BENKI
BENKI
6-part DOCU-SERIES TRAILER
“BENKI: A HummingBird’s Dream” is a 6 episode series focusing on Benki’s rise fro the indigenous spiritual leader of the Ashaninka tribe to representing all indigenous affairs for Brazil through his work preserving the rainforest and helping surrounding tribes with their spiritual journeys back to their cultures and lands.
90 minute DOCUMENTARY
This is a screening of the 90 minute format we’ve put together that prefaces and outlines parts of the 6 episode series. This 90 min format would be in consideration for additional festival entries and follow up streaming network considerations once additional funding is found to finish it with final shots and a potential celebrity voice over.
synopsis
synopsis
episodes
episodes
BENKI: THE SERIES (6 episodes)
EP1: BENKI
We dive into a journey of a man and his family unfolding before our eyes as they weave through spirituality, politics and the protection of indigenous human rights and environmental affairs.
EP2: ASHANINKA
The story of Benki’s parents shows the unity of the western and indigenous worlds through a union of love that has birthed today’s Ashaninka leaders
EP3: PUYANAWA
A deeper dive into the spiritual practices and infotainment on what it takes to achieve true pajé status. This is an intro to the Puyanawa through history of tribal and cultural decimation and imprisonment.
EP4: PUYANAWA 2010
This episode takes the viewer into the time of 1983 and the demarcation process. We see the first crowning of a Chief since 1919 and find ourselves learning of a great spiritual battle the Puyanawa endure. Benki’s return to the Puyanawa with a great cliffhanger.
EP5:THE RESCUE OF THE PEOPLE
We see the deep spiritual process undertaken by Benki and his family of spiritual leaders in bringing back the teachings and culture of the Puyanawa people. Leading us to victory in a celebration of the Puyanawa people and who they are today.
EP6: YORENKA TASORENTSI
A triumphant return to Benki’s home and institute. We learn of Benki’s new mission and see the struggles the Amazon overall is dealing with in present time. Hearing from other Indigenous leaders and a real time call to action to save the endangered Amazon Rain Forrest.
CREATORS
CREATORS
TEAM
CHRIS NUÑEZ
Christopher Nuñez is an American tattoo artist, co-founder of Make.Believe.Pictures production company, television personality and entrepreneur. He’s known for “Miami Ink” and was a judge on the reality television show “Ink Master”.
Recently Chris has struck another home run for TV with being an executive producer for the hit show on Netflix, "Tattoo Redo”.
Now Chris is pioneering TV with his own recipe in opening Make.Believe.Pictures and producing fresh ideas for TV as well as producing and pioneering documentaries in the most remote parts of the Amazon Rainforest with Benki Piyãko – a Spiritual Chief/Leader of the Ashaninka people.
DAVID MICHAELS
David Michaels has been an industry fixture since his early twenties having worked with renown auteurs David Lynch and Olivier Dahan. Two of his films have premiered in the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival and others have won many awards both domestically and internationally. His industry relationships run wide and deep having set projects at Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers, Fox 2000, Walden Media, HBO, CBS, Sony, Jersey Films (Danny DeVito), Interscope, Blue Wolf Productions (Robin Williams), Parkway Productions (Penny Marshall), Magnolia Pictures (Mark Cuban), Hallmark, Showtime, and many others. He has been personally represented by WME and UTA and counseled by attorneys Jake Bloom, Barry Hirsch, Craig Emanuel, and Phillip Rosen.
NICK WARAKSA
Nick Waraksa is an Emmy award-winning Creative Director, and Special Effects Supervisor. He is a partner at two film houses, Blend Creative and Make.Believe.Pictures.
At Blend, Nick has serviced Fortune 500 clients such as GE and KOHLER as well as major touring artists like John Legend, Sarah Bareilles, and Jason Mraz. At Make.Believe.Pictures, Nick is a partner with Chris Nuñez and Bryan Mir working as a creative director on various TV shows and documentary works that follow his extensive experience living with and earning the trust of indigenous tribes from around the world.
As an accomplished musician, Nick has worked in several genres, where he has released on streaming platforms and accomplished films scores that won awards at Cannes. Nick believes that you must live completely immersed in your art, he running an office for Blend and MAKE BELIEVE from an off-grid and eco-conscious film and music studio in the Rainforests of Maui, Hawaii which shows the commitment of the team towards the content they all create.
BRYAN MIR
Bryan Mir is an Emmy award-winning Director, who has worked across all formats in the industry. With his extensive experience, Bryan is focused on telling stories in the long format, with a passion for everything that has come before.
Living multiple lives, Bryan began his career as a professional musician for over 10 years, playing with artists like Willie Porter and XYZ. He then discovered a passion for filmmaking and co-founded Blend Creative, where he led the production division. Blending his music experience into film with music videos, Bryan has worked with artists such as John Legend and Jason Mraz as well as commercial clients such as MTV and GE.
After several trips to the Amazon, Bryan has dedicated himself to telling the stories of indigenous peoples from around the world. His passion has led him to becoming a partner in Make.Believe.Pictures with renown tattooist Chris Nunez, where they focus on telling modern stories in the long format.