The Cast and Crew of
A Southern Fantasia
Milah Dee as Okcate/Hope
Milah Dee was born in Ramstein, Germany U.S.A.F.B. to her Jamaican-British mother and African-American father. Her family settled in Fayetteville, NC, where she was awarded the chance to begin training in her passion in the performing arts. During grade school, Milah took the time to explore theatre, band, dance, cheerleading, and competition acting (forensics), although, she always kept acting at the forefront. She went on to graduate with B.A. in Drama Education and taught middle school theatre for two years. She then transitioned to New York and Los Angeles for more theatrical and film training. She is now a bi-coastal actress in Los Angeles, CA and Atlanta, GA.
Candace Thomas as Hokti/Auntie
Originally from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Candace now resides on Snoqualmie Ancestral Lands. She spent three years studying Choctaw before getting an opportunity to speak her native language in a role in an upcoming animated series where she discovered a love for voice acting. She is also a mother who loves preparing traditional foods. Through her work and life, she aims to celebrate and share stories of Indigenous peoples.
E.D. Brown as Arifiday
E.D. Brown is a writer, dancer, and amateur puppeteer living in Los Angeles. She'd like to thank the entire team for the words, guidance, and talent.
Kyrian Sowards as Fletcher/Journalist 2
Hailing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Kyrian Sowards discovered his passion for acting at the age of seven, enchanting audiences as Prince Charming in a summer program play in Newark, Delaware. Coming from various roles within musicals like "Big Fish" and "Urinetown," he thrived in Tempe, AZ's short film scene. Transitioning to full-time acting, Kyrian now hones his craft at LA's prestigious Gloria Gifford Conservatory, demonstrating unwavering dedication to artistic growth despite 22 relocations throughout his nomadic journey through life.
Jamie Bauch as William/Owen
Jamie was born and raised in a small town in rural Wisconsin. He studied Theater and Film in college, and after graduating, he took a break from acting to pursue coaching high school athletics. Eventually, Jamie made the move to Los Angeles to pursue professional acting. Since then, he has starred in multiple Short Films, Indie Features, Web Series, and a Network TV Show.
Jermaine Steward as Lasley/Teeter/Journalist 1
Jermaine Steward, born in Trenton, NJ and raised in the Suburbs of Levittown, PA, started his career with a love for animation. He studied at the University Of The Arts in Philadelphia and the Korea National University of Art, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He worked at Sony Animation as a Storyboard Artist, most notably working on SpiderVerse. He is now shifting gears and pursuing a long-time passion for acting and has been in multiple short films and theater productions, with plans to combine his art with his performance.
Julie Pearson Little Thunder: Playwright & Director
Julie Pearson Little Thunder resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she co-founded Tulsa Indian Actors’ Workshop, later Thunderroad Theater, with fellow Native theater practitioner, Jana Rhoads. She served as playwright-in-residence and artistic director of the company from 1993-2012, producing two plays a year by Indigenous playwrights. During this period, two of her plays, Standing Up Stories and The Woman Who was Captured by Ghosts, were selected for workshopping by Native Voices at the Autry. Pearson Little Thunder is the author of a biography, Doris Littrell and the Oklahoma Indian Art Scene, published in 2015. A screenplay, Freehand, inspired by her husband, artist Merlin Little Thunder, is currently in pre-production with Pursuit Films.
Daniel Long: Sound Designer
Daniel (Danny) Long, a versatile Sound Designer and Audio Engineer, crafts immersive soundscapes that enhance storytelling across film, TV, and radio. With expertise across genres, his meticulous audio editing meets industry standards. Danny’s approach involves understanding the narrative to deliver tailored sounds that seamlessly integrate with visuals, enriching the storytelling experience.