“We feel that (Oklahoma) is a very appropriate place to unveil the film because this is Native American country,” Mueller said.

Appropriate indeed, because the film — which premieres at 5 p.m. today at the Kerr Auditorium — promotes awareness of the little-known movement that eventually secured a better future for American Indians everywhere.

Produced in just over two years, “A Good Day To Die” combines archival footage with interviews documenting both the rise of the American Indian Movement (A.I.M.) and the life of Banks, its co-founder and leader.

“It’s a history that hasn’t been told and desperately needs to be told,” Mueller said.

Now retired and living in Okmulgee, the film’s associate producer, Bob Hicks, is of Creek and Seminole heritage and one such beneficiary of Banks’ hard work.

“I wanted to make a contribution in the sense that everything that I saw on the screen dealing with Native Americans was always being played by non-Indians,” Hicks said.

“I thought rather than griping about it, I should learn how to make the movies and make a movie about it.”

Originally from Okemah, Hicks traveled to Los Angeles in 1979 and received a degree from the American Film Institute.

Mueller said that Hicks’ 25-minute student film “Return of the Country” pushed the envelope in filmmaking.

“Bob’s film was an inspiration to me and Lynn, too, because it really broke ground,” Mueller said.

“It was a very progressive perspective at the time. I think it’s a very important film that will be recognized in the future.”

Salt is a 30-year veteran of the movie industry. “A Good Day To Die” is the product of her passions for recording history and championing American Indians in the arts.

She originally wrote the script intending for it to be a feature film, but after meeting with Banks, it was decided to turn it into a documentary.

The trio hopes the film educates the public about a neglected chapter in American history and the figure at the center of it, Banks, whom Salt compares to Martin Luther King Jr.

“He was the most significant figure in starting the American Indian Movement and I don’t think people know that,” Mueller said. “He’s a remarkable human being with a heroic story.”

Saturday he’ll be piloting one. And not just any one.

Rick Goodman, graduate of Del City in 1993, flies the number 5 plane for the Thunderbirds. On Thursday June, 15 2010 The Thunderbirds scouted the area of Tinker Air Force Base during the media preview day. Photo by Mitchell Alcala, The Oklahoman

Maj. Goodman will command an F-16 Fighting Falcon as it maneuvers through the air with the rest of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the headlining activity at Tinker’s Star Spangled Salute Air Show.

“It’s like riding a roller coaster, except three times as powerful,” Goodman said of the force generated by the fighter’s acrobatic power — about nine times the pull of Earth’s gravity.

The Thunderbirds are at the top of the bill for Saturday’s air show, which boasts six hours of flying activities in addition to showings of static craft, ground entertainment and a fireworks show.

Goodman graduated from Del City in 1993 and said the decision to attend the Air Force Academy was heavily influenced by the time he spent at Tinker, where his father served as an Air Force chaplain from 1989 to 1993.

“I spent a lot of time on the base,” Goodman said. “I loved it growing up and so I decided that this was something I wanted to do.”

Now Goodman has returned to Oklahoma as an ambassador of the U.S. Air Force, a Thunderbird pilot.

He looks the part, too, all 6 feet, 3 inches of him, from his dark blue beret and clean-shaven chin down to the shine on his black, government-issue boots. “I’ve worn them so much, they’re about as comfortable as a pair of slippers,” he said.

Goodman has flown in England, Turkey and Kuwait for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was plucked from a position teaching pilots at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas to become a Thunderbird pilot, traveling the country to both perform and educate the public about the field of aeronautics.

Admission and parking is free for the air show, which runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s our way of saying thanks to the community for all their tremendous support over the years, so we have an open house. We invite people out and say ‘Hey, come on and see what your Air Force does,’” said Ron Mullan, chief of media operations at the base.

Tinker public affairs officials said plenty of free water will be available for patrons of the show, but visitors should remember to bring sun protection and chairs to carry around, because of the immense size of the base and a lack of seating.

PRYOR — The fourth-annual Rocklahoma music festival proved that sunscreen and going shirtless are as much a part of the rock ‘n’ roll experience as a band cranking its guitar amps to 11.

Braving the scorching sun, Three Days Grace and Godsmack joined 15 other “heavy rock” bands inside a 400-acre outdoor venue on Friday.

And they brought friends.

Heather Clark, of Alva, Okla, listens to Janus perform during Rocklahoma Friday, May 28, 2010, in Pryor, Okla. Photo by Miranda Grubbs, The Oklahoman

The town’s population will swell thanks to camping opportunities and headliners ZZ Top and Tesla playing today and Sunday.

But the Memorial Day weekend festival drew more than beer tents and diamond-studded belts to Pryor.

Rocklahoma was established in 2007 as an exhibition strictly for ’80s “hair metal” acts, but promoters expanded the line-up this year to include rock genres from the past four decades.

Former Warner resident Jerry Jones drove 920 miles from Deming, N.M., and said he enjoyed the festival changes.

“They’re gonna have to keep doing that to keep the younger generation sucking in,” he said. “That’ll keep it alive for a long time.”

Jennifer Smith, of Oklahoma City, grew up with ’80s “hair metal” bands.

“We like the newer bands too,” Smith said. “It brings kind of a younger crowd, which is fine if you’re over 21, but I left my kids at home for a reason.”

But Anna Shorey of Cleveland, OK, didn’t. Shorey said she woke her son at 6 a.m. to be the first waiting outside the chained Rocklahoma entrance alongside dozens of eager fans.

First on the main stage was Las Vegas native Adelita’s Way. The quartet has toured with Three Days Grace and shared festival bills with many Rocklahoma acts.

Janus drummer Johnny Salazar, performs during Rocklahoma Friday, May 28, 2010, in Pryor, Okla. Photo by Miranda Grubbs, The Oklahoman

“It’s been a day of hanging out with our friends,” said lead singer Rick DeJesus. “It’s a good experience, a lot of good people and diehard fans. It’s fun.”

Adelita’s Way didn’t have any trouble filling the massive main stage with its heavy alternative rock, prompting cheers from a horde of sweaty fans. And neither did Buckcherry, who proudly blared songs that would need several bleeps for radio play.

Texas band Black Tora got a second chance Friday to play Rocklahoma because in 2008 storms wrecked its stage. Lead singer Chris Daniel wasn’t afraid to channel ’80s rockers and tossed his shirt at listeners before finishing his set.

Pryor Mayor Jimmy Tramel said he expects rowdy behavior from crowds but welcomes Rocklahoma patrons.

“I’m going out there to have a good time,” Tramel said. “People around here are not used to seeing some of the (tattoo) ink all over them, earrings with the long hairdos and stuff like that.

“For the most part, we look at them say ‘This is Rocklahoma weekend.’ That’s what we do.”