JESSICA BIEL BONDS WITH NATIVE AMERICANS

Jessica Biel plays a teacher to Native American Indians who falls in love with precog Nicolas Cage in Next.

Through the help of Cage’s influence the film was shot for the first time on an actual Indian reservation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon which didn’t have all the accoutrements available to movie stars like Biel and Cage so Jessica says they had to rough it.

“It was really hot and sort of primitive in a way which kind of was the most wonderful thing about it. You were staying in tents and very simple lodgings and bringing supplies in and just enjoying being around nature. It was a really special experience. We did shoot a bit on part of the trail and we did have some horses and donkeys going up and down but I didn’t get to actually the full trail on a donkey, no.”

Jessica says the experience of spending time with the tribe left a lasting impression on her.

“It was nice to be able to bring a little bit of an awareness to a community of people that don’t have a lot of outside influences; don’t have a lot of supplies or fresh food or equal school environment for kids even so it was really wonderful to sort of bring some attention and some awareness to them, and fun. To meet them and understand what their life is like in this incredibly remote but incredibly beautiful place.”

Unfortunately Jessica missed out on the thank you dance from the 11 year-old tribal princess as she had to be helicoptered out for a different scene. Next for Jessica is the comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.