion Dion.
FTM is a non-for-profit charity and member of the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council program funded through the Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources. FTM builds a highly skilled and adaptable film industry workforce to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates and partners with members of the film industry to identify training needs to support workforce development.