our team

our team

The ones who make the magic

jeremy charles

Writer / Director / Producer

Cherokee filmmaker and founder of Pursuit Films, Indigenous representation in film is Jeremy's mission. He is a co-creator, director and producer for “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People”, a docu-series which has earned 16 regional Emmys, including Best Director in 2017. His narrative short “Totsu (Redbird)” premiered in 2020 and went on to win top honors at L.A. Skins Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival, and deadCenter Film Festival. In 2019, he began work on an original animated series in the Cherokee language “Inage’i (In The Woods)” and is a 2020 alumni of Native American Media Alliance TV Writers fellowship. In 2020, he was a finalist in Oklahoma Film Office’s Pitch-a-thon with SeriesFest. He was recently Co-executive Producer on The Girl Scout Murders true crime series on FOX, and continues developing a slate of projects focusing on Indigenous themes. The groundbreaking album of contemporary Cherokee music "Anvdvnelisgi/ ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ/Performers" was released in October 2022, and is available on all music platforms.

My daughter Wren Talitama ᏔᎵᏔᎹ asked me to mention her. She's the best.


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jeremy charles

Writer / Director / Producer

Cherokee filmmaker and founder of Pursuit Films, Indigenous representation in film is Jeremy's mission. He is a co-creator, director and producer for “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People”, a docu-series which has earned 16 regional Emmys, including Best Director in 2017. His narrative short “Totsu (Redbird)” premiered in 2020 and went on to win top honors at L.A. Skins Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival, and deadCenter Film Festival. In 2019, he began work on an original animated series in the Cherokee language “Inage’i (In The Woods)” and is a 2020 alumni of Native American Media Alliance TV Writers fellowship. In 2020, he was a finalist in Oklahoma Film Office’s Pitch-a-thon with SeriesFest. He was recently Co-executive Producer on The Girl Scout Murders true crime series on FOX, and continues developing a slate of projects focusing on Indigenous themes. The groundbreaking album of contemporary Cherokee music "Anvdvnelisgi/ ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ/Performers" was released in October 2022, and is available on all music platforms.

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matt leach

Director / Producer / Editor

Matt Leach has spent the past two decades sharing the strange and wonderful stories of Oklahoma. Early work in music videos and commercial editing lead to documentary filmmaking. Matt co-directed and co-produced This Land a thought provoking and delicately crafted television series on life in Middle America with pieces featured on PBS. He produced and edited his first feature film This May Be The Last Time (AMC / Sundance International) that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2014 and screened at MoMA. His latest, Far Western, premiered at IDFA 2017 in Amsterdam, and Love and Fury on Netflix.

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Director / Producer / Editor

Matt Leach has spent the past two decades sharing the strange and wonderful stories of Oklahoma. Early work in music videos and commercial editing lead to documentary filmmaking. Matt co-directed and co-produced This Land a thought provoking and delicately crafted television series on life in Middle America with pieces featured on PBS. He produced and edited his first feature film This May Be The Last Time (AMC / Sundance International) that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2014 and screened at MoMA. His latest, Far Western, premiered at IDFA 2017 in Amsterdam, and Love and Fury on Netflix.

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matt leach

matt leach

Director / Producer / Editor

Matt Leach has spent the past two decades sharing the strange and wonderful stories of Oklahoma. Early work in music videos and commercial editing lead to documentary filmmaking. Matt co-directed and co-produced This Land a thought provoking and delicately crafted television series on life in Middle America with pieces featured on PBS. He produced and edited his first feature film This May Be The Last Time (AMC / Sundance International) that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2014 and screened at MoMA. His latest, Far Western, premiered at IDFA 2017 in Amsterdam, and Love and Fury on Netflix.

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brooke allen

Director / Producer

Brooke Allen’s background is a combination of art, environmental visual communication and photography. A foundational skillset in which she has built upon and utilized in her journey into film production. Over the last decade she has worked as a freelance photographer, graphic designer and filmmaker. She started with Pursuit Films as their Lead Producer working with the First Americans Museum creating 19 multimedia projects. Since then she has continued to work across Indian country directing, producing and filming short documentaries for multiple clients.

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brooke allen

Director / Producer

Brooke Allen’s background is a combination of art, environmental visual communication and photography. A foundational skillset in which she has built upon and utilized in her journey into film production. Over the last decade she has worked as a freelance photographer, graphic designer and filmmaker. She started with Pursuit Films as their Lead Producer working with the First Americans Museum creating 19 multimedia projects. Since then she has continued to work across Indian country directing, producing and filming short documentaries for multiple clients.

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brooke allen

Drector / Producer

Brooke Allen’s background is a combination of art, environmental visual communication and photography. A foundational skillset in which she has built upon and utilized in her journey into film production. Over the last decade she has worked as a freelance photographer, graphic designer and filmmaker. She started with Pursuit Films as their Lead Producer working with the First Americans Museum creating 19 multimedia projects. Since then she has continued to work across Indian country directing, producing and filming short documentaries for multiple clients.

