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In Production Now...

Waawaate Programs is a fiscal sponsor of the upcoming short film "Ghost Lake". 

Film Synopsis

A reclusive Native American hunter is thrust into a deadly conspiracy when he stumbles upon a group of smugglers trafficking fentanyl through tribal land; left for dead, he returns to bring down the operation using the wilderness itself, only to discover the betrayal reaches the highest level of tribal leadership.
Film Cast
Film Crew

Fund The Production

Boohoo akinaa wiiyaa, we are humbly seeking your help in reaching our financial goal for an October filming date. Your funds will directly be used to fund cast, crew, support, and local purchases in Saint Louis County and Bois Forte Reservation. Every dollar helps, miigwech!! (Zeffy allows us to receive your full donation without any fees. When checking out, you may choose to donate to Zeffy or select $0 for a fee free exchange)

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Ghost Lake Film Cast

Renee Boehm

We’re proud to welcome Renee Boehm @renboe17 to the cast of Ghost Lake in the role of Officer Jordain. Renee is an emerging actress from Arizona and a proud member of the Ak-Chin O’odham Community.

Renee brings strength, depth, and presence to this powerful story of grief, justice, and survival. With an impressive background in film, television, and frontline service, her lived experience and grounded performance style are a perfect match for this character.

You may recognize Renee from her work in Moon Eyes, The Fear of It, and Sue Thunder Johnny Lightning, and we’re thrilled to have her help bring Ghost Lake to life this fall in Anishinaabe country.

Althea Sam

We are honored to welcome Althea Sam to the cast of Ghost Lake in the pivotal role of Tyler’s mother, a grieving parent whose voice becomes the soul of the film.

Althea is a SAG-AFTRA eligible actor, a U.S. Navy veteran, and an enrolled member of the Dine Nation (Navajo). Her past work includes Wind River, Yellowstone, and Buffalo Daze, where she brought depth and integrity to roles rooted in strength and survival.

In Ghost Lake, her performance stands as the emotional and spiritual heart of the story. As a mother mourning the loss of her son to fentanyl, she embodies the collective grief, fury, and resilience of a community pushed to the edge. Her presence is not just powerful, it’s necessary.

Che Jim

We are honored to welcome Che Jim to the cast of Ghost Lake in the lead role of Shane.

Che is an actor, educator, activist, and comedian. A proud enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, he has become a powerful voice in Indigenous film, media, and environmental justice.

Che made his on-screen debut in Dark Ground and went on to appear in On Sacred Ground (Big Picture Ranch), sharing the screen with Irene Bedard, David Arquette, Mariel Hemingway, and Amy Smart. His first lead role came in Glastenbury, and he was later nominated for Most Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by the Red Nation Film Festival.

Off screen, Che is a respected Indigenous cultural consultant and sobriety advocate, known for his work with Native youth and communities. As a digital creator, Che has amassed over 3.5 million followers across platforms and was named one of the top Indigenous influencers by IZEA and Matriarch Movement.

He recently completed a 24-episode series with Crash Course on Native American History, a YouTube series with over 16 million subscribers.

Che brings heart, humor, and fierce honesty to everything he touches, and we can’t wait to see him bring Shane to life on screen.

Ghost Lake Film Crew

Cheri Anderson

Production Designer

We’re excited to announce that Cheri Anderson has joined the Ghost Lake team as our Production Designer.

Cheri is a seasoned creative force whose work spans genres, from horror and fantasy to drama and historical storytelling. She’s brought rich visual depth to stories set in the 1850s, 1930s, 1950s, and contemporary times, designing everything from indie dramas to rock band road films.

Her credits include art direction for Dear White People and Blood Stripe, and production design for the feature film Paulie Go! and the TV pilot Canusa Street, filmed at Lost Forty Studios in Chisholm, MN.

Cheri’s eye for visual storytelling and her love for the collaborative energy of filmmaking make her an incredible asset to this project.

As she puts it:

"I love the energy of filmmaking and the immense amounts of technical and creative talent coming together to produce a work of art."

