Whistling for “Rez” Dogs

TVLSE, Okla. – The saying, “if you whistle, the dogs will come running” could not be more fitting to describe the open-casting call for the FX Series “Reservation Dogs” at Park Elementary School on March 4.

Midthunder Casting and Freihofer Casting are looking for Indigenous people of all ages for paid speaking roles. According to a Facebook post from Freihofer Casting, 1,905 people came in person, representing 28 states and three areas of Canada. Another 2,000 people signed up online the next day.

Native talents drove in from states far away, as far as New Mexico, North Dakota and inbetween. They came in by the thousands and stood in a line that took up four city blocks for the opportunity to impress producers in just ten minutes.

Among the thousands, the majority lacked any previous acting experience. Which is exactly how Lane Factor (“Cheese”) got started in acting at the “Reservation Dogs” season one casting call  back in 2020.

Factor, like co-producer and co-writer Sterlin Harjo, is from Oklahoma and of Mvskoke descent along with other tribal nations.

“I never would have thought that I would have been able to be a part of a show like this,” Factor said.

Harjo’s mother Nanette, was shocked by the turnout. She was not expecting to see so many people at the event.

“I’m really proud of my son, and this amazing show gets another season for our Indigenous writers and directors,” she said to Native News Online.

“It’s been one heck of a ride and everyone is supporting the show in Tulsa. We feel like we have the whole community behind us.”

The majority of the series was filmed in Oklahoma, particularly on the Mvskoke Reservation. Locations included the Mvskoke capital city of Okmulgee.

Season three officially began filming on March 20 near Beggs, Okla. on the Mvskoke Reservation.

The all-indigenous cast and writers tell the raw version of growing up on the Mvskoke Reservation, modern day. Young Native kids find mischief and mayhem, while finding themselves as they grow up.

This is a developing story.