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ty clark

Lead Editor

Ty Clark is a musician, writer, director and editor in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ty has worked in professional studio productions for over 15 years. He has picked up multiple Emmys for his work on Osiyo TV | Voices of the Cherokee People. His work has been featured in major publications; such as, Alternative Press, on major streaming platforms, in acclaimed film festivals, such as, Dead Center FF and L.A. Skins Fest, and even in installations at the First Americans Museum in OKC. With a “formal education” in journalism he also has a long list of published articles and interviews with the likes of, Tom Morello, K. Flay, comedian Fred Armisen, among others. Most recently, he was awarded grants from the Tulsa Film, Music, Arts and Culture Office(project’s release expected 2023). 

(Watch Ty’s latest award-winning short, Editor, here) 

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ty clark

Lead Editor

Ty Clark is a musician, writer, director and editor of moving images in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With a “formal education” in journalism Ty has worked in professional studio environments and productions for over 15 years. He has picked up 3 Emmys for his work on Osiyo TV | Voices of the Cherokee People, among others. His work has been featured in major publications; such as, Alternative Press. His edits have been on major streaming platforms, in major film festivals, like, Dead Center FF and L.A. Skins Fest, and even in installations at the First Americans Museum in OKC. Ty also has a long list of published interviews with artists Tom Morello, K. Flay and comedian Fred Armisen, among others. Most recently, he was awarded 2 production grants from the Tulsa Film, Music, Arts and Culture Office via the Play Tulsa Music Program. On the daily he is Lead Editor at PURSUIT FILMS. On the nightly he's a drummer and a founding member of PLAINVI3W DIGITAL, LLC; a Bitcoin mining company.

(Watch Ty’s latest award-winning short, Editor, here) 

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ty clark

Lead Editor

Ty Clark is a musician, writer, director and editor of moving images in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With a “formal education” in journalism Ty has worked in professional studio environments and productions for over 15 years. He has picked up 3 Emmys for his work on Osiyo TV | Voices of the Cherokee People, among others. His work has been featured in major publications; such as, Alternative Press. His edits have been on major streaming platforms, in major film festivals, like, Dead Center FF and L.A. Skins Fest, and even in installations at the First Americans Museum in OKC. Ty also has a long list of published interviews with artists Tom Morello, K. Flay and comedian Fred Armisen, among others. Most recently, he was awarded 2 production grants from the Tulsa Film, Music, Arts and Culture Office via the Play Tulsa Music Program. On the daily he is Lead Editor at PURSUIT FILMS. On the nightly he's a drummer and a founding member of PLAINVI3W DIGITAL, LLC; a Bitcoin mining company.

(Watch Ty’s latest award-winning short, Editor, here) 

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nick buttram

Cinematographer / Editor

Nick Buttram is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker based out of Tulsa, OK. With years of experience as a cinematographer, editor, and director, Nick works primarily in documentary filmmaking with a passion for Indigenous storytelling. As a Cherokee Nation citizen, Nick’s approach to filmmaking is largely community-based, with an emphasis on highlighting the cultural lifeways that shaped him. Since graduating college in 2017, he has worked on multiple films that have screened at festivals across the globe, such as Sundance Film Festival, Cannes World Film Festival, and Māoriland Film Festival.

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nick buttram

Cinematographer / Editor

Nick Buttram is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker based out of Tulsa, OK. With years of experience as a cinematographer, editor, and director, Nick works primarily in documentary filmmaking with a passion for Indigenous storytelling. As a Cherokee Nation citizen, Nick’s approach to filmmaking is largely community-based, with an emphasis on highlighting the cultural lifeways that shaped him. Since graduating college in 2017, he has worked on multiple films that have screened at festivals across the globe, such as Sundance Film Festival, Cannes World Film Festival, and Māoriland Film Festival.

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nick buttram

Cinematographer / Editor

Nick Buttram is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker based out of Tulsa, OK. With years of experience as a cinematographer, editor, and director, Nick works primarily in documentary filmmaking with a passion for Indigenous storytelling. As a Cherokee Nation citizen, Nick’s approach to filmmaking is largely community-based, with an emphasis on highlighting the cultural lifeways that shaped him. Since graduating college in 2017, he has worked on multiple films that have screened at festivals across the globe, such as Sundance Film Festival, Cannes World Film Festival, and Māoriland Film Festival.

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viet nguyen

Production Manager/DP/Editor

Viet Nguyen is a military veteran who has traveled all over the world documenting international coalition operations and producing multimedia content. After his service, he double-majored in Cinema Studies and Photography from the University of North Carolina - Wilmington. Viet has been involved in all facets of film/tv production; producing music videos, documentaries, brand marketing research, programming film festivals, as well as syndicated television shows and full-scale feature length productions. 

At Pursuit Films, Viet is a 4-time Emmy award winning cinematographer and editor. As Production Manager, he makes sure our shoots are safe, efficient and productive. 

Off set, he is an amateur chef for his son Milo and shares the couch with his dog Pinto.