Learn more about her work:

 cheriandersondesign.com

 IMDb – Cheri Anderson

Justin Deegan

Director of Photography

We’re proud to introduce Justin Deegan as the Director of Photography for Ghost Lake.

Justin is a Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation filmmaker, and the founder of Thunder Revolution Studio. A multi-hyphenate talent, writer, director, cinematographer, editor, he brings decades of experience telling Indigenous stories through both documentary and narrative film.

His cinematography credits include work for The History Channel, VICE, HULU, and Pharrell Williams, along with a long list of award-winning shorts, music videos, museum films, and community-driven media. His work as a DP has screened at festivals including LA Skinsfest, Miami Independent, and Lumbee Film Festival, and he’s received multiple awards for excellence in Indigenous storytelling.

What sets Justin apart is his ability to move between vérité and cinematic composition with ease, shaping powerful, grounded visuals that let the story lead. As the visual architect of Ghost Lake, Justin’s lens will bring texture, rhythm, and truth to this urgent narrative.

We’re honored to have him behind the camera.

Jacob White

Producer

Meet Jacob White, @jacobdavidwhite Producer on Ghost Lake.

Jacob is a seasoned filmmaker with over a decade of experience spanning narrative, documentary, and commercial work. He has contributed to projects for HBO, 3M, and national nonprofits, and currently serves as Artistic Director at the historic Ely State Theater, where he also founded the Ely Film Festival.

As a producer, Jacob brings a rare combination of creative vision and logistical clarity. His background includes everything from cinematography to post-production, and his commitment to community-centered storytelling makes him an ideal partner for a film like Ghost Lake.

Keith Secola

Soundtrack

Introducing Keith Secola to the cast and crew of Ghost Lake. Kieth saw the premise in the casting notice and liked it very much. Since then he has already sent sample music very enthusiastically. Happy and honored he’s on board for this undertaking.

Ginew Benton

Writer and Director

Ginew Benton (Ojibwe) Writer and Director of Ghost Lake short film is a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker whose work spans cinematic storytelling, performance, and cultural education. His award‑winning short films—Looking Glass (2018), Mirror Man (2022), and The Dim (2023)—have screened at festivals including BendFilm, Tokyo Shorts, LA Sci‑Fi Fest, and Red Nation Film Festival . Celebrated for blending genres such as horror, sci‑fi, and psychological drama, he’s also been recognized with honors like Best Director at the Miami International Sci‑Fi Film Festival and the Russell Bates Indigenous Sci‑Fi Award .

Beyond filmmaking, Benton is a traditional singer and dancer, bringing Ojibwe stories to life through performance and teaching. His recent project, Shells of Wisdom: Lessons from Ajijaak, features Jim Henson puppets and is presented by Heather Henson. He is also the recipient of the Vision Maker Media Mentor Fellowship Grant for the development of his upcoming short script, Ghost Lake. Driven by cultural authenticity and creative innovation, Benton’s work continues to elevate Indigenous voices in both film and community arts.

 

James Bird

Producer and Mentor

James Bird (Ojibway) Producer and Mentor on Ghost Lake short film James Bird is an accomplished Native American screenwriter and director whose work spans film and literature. His recent sci‑fi thriller Wifelike, written and directed under Paramount, is currently among Netflix’s Top 10 most–watched films. He also wrote and directed We Are Boats and Honeyglue, titles known for their thoughtful emotional narratives. In addition, Bird is a celebrated author of middle‑grade novels including The Brave, The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls, and No Place Like Home, which was featured at the 2024 Library of Congress National Book Festival. A powerful voice for Indigenous storytelling, Bird continues to uplift Native perspectives across both screen and the page

Ryan Bajan

Producer
Ryan is a resident of Ely, MN, the Director of Waawaate Programs. Ryan has served with the Ely Film Festival for the past 3 years as a Program Director and is now serving as the Festival Director for 2026. Ryan has spent most of his life teaching youth in traditional ways and serves as the Ojibwe Language and Culture Teacher on the Nett Lake Reservation. As an artist, language keeper, and parent, Ryan is excited to work on this project as it benefits our local community and tells a valuable story.