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SEPTEMBER 2, 2020: UNPRECEDENTED E-COMMERCE SITE www.starlandstudios.com LAUNCHING & PROMOTING DRUMHELLER, ALBERTA AND THE CANADIAN FILM INDUSTRY!

Unveiling is at socially distanced special event 8pm, Wednesday, September 2, 2020- at the Royal Canadian Legion in Drumheller…

Drumheller, Alberta, Canada: President of Starland Studios Matthew Todd Paproski announces “After months of intense design, editing photographs and text, and construction, Starland Studios is finally launching its new e-commerce site online. After several years of seeking the right people, we have found the location owners, service providers and suppliers to be our infrastructure based in Drumheller Valley and servicing the surrounding Badlands”. 

“Timing actually could not be better. There is a backlog of films to be finished from when the pandemic shut