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viet nguyen

Production Manager/DP/Editor

Viet Nguyen is a military veteran who has traveled all over the world documenting international coalition operations and producing multimedia content. After his service, he double-majored in Cinema Studies and Photography from the University of North Carolina - Wilmington. Viet has been involved in all facets of film/tv production; producing music videos, documentaries, brand marketing research, programming film festivals, as well as syndicated television shows and full-scale feature length productions. 

At Pursuit Films, Viet is a 4-time Emmy award winning cinematographer and editor. As Production Manager, he makes sure our shoots are safe, efficient and productive. 

Off set, he is an amateur chef for his son Milo and shares the couch with his dog Pinto.

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viet nguyen

Production Manager/DP/Editor

Viet Nguyen is a military veteran who has traveled all over the world documenting international coalition operations and producing multimedia content. After his service, he double-majored in Cinema Studies and Photography from the University of North Carolina - Wilmington. Viet has been involved in all facets of film/tv production; producing music videos, documentaries, brand marketing research, programming film festivals, as well as syndicated television shows and full-scale feature length productions. 

At Pursuit Films, Viet is a 4-time Emmy award winning cinematographer and editor. As Production Manager, he makes sure our shoots are safe, efficient and productive. 

Off set, he is an amateur chef for his son Milo and shares the couch with his dog Pinto.

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josiah jones

Associate Producer

Josiah W. Jones is Apache, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Ohkay Owingeh and Kiowa, born and raised in Shawnee, OK. He graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University with a business degree in May 2021 but had always had a passion for filmmaking. After graduating, Josiah moved up to Tulsa to pursue a career in filmmaking. Here, he started working at Pursuit Films and was pulled on full time as a production assistant, assistant video editor, camera operator and producer. Outside of work, he is a writer and director. He received the Emerging Filmmakers award at the LA Skins Film Festival in 2021 for his short film, Chipisala’Cho.

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josiah jones

Associate Producer

Josiah W. Jones is Apache, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Ohkay Owingeh and Kiowa, born and raised in Shawnee, OK. He graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University with a business degree in May 2021 but had always had a passion for filmmaking. After graduating, Josiah moved up to Tulsa to pursue a career in filmmaking. Here, he started working at Pursuit Films and was pulled on full time as a production assistant, assistant video editor, camera operator and producer. Outside of work, he is a writer and director. He received the Emerging Filmmakers award at the LA Skins Film Festival in 2021 for his short film, Chipisala’Cho.

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josiah jones

Associate Producer

Josiah W. Jones is Apache, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Ohkay Owingeh and Kiowa, born and raised in Shawnee, OK. He graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University with a business degree in May 2021 but had always had a passion for filmmaking. After graduating, Josiah moved up to Tulsa to pursue a career in filmmaking. Here, he started working at Pursuit Films and was pulled on full time as a production assistant, assistant video editor, camera operator and producer. Outside of work, he is a writer and director. He received the Emerging Filmmakers award at the LA Skins Film Festival in 2021 for his short film, Chipisala’Cho.

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savannah edwards

Associate Producer

Savannah Edwards (Cherokee) is a recent film studies graduate born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Building her love of all things art from a young age; photography, digital design, music, and film making have been a driving force for her inspirations and goals. While in school she has made multiple short films, picking up directing, editing, and producing roles throughout. Savannah has also worked within the local music industry, recording and mastering a 3-track demo for the band Kinda Collective. In 2021, Savannah interned with the Cherokee Nation Film Office, learning and working alongside Osiyo TV | Voices of the Cherokee People director and host, Jennifer Loren. Now at Pursuit Films, Savannah manages our studio space and social media, all while assisting in producing our award-winning content.

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savannah edwards

Associate Producer

Savannah Edwards (Cherokee) is a recent film studies graduate born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Building her love of all things art from a young age; photography, digital design, music, and film making have been a driving force for her inspirations and goals. While in school she has made multiple short films, picking up directing, editing, and producing roles throughout. Savannah has also worked within the local music industry, recording and mastering a 3-track demo for the band Kinda Collective. In 2021, Savannah interned with the Cherokee Nation Film Office, learning and working alongside Osiyo TV | Voices of the Cherokee People director and host, Jennifer Loren. Now at Pursuit Films, Savannah manages our studio space and social media, all while assisting in producing our award-winning content.

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savannah
edwards

Associate Producer

Savannah Edwards (Cherokee) is a recent film studies graduate born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Building her love of all things art from a young age; photography, digital design, music, and film making have been a driving force for her inspirations and goals. While in school she has made multiple short films, picking up directing, editing, and producing roles throughout. Savannah has also worked within the local music industry, recording and mastering a 3-track demo for the band Kinda Collective. In 2021, Savannah interned with the Cherokee Nation Film Office, learning and working alongside Osiyo TV | Voices of the Cherokee People director and host, Jennifer Loren. Now at Pursuit Films, Savannah manages our studio space and social media, all while assisting in producing our award-winning content.

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© 2023 Pursuit Films, a certified Native-owned company, formerly FireThief Productions

© 2023 Pursuit Films, a certified Native-owned company, formerly FireThief Productions

© 2023 Pursuit Films,
a certified Native-owned company,
formerly FireThief Productions