Biography

At the age of 22 Jeremy completed his second novel, Resurrection, which turned out to be a turning point in his writing career. He discovered these compositions reflected a screenwriting sensibility, and over the last decade Jeremy has worked to realize his dream as a feature film maker.

In that time Jeremy has written, directed, produced, and edited more than eighty hours of network programming for national broadcasters such as The Aboriginal People's Television Network, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CTV, PBS, CHUM, Global Television, Television New Zealand, Maori Television, Extreme Sports, and A-Channel. Regardless of subject matter, Jeremy has traveled the world over exploring the human condition.

A non-status Ojibway from Kenora, Ontario, Jeremy remains committed to the Native community through the production, writing, and direction of stories of both a dramatic and documentary nature. In addition, Jeremy is dedicated to the cultivation and employment of emerging Native talent within the industry while utilizing the latest cinematographic technologies.

He is president of High Definition Pictures Inc, Chaotik Kreative Inc., and Digital Motion Pictures Co. ltd. bringing together some of the most successful and creative entertainment professionals working in the industry. His business instincts toward new technologies and financial models have been repeatedly noted by industry executives.

In pursuit of the story Jeremy has traveled the world including Iraq, Taiwan, Greece, Italy, France, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Chile, and virtually every corner of North America.

In 2003, Jeremy co-produced his first dramatic film Cowboys & Indians: The Killing of JJ Harper, which has won two international awards, two Blizzard Awards, and garnered five Gemini nominations. Jeremy recently directed his first feature film, Mr. Soul, which he wrote and adapted from the book Just Another Indian. He also served as editor and executive producer.

Jeremy's next feature project is Juliana and the Medicine Fish, based on the best selling novel by Jake MacDonald. It is slated for production September 2006, to be shot at Lake of the Woods, Ontario.

Additional development projects include The Splendid Life of Jesse Dixon, an original screenplay, and a project distributor ThinkFilm hails as the next 'Scarface'. Other projects include The Witch of Beacon Hill, The Revolutionary, Machine, Killing The Shamen, and Swipe, a co-production with Red Clay Films, and Nomad Film Group.

He lives and works proudly in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- IMDb mini biography by: JT

Born in Treaty 3 territory Jeremy/Waabishki Makwa is an Ojibwe from Wabigoon Lake Indian Reserve #27 near Dryden, Ontario. He is a pipe carrier, traditional drummer, and practitioner of Ojibwe ceremonies. For three decades he has worked to realize his path as the ancestors foretold at his birth -as an aadizookewinini (storyteller) through the mediums of film and television.

Firmly established as a multi-award-winning writer, director, and producer his stylistic vision is complemented by his pursuit of thought-provoking stories of (mostly) a spiritual nature for mainstream audiences. He believes his work in this life is to assist in elevating human consciousness.

Exploring our human condition has taken jeremy around the world including Iraq, Jordan, Greece, Italy, Bosnia, France, Germany, Austria, The UK and Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, Taiwan, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, & virtually every corner of Turtle Island.

Since 2003, when Jeremy co-produced his first film Cowboys & Indians: The Killing of JJ Harper, he has gone on to write, direct, and produce five more films: Mr. Soul, an adaptation of Warren Goulding's Just Another Indian starring Eric Schweig and Gordon Tootoosis; A Flesh Offering, an inter-provincial co-production with Quebec; Path Of Souls starring Adam Beach, Laura Harris, and Corey Sevier; Juliana & The Medicine Fish, starring Emma Tremblay, Roseanne Supernault and Adam Beach based on the best-selling novel; and the international award-winning The Corruption Of Divine Providence, an original narrative feature written and directed by Jeremy. Notably, the film won Best International Feature Film at The Garden State Film Festival, Best Foreign Feature Film at the Bare Bones International Feature Film festival, Best Director at the Esoteric Intl Film Festival, Best Actress for Elyse Levesque at the Julien Dubuque Film Festival, and Best Male Actor Award for David LaHaye's performance as Louis Seraphin. Divine Providence premiered nationally on Hollywood Suite, followed by APTN, and has sold to the US and UK.

Jeremy is in post-production on The Cover Up for TVO, APTN, Knowledge, and Hollywood Suite which reveals how Canada and its churches have worked together to assimilate multiple generations of Indigenous children through the residential school system. The Cover Up also exposes the still-living priests, nuns, and clerics who have yet to face justice.

He just wrapped his 6th feature film as a director -Many Wounds, an energetic, inspiring contemporary remake of the groundbreaking Maori film Once Were Warriors- which shot in Winnipeg starring Kiowa Gordon, Sera-Lys McArthur, and Alex Meraz.

In the next two years Jeremy hopes to see production commence on Coppermine from award-winning writer Keith Leckie, his original feature film story inspired by true events (The Shaman), and will also direct Ishkodé in New Mexico with producers Tanya Brunel and Eve Pomerance about a young Ojibwe woman who seeks revenge against a Catholic priest who abused her in a residential school in the early 70's in Canada. He's a co-writer.

Jeremy takes particular pride in the relationship he cultivates with actors. Any of them will enthusiastically discuss the collaborative nature of his directing most often described as free, refreshing, and empowering. The same can be said for key crew.

On the documentary side Jeremy is no stranger to filming internationally, often taking the camera and shooting himself in whatever situation -including hanging out of airborne helicopters. He's the owner of multiple Red Digital Cinema 8K packages with a full complement of prime lenses, zooms, filters, and other camera 'gak' including the latest drone technology. Jeremy's proficient in Avid editing too, having been a Beta tester for over 20 years. As a documentary filmmaker, ensuring authenticity is key while respecting the protocols and cultural practices of any Indigenous nation.

Jeremy is a CMPA member on various working committees including the REDIAC, Feature Film, International, and Regulatory, and a member of the Director's Guild Of Canada. He's an Associate member of the CSC and their Diversity Committee to provide new opportunities for BIPOC communities in the camera department.

He makes space on and off the set for the next generation of storytellers while providing oppoortinities for Indigenous cast and crew so they too may gain a foothold in our industry to provide for their families while cultivating their own dreams.

Jeremy lives and works proudly in the Treaty One territory (Winnipeg, Manitoba) with his four children Xavier, Hunter, Semiah, Ruby, and wife Tanya (Metis). When he isn't writing or directing he's playing hockey, coaching hockey or football, and if time permits, a round of golf.

His dream is to have a land-based facility for storytellers who can work in a collaborative environment with others of all races, grounded in their culture and spiritualities.
- IMDb mini biography by: JT