Testimony of a Big Chief to Screen at Loyola
Loyola University New Orleans and the School of Communication and Design will be hosting a special screening of the long lost documentary "Testimony of a Big Chief" on Thursday, December 14 at 6:30 p.m. The documentary will be shown in Nunemaker Auditorium in the Monroe Science Complex on Loyola's campus.
The documentary focuses on the life and art of the late Allison "Tootie" Montana, who was a Mardi Gras Indian Chief. For 50 years, Tootie led the Yellow Pocahontas Black Masking Indians. Students in Will Horton's documentary filmmaking class will host the event, which will include a panel discussion with the filmmakers.
The Will Horton directed documentary, originally shown in 1997 at the New Orleans Museum of Art, was thought to be lost after Hurricane Katrina. 25 years later, producers Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick found a DVD of the film and had it remastered.
The event will include a student-moderated Q&A following the 30-minute film featuring producers Calhoun and McCormick, friend of Tootie and interviewee in the film Willie Birch, and Tootie's son Darryl Montana.
This event is free and open to the public with limited seating. Seats are available to reserve now.
