ADA, Okla. — Growing up in Oklahoma, Josiah Jones thought his dream of becoming a director was always out of reach. Yet, he found himself reaching for the silver screen and quoting movies with friends. The steady inspiration from his community grew, and his urge to create was undeniable.
From capturing weddings to directing his own films and becoming an associate producer at the Cherokee Nation, Jones is the epitome of a dedicated leader who made his not-so-distant dream a reality.
The Chickasaw citizen was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and is also of Apache, Choctaw, Ohkay Owingeh and Kiowa heritage. As the son of a basketball coach, Jones spent most of his teenage years playing basketball until he graduated and attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
In college, Jones pursued a business degree, but he knew he wanted a career in the film industry.
“My calling card is directing and producing,” Jones said. “That’s what I love to do — being able to help and tell stories.”
Jones knew very little about the art of filmmaking. He joined a film club in college with a friend, and it quickly escalated to professional work.
“We started shooting wedding videography to just learn how filming works and learn how the camera works,” Jones said.
Walking into an environment with little to no knowledge can be very intimidating for some people, but Jones said this only encouraged him to learn more.
“It all started from there,” he said.
Since then, Jones has dedicated his time to the craft of filmmaking and networking. While dancing at a Kiowa Gourd dance, he noticed a videography crew from Pursuit Films, a First American-owned film production company.
Wanting to work for the prestigious business, he eventually got the nerve to approach a crew member and ask her how she broke into the industry. The employee explained her story and shared her contact information with Jones.
After college, Jones moved to Tulsa and appeared as an extra in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” during its production there.
While filming, Jones contacted Pursuit Films to maintain connections and learn more about a career in film. Pursuit Films owner, Jeremy Charles, told him to come by during one of his filming breaks. Jones told Charles about his wedding videography and short film creation experience but said he wanted to learn more about the movie industry.
“I work hard, and I’ll do anything. I just want to learn,” Jones said to Charles.
Jones’ relentless curiosity and persistence earned him multiple freelance opportunities and projects, keeping him very busy. He juggled working at Hibbett in Ada, playing an extra in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which was filming in Pawhuska and creating content for Pursuit Films in Tulsa. Charles noticed Jones’ strong work ethic and offered him a full-time position at Pursuit Films as an assistant editor.
“It consisted of me learning how to edit documentaries, build lights, learning about the gear and what does what with the camera,” Jones said. “I learned what the grip department does and learned about producing.”
Pursuit Films gave Jones a great foundation to build upon, but his friends and mentors are who really made a difference. Looking back, Jones is grateful for this time at Pursuit Films and for Charles.
“He was my mentor,” Jones said. “He gave me a lot of work and taught me the ropes of the filmmaking industry.”
Jones’ experience in the film industry does not just remain behind the scenes, but also in front of the camera. In addition to playing an extra in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Jones starred in an episode of Sterlin Harjo’s hit show “Reservation Dogs,” as a younger version of the character, Fixico.
“I had around eight lines,” Jones said. “I remember talking to Sterlin and he was directing me and giving me advice.”
Harjo is from Holdenville and knew Jones’ family. Jones had always wanted to work with Harjo and know what it was like to be on the other side of the glowing screen.
“I remember being in seventh grade and thinking it would be so cool to work for him or simply be on TV, even if it was just for a moment,” Jones said.
Jones felt very lucky after the episode aired. Watching himself on screen was surreal, and he was excited people he knew would see it too.
“A lot of people from my community, like the guys I play basketball with and my siblings, were just like, ‘Wow, you really did that,’” Jones said.
For Jones, community is paramount. Joining the Cherokee Film Productions team allowed him to connect with his First American heritage more.
Last May, Jones officially became an associate producer for Cherokee Film Productions, having previously served as a freelancer for the company. He began at Osiyo TV, Voices of the Cherokee People as an assistant editor, camera operator and production assistant.
When Jones saw a position opened, he applied. In this role Jones helps produce episodes highlighting the lives of Cherokee citizens and their impact on the world.
“What I do is help with shoots where I am actually producing,” Jones said. “For productions to succeed, I make sure everyone knows where they need to be, if they have a call sheet and everyone knows who to go to for answers.”
Jones said working there is like working with family.
“It is always nice to work with Native people on Native stories,” Jones said. “Some of my favorite moments are the little moments in between when we’re building, having lunch or just cracking jokes.”
Jones embraces the family aspect with the people he works with as well as the unpredictable nature of movie making. There have been moments on set when plans fell apart. Jones sees these moments as learning opportunities.
“One of the most rewarding things about being flexible is sometimes in the chaos, you find something you may not have seen or planned for,” Jones said. “It creates more creativity.”
His ability to adapt is rooted in the deep connection Jones has with his friends and family who inspire him to look for beauty in all things. The people around Jones inspire most of his ideas and films.
“It can be from anywhere,” Jones said. “It can be from hanging out with someone that is really inspiring to just wanting to uplift your communities.”
The connection can be seen in his first professional short film called “The Love for the Game.” The short film follows Isaac, a former basketball player, who is convinced by his younger sister to accompany her to the local basketball court. With the guidance of a basketball angel, Isaac overcomes his bitterness and rediscovers his love for the game that first inspired him. Jones said the short film is his proudest project.
“There is something so cool about writing something and it coming to life how I saw it in my head,” Jones said. “There is something euphoric about that.”
Jones was able to bring in the basketball players his dad was coaching to show them what a film set looked like. It was a great moment not only for Jones, but for his family.
“It was really cool for my dad and mom to be like, ‘Wow, he is a filmmaker,’” Jones said.
Making this film was a dream come true for Jones and an experience he will never forget. It reminded him of who he was and where he came from.
“I remember wanting to be a filmmaker and people would just laugh,” Jones said. “I was like, ‘Other people are doing that — why can’t we?’”
Jones did not let moments of doubt keep him from pursuing his dream, and he hopes others take that same approach.
“It’s tough, but it is possible,” Jones said. “Whether it is filmmaking or going to law school or nursing school — anything. It just takes hard work.”
Hard work pays off. Jones has submitted projects to film festivals, and his freelance work has been featured nationally. He secured funding for “In the Making,” a PBS American Masters and Firelight Media documentary series that highlights rising creators, to do a documentary over an up-and-coming artist, Mato Wayuhi.
He was granted funding to make a documentary about Wayuhi, an Oglala Lakota musician who has composed music for “Reservation Dogs.” Jones was able to film the documentary, “Stankface Standing Soldier: The Rise of Mato Wayuhi,” in Wayuhi’s home state of South Dakota. The film was released on the PBS YouTube channel June 2026. The short has received praise from critics and fellow artists, but the praise he receives from his family and community is most special to him.
“There is something really cool about people from my community being proud and thinking this is achievable,” Jones said.
Understanding what his support system has done for him is something Jones never forgets to appreciate. He pays that appreciation forward in every way he can by expressing the necessity of First Americans telling First American stories.
“Only we can tell these stories,” Jones said. “Having many Native filmmakers from all parts of America and different tribes — we need to hear those (stories) from them.”
Beyond movie making, Jones believes giving First Americans a platform to tell their stories in their own way will uplift First American communities and continue their legacy.
“Native crews, Native producers, Native directors or writers — you have to have that to have that culture and to understand what it is like being Native,” Jones said.
Jones emphasizes authentic representation will help accomplish the goal of First Americans in film no longer being a rarity.
“My dream is that it becomes a norm; it is no longer the exception,” Jones said. “A world where it is normal and people are familiar with tribes because of filmmakers.”
Jones wants to be that filmmaker. He wants to share with the world First Americans’ stories.
He encourages anyone who wants to work in film to be multidimensional — create different things, work in different film departments and take on different roles.
“Just take it one step at a time,” Jones said. “Learn the game and don’t be afraid to ask for advice or seek out help.”
For Jones, art is a vital extension to his First American identity, making his aspirations regarding the silver screen inevitable. By jumping into the unknown to follow his dream, Jones showed what is possible through hard work and perseverance.