Filming of “Te Ata” movie continues in Guthrie

Downtown streets are blocked off, plenty of large trucks have surrounded the Masonic Temple and there are crew signs displayed throughout town to give directions. Yep, Guthrie has been called upon once again as a back drop to film a movie.

The remarkable life and legacy of Mary Frances Thompson, better known at Te Ata, will be showcased on the big screen with portions of the movie filmed in Guthrie.

Te Ata, whose name means “Bearer of the Morning,” was born Dec. 3, 1895, near Emet, Okla. A citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, she was an accomplished entertainer and teller of Native American stories.

Her career as an entertainer and storyteller spanned more than 60 years. During the prime of her career, she performed in England and Scandinavia, at the White House for President Franklin Roosevelt, for the King and Queen of Great Britain and on stages across the United States.

Scripting, casting and filming took place a few months ago for a number of Oklahoma locations, including Tishomingo, Guthrie, Oklahoma City and extensively within the Chickasaw Nation’s 13-county tribal territory.

Filming began in September for “Te Ata,” a feature film telling the story of the Chickasaw storyteller who earned international fame presenting a unique one woman show of American Indian heritage and culture to audiences across the United States, Canada and Europe.

The Chickasaw Nation is producing the movie about Te Ata and experienced, award-winning Native American actors are among those selected to bring the story based on the life of Chickasaw actress

Te Ata was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1958; declared Oklahoma’s first “State Treasure” in 1987; awarded the Oklahoma Governor’s Arts Award in 1975, and named Woman of the Year by Ladies’ Home Journal in 1976.

Filming crews have been spotted on Harrison Ave, near Second St, for the last couple days after spending time at the Masonic Temple as well as the Dominion House.