About the project

It Makes a Sound is a short which follows the story to a family of masked characters who inhabit an ancient forest. The masks are fairy-tale-like and evoke a sentiment of ages long past. This work is an attempt at bridging the gaps between what is called ‘indigenous art’ and ‘art’, to show that indigenous artists have the talents and abilities to create art beyond the label of ‘indigenous art’, though the work is inherently indigenous from the artist’s experiences.

This project received financial support from the National Theatre School of Canada via the Art Apart program, an emergency fund for emerging artists who are affected by physical distancing due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

About the artist

Todd Houseman is a Nehiyo (Cree) actor, improviser, and writer from Edmonton Alberta (Amiskwaci). His work focuses on decolonization by prioritizing indigenous narratives through satire, political commentary, and traditional/contemporary storytelling. Todd hopes his presence in the arts will add to the legacy of indigenous performers in north america who have graciously paved the way for people like him.   

Todd is the co-creator (with Ben Gorodetsky) of the award-winning Folk Lordz, which began as a touring improvised play and has evolved into a political sketch comedy Webseries. Todd is also the co-creator/star (with Lady Vanessa Cardona) of the acclaimed play Whiteface, which was adapted into a short film through the Telus Storyhive grant in the summer of 2019. His TV credits include APTN’s Delmer and Marta and Caution May Contain Nuts. Recent theatre credits include: Burning Vision, Nell Gwyn, Indra's Web (NTS/Monument-National), Or the Whale (Studio Theatre), and Metis Mutt (Fringe Theatre Adventures).  

Todd wrote the screenplay Koluhnahyzeyshuhn and his comic Ayannisach won the 2015 School Library Journal Book of the Year award, as a part of Moonshot: The Indigenous Comic Collection. Todd is also part of the 2020 graduating acting class at the National Theatre School of Canada.   

In his free time, Todd enjoys building masks, forging knives, or being in the forests of western Alberta.