Tonto Apaches team up on movie

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Former “NYPD Blue” star Rick Schroder and the Tonto Apache Tribe are teaming up to bring the movie “Black Cloud” to audiences around the nation. 

Former “NYPD Blue” star Rick Schroder and the Tonto Apache Tribe are
teaming up to bring the movie “Black Cloud” to audiences around the nation.
Schroder was on the reservation Wednesday to discuss details of the tribe’s
sponsorship of the movie, which he wrote, directed and produced.

About midday, he made an appearance on KMOG.

During his trip to the Rim country, Schroder was accompanied by former
Payson resident Shawn Haught, now of Phoenix.

Schroder and Haught met several months ago at a Boy Scout benefit.

Schroder told KMOG listeners that Haught first introduced him to Tonto
Apache tribal officials and helped engineer an agreement for the tribe to
pick up sponsorship.

Schroder said he had approached other Arizona tribes but all declined to
help with the movie. He also indicated he thought it was ironic that
Arizona’s smallest tribe was the one to step up with sponsorship.

The movie is an inspirational story about a Native American boxer facing
personal challenges as he comes to terms with his heritage while fighting
for a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team.

According to an Internet movie preview, “Black Cloud feels alone in the
world. He’s troubled by his uncertain ancestry, and the future is unfolding
without direction. The only thing of which he is certain is his passion for
fighting. Fortunately for Black Cloud, he has more than a spiritual guide
on his journeys.”

That guide, “Bud,” his boxing coach, is played by Russell Means.

“Bud is the driving force for Black Cloud and the one who will help him
achieve his dreams.”

The movie, which was made on the Northern Arizona Navajo and Hopi
reservations, will be released Oct. 1. It features country singing star Tim
McGraw in his big screen acting debut. McGraw plays Sheriff Powers and also
provides original songs for the soundtrack.

Schroder will make a cameo appearance.

Schroder made his acting debut as T.J. Flynn in the 1979 movie “The Champ”
for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. His television role as
Ricky Stratton on “Silver Spoons” lasted for five years. He also appeared
in the mini-series “Lonesome Dove” in 1989 and the series “NYPD Blue.”

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Max Foster is a staff reporter for the Payson Roundup.