By Farah Qureshi
Welcome to NYWIFT, Sun Roller!
Sun Roller is a Chickasaw creative and producer raised in Oklahoma and based in New York City. With a career spanning production design, art direction, project management, and large-scale leadership, Sun Roller brings a deeply intentional, intuitive approach to every project she touches—grounded in spirituality, connection to nature, and collaboration.
Sun Roller has worked across film and television on projects including Reservation Dogs, I Saw the TV Glow, Poker Face and The Lowdown. In recent years, she has expanded her work into producing, with a focus on Indigenous-led stories and community-centered narratives.
When she’s not on set or behind a computer, Sun Roller can often be found outdoors soaking up the Sun and enjoying time in nature with her elder pup, Wrigley, and her partner, Annie H.
In our interview, Sun Roller reflects on her path into film and television, building a career across male-dominated industries, and the stories she’s most excited to bring to the screen next.
NYWIFT Member Sun Roller
Welcome to NYWIFT! Could you give our readers a brief introduction to yourself?
My name is Sun Roller, like rolling with the Sun. It’s one sound. A vibration. I’ve been fortunate to work in the arts for about a decade after a long career in oil and gas in Oklahoma. I enjoy wearing many hats and driving projects forward.
What brought you to NYWIFT?
[Board Members] Yvonne Russo and Audrey Roseberg encouraged me to join, mentioning NYWIFT was one of the best organizations for a New York woman in our field for connection, community and support. It was an easy decision to sign up and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be in this community.
What initially drew you to production design and art direction, and how did your journey into the film and television industry begin?
I fell into film and television during the pandemic. I had moved to New York City as a producer of live large scale events across the globe. New York was a home base and once COVID hit, in person events were not an option for the unforeseeable future. I reached out to a friend while looking for work and she connected me with an art coordinator for commercials here in New York.
My first job was a Super Bowl commercial for E-Trade filming in Montclair, New Jersey. After many commercials and an HBO show, I was given the opportunity to art coordinate for Reservation Dogs in 2022.
I’m a producer at heart, so in 2025, I started producing my first documentary about a food revolution featuring Indigenous chef Sean Sherman. I’m producing a short film in January and a feature in the fall about Indigenous stories in Oklahoma and the Choctaw Nation.
NYWIFT Member Sun Roller
What has it been like navigating a predominantly male industry, and what advice or insights would you offer to emerging creatives navigating similar paths?
Being a female in a male-dominated film world isn’t my first rodeo. I was a female crew chief land manager in oil and gas for over a decade. The only female in my role, I worked on projects from Oklahoma to Pennsylvania.
The key is knowing your role and being confident in your skillset. I don’t often ask for permission, but rather take bold steps in the direction of what is for the highest and greatest good of the project/team and trust that if I’m standing in my truth and alignment, more times than not, it will work out.
I think where women get it wrong in male-dominated fields, is they feel like they need permission to be there. If we have the chops, we should use them — and without apology.
NYWIFT Member Sun Roller
What has been the most fulfilling project you’ve worked on so far, and what made it special for you?
Hands down, Reservation Dogs has been a career highlight. I knew in the moment it was special and that it was finite. We had several good years together as a tight (mostly Indigenous) crew and that show changed the landscape and narrative of Indigenous excellence in film and television. It gave every day natives a chance to see themselves on screen, without being stereotyped. It also covered really challenging topics with grace and humor.
What kinds of stories or projects are you most excited to explore next?
I always feel honored when relatives from Indian country ask me to support or drive their projects. The two films I’m producing this year are near and dear to my heart. It feels important to share Indigenous stories from OUR perspective because the white men have been doing it for a hundred years and it’s been unbelievably harmful to our community. So to right those wrongs feels important.
Learn more about Sun Roller’s work on Instagram at @sun.roller and her website www.sunroller.org.
(All images courtesy of Sun Roller)
Farah Qureshi
Farah Qureshi is an intern at NYWIFT with a background in public relations, event coordination, and journalism. She holds a Master’s degree in Media, Culture, and Communication from New York University, where she also served as Co-Director and Head of Programming at the Fusion Film Festival. She is passionate about advancing diversity and inclusivity in media and leveraging innovative storytelling to drive meaningful cultural and social impact across the industry.
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