I had heard Cody Lightning’s name for some time now from various colleagues and fellow Native actors. One word always came up that was synonymous with his name: Comedian.

Comedian? Cody Lightning, the actor who starred in serious dramatic roles such Smoke Signals, Manic and his current release, Fours Sheets to the Wind, was a comedian?

I ventured into the social network that is Myspace about one year ago trying to find out what was so funny about this guy. Thumbing through his profile I saw his pictures and then I realized why: his collage of personal photos, captioned with quick-witted remarks, gave me insight, and some laughs, into Cody Lightning, the comedian.

So when I finally had the opportunity to meet him in person at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival I felt like I knew him already. He came to the snowy town in support of his starring role as Cufe Smallhill in Sterlin Harjo’s first feature film Four Sheets to the Wind.

Cody-his mop of corkscrew curls, chocolate eyes and crooked smile-immediately stood out from the large group of filmmakers and industry insiders. “Soft spoken and polite,” was my first impression of him. Then a change: when talk of films, interviews, and parties were discussed the comedian came out. His wicked sense of humor included uncanny impersonations of people he’d met, and childhood stories of him growing up made the most somber person in our group laugh. I surmised that not only was Cody Lightning a comedian, but a storyteller as well. So when I was asked to interview him for the summer edition of NAICA Online I jumped at the opportunity. Fortunately for me, Cody was going to be in my part of town in the coming weeks. We decided to meet in person to conduct the interview and take some quick photos afterwards for the article.

Easy going and relaxed was the mood as we chatted about film, skateboarding, his devotion to his family and how much his posterior was hurting at the moment from skateboarding the day before.

The mood never changed as the photoshoot began, which was a mix of family and friends, creating an easy-going atmosphere full of laughs. Mytia Smith, the marketing and program director of the American Indian Film Institute (AIFI), as well as a friend of mine and Cody’s, was the photographer and had brought along her uncle, a fellow photographer as well, to assist her in the shoot. Cody, on the other hand, had brought along his childhood friend, who had grown up in the Bay area. So our whole entourage first traveled through the back alley streets of downtown and than to an abandoned hospital in the outskirts of the city-a location Cody’s friend suggested, which was the creepiest place I have ever seen.

The photo-shoot was a success capturing the many facets of Cody Lightning. I even took some shots with him, both serious and silly. How can you not!?

So at twenty years old, as the next generation of Native actors rises, Cody Lightning has, and will remain, steadfast through the years as one of Indian Country’s most talented actors.

*Listen to this multi-talented actor/entrepreneur/skater/comedian talk shop and answer the one question that intrigued me, what’s with the nickname Fluffy?