I’m Willi.
Founder of Good Relative Studios and a film producer & director. I’m also a cinematographer, photographer, narrative strategist, and creative designer.
LATEST WORK
Short Film
Director // Producer // Colorist
"GIIWE: Bringing Leonard Peltier Home" is a film that underscores the importance of generations of organizing, activism, philanthropy, power building, and narrative change in the effort to bring Leonard home—not only on his terms but also for all Indigenous people who are fighting similar battles against the system, and to inspire and encourage our relatives and all people across Turtle Island and beyond to exercise our inherent right to self-determination.
“I’ll forever be grateful for everything the entire team did to support my freedom,” Leonard shared with us. “I’m honored that NDN Collective did this for me and that they keep fighting for Indigenous and human rights everywhere. I love all of you!”
Film Work Highlights
feature films
Producer
“WAR PONY”
WAR PONY follows the interlocking stories of two young Oglala Lakota men growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Bound by their shared search for belonging, each of the young men grapple with a world built against them, as they navigate their unique paths to manhood.
Associate Producer
“Lakota nation vs united states”
The Lakota fight to protect their sacred land. A provocative, visually stunning testament to a land and a people who have survived removal, exploitation and genocide – and whose best days are yet to come.
Podcast Work Highlights
podcasts
producer | EDITOR
“landback for the people”
LANDBACK For The People meets Indigenous frontline organizers, changemakers, and allies at the “kitchen table” to dig into what LANDBACK really means for the people..
Creative Design Work Highlight
Design
It was 2020, days before a certain president’s visit to celebrate July 4th in the Black Hills at Mt Rushmore. I was asked to design for a light projection action that would take place the evening before.
The creative brief was simple, it had to include messaging opposing the visit and prominently display the word: LANDBACK. The inspiration for the design seemed straightforward to me at the time: hand painted lettering like those seen on movement banners.
At the time, I had no idea the impact this design would have. Since then, I’ve seen this design used to represent the LANDBACK movement on flags waved in packed stadiums, in people's art, and even tattooed on people's bodies.
This design holds so much meaning to me as we fight for our collective liberation.
Let’s chat 🍃 📧
I’d love to collaborate or chat about a project. Use this nifty form and we’ll start an email thread.