Michelle Shining Elk
- Manager
- Publicist
- Casting Director
As the principal of the Shining Elk Entertainment Group & Michelle
Shining Elk Casting, she brings over 16 years of experience working in
film, television, music, dance and theatre as a publicist, talent
manager, promoter, booking agent, marketing communications expert and
casting director specializing in American Indian talent.
In 1996, after several years working as a paralegal and then as marketing communications expert in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical arenas where she specialized in neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy in the San Francisco Bay Area, Michelle switched professional gears when she took on her first role as a publicist with the American Indian Film Institute and American Indian Film Festival. It was at that time she realized there was a serious unmet need of professionals representing American Indian talent and pushing for said talent to be recognized and hired in all aspects of the entertainment industries. After several years as a publicist for actors, films and theatrical productions, she added talent manager to her repertoire and as such she was responsible for presenting former client Rudy Youngblood to Mel Gibson when he was looking for the lead to his upcoming blockbuster film "Apocalypto." Rudy landed the role of "Jaguar Paw" and shortly thereafter set off to Mexico for 11 months of filming. Michelle has also placed clients in other notable principal roles by securing Patrick Shining Elk a role as one of the "Mission Boyz" in Peter Bratt's film "La Mission" staring Benjamin Bratt. And her client Moses Brings Plenty has had reoccurring roles in Spike TV's "Deadliest Warrior: Comanche v. Mongol and Crazy Horse vs. Poncho Villa" and he can currently be seen in a principal role as one of the main Apache riders, riding with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in "Cowboys & Aliens." In 2012, Mo will be seen in his first lead role in the Wilma Mankiller Project Production "The Cherokee Word for Water."
Michelle's work as a publicist has secured national coverage for client's Chris Eyre ("Smoke Signals"), Georgina Lightning ("Older than America"), and Darryl Tonemah (Board Member, American Diabetes Association and award-winning singer/song writer), to name a few. In the summer of 2011, as the casting director, she cast the 37 principal and supporting roles of the upcoming full-length feature production "The Cherokee Word for Water" a film about the first modern day woman to be elected the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller and her husband Charlie Soap.
Michelle is known across the United States and Canada for her dedication and protection of her American Indian community as one who advocates for jobs and placement of talented, bona-fide American Indians in film, television, dance and theatre. She is known for her tenacity, dedication, work ethic, giving nature and strong spirit - she has been referred to as a "for the people worker" who puts her heart and soul into everything she does, especially when it comes to the American Indian community.
In June of 2009, Michelle received recognition and commendation for her years of work and dedication to her American Indian community when Tony Mendoza, Vice Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus of the California Legislature Assembly passed Resolution No. 1303 wherein it was:
RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS, that they commend Michelle R. Shining Elk for her efforts in drawing awareness to the uncompromising story of the Native American journey in the United States and Canada, by working to nurture, support and enable current and future generations to learn about the enduring spirit of her rich and vibrant people.
Michelle's passion is her American Indian community, and while she realizes that she is not saving lives or finding a cure for cancer it is her hope that she will be able to initiate change in the way her Indian community sees themselves in film and television (in the rare occasions they are given the opportunity to get in front of the cameras), while continuing on with her never ending fight to create more roles for American Indian talent in all aspects of the entertainment industry.
In 1996, after several years working as a paralegal and then as marketing communications expert in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical arenas where she specialized in neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy in the San Francisco Bay Area, Michelle switched professional gears when she took on her first role as a publicist with the American Indian Film Institute and American Indian Film Festival. It was at that time she realized there was a serious unmet need of professionals representing American Indian talent and pushing for said talent to be recognized and hired in all aspects of the entertainment industries. After several years as a publicist for actors, films and theatrical productions, she added talent manager to her repertoire and as such she was responsible for presenting former client Rudy Youngblood to Mel Gibson when he was looking for the lead to his upcoming blockbuster film "Apocalypto." Rudy landed the role of "Jaguar Paw" and shortly thereafter set off to Mexico for 11 months of filming. Michelle has also placed clients in other notable principal roles by securing Patrick Shining Elk a role as one of the "Mission Boyz" in Peter Bratt's film "La Mission" staring Benjamin Bratt. And her client Moses Brings Plenty has had reoccurring roles in Spike TV's "Deadliest Warrior: Comanche v. Mongol and Crazy Horse vs. Poncho Villa" and he can currently be seen in a principal role as one of the main Apache riders, riding with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in "Cowboys & Aliens." In 2012, Mo will be seen in his first lead role in the Wilma Mankiller Project Production "The Cherokee Word for Water."
Michelle's work as a publicist has secured national coverage for client's Chris Eyre ("Smoke Signals"), Georgina Lightning ("Older than America"), and Darryl Tonemah (Board Member, American Diabetes Association and award-winning singer/song writer), to name a few. In the summer of 2011, as the casting director, she cast the 37 principal and supporting roles of the upcoming full-length feature production "The Cherokee Word for Water" a film about the first modern day woman to be elected the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller and her husband Charlie Soap.
Michelle is known across the United States and Canada for her dedication and protection of her American Indian community as one who advocates for jobs and placement of talented, bona-fide American Indians in film, television, dance and theatre. She is known for her tenacity, dedication, work ethic, giving nature and strong spirit - she has been referred to as a "for the people worker" who puts her heart and soul into everything she does, especially when it comes to the American Indian community.
In June of 2009, Michelle received recognition and commendation for her years of work and dedication to her American Indian community when Tony Mendoza, Vice Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus of the California Legislature Assembly passed Resolution No. 1303 wherein it was:
RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS, that they commend Michelle R. Shining Elk for her efforts in drawing awareness to the uncompromising story of the Native American journey in the United States and Canada, by working to nurture, support and enable current and future generations to learn about the enduring spirit of her rich and vibrant people.
Michelle's passion is her American Indian community, and while she realizes that she is not saving lives or finding a cure for cancer it is her hope that she will be able to initiate change in the way her Indian community sees themselves in film and television (in the rare occasions they are given the opportunity to get in front of the cameras), while continuing on with her never ending fight to create more roles for American Indian talent in all aspects of the entertainment industry.