By Hailey Palmer, Puyallup Tribal News
When Puyallup Tribal Member Damian Castellane was approached by a friend about a casting call for a Netflix movie produced by LeBron James he initially laughed.
The movie, “Rez Ball,” is about a Native American high school basketball team trying to win the state championship after the loss of its star player. It’s a “True underdog story deeply rooted in Native American culture and spirit,” according to Netflix, and is inspired by the book “Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Reservation” by Michael Powell.
With a minimal acting background, Castellane had doubt he would get picked, but sent in some pictures of himself to casting director Angelique Midthunder anyway.
“I sent her pictures of me and she said, ‘I got a role for you, you look like you’d fit it,’” Castellane said. “She sent me the script, I read it (on camera) and she called me and was like, ‘Hey, we all liked your audition, we really thought it was amazing.’”
Castellane was flown out to Albuquerque for an in-person audition where about 20 other people were there to audition, as well.
“When I left Albuquerque, I was worried because the way they were talking about my audition did not sound like they wanted to pick me,” he said. “I was messaging my mom thinking I wasn’t going to get picked. I got home, and sure enough, I got picked. It was the best feeling the world.”
Castellane was chosen from more than 5,000 submissions with only 10 roles available in the movie.
Of everything that has come with this opportunity, Castellane said he’s been most thankful to meet other Indigenous people.
“Growing up around this part, the Pacific Northwest, you see Natives that you know, but when you meet Navajos, when you meet Lakotas, it’s an honor to stand before them,” he said. “I knew of the people around me, but I never knew it got this big. I never knew the differences between our looks or the way we talk or the clothes we wear.”
Not only has the movie given Castellane a chance to connect with other Natives, it’s also brought him closer to his own people.
Growing up in Squaxin, Castellane wasn’t surrounded by much of the Puyallup culture.
It wasn’t until recently that Castellane found his way back to the Puyallup Tribe and learned more about his Puyallup family.
Castellane was lent Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman Bill Sterud’s cedar hat and one of Councilman James Rideout’s Pendleton jackets as a way of showing support.
Having that support from past and present Council Members, Castellane couldn’t find the words to express how grateful he was to have found his way to the Puyallup Reservation.
“When (Chairman Sterud) was in front of me and (Councilman Rideout), and Ramona (Bennett), I have so much appreciation. … but I don’t know how to express it or let it out,” Castellane said. “It means so much to me because I didn’t grow up out here. I wasn’t around Council all the time. How loving and welcoming they are means so much to me.”
Castellane was also gifted a Puyallup Salmon necklace, which he plans on wearing to the film’s world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 8.
“Just standing before the world, (they’ll know) that’s where (I’m from), the Puyallup Tribe,” he said.
“Rez Ball” will be available to stream on Netflix on Friday, Sept. 27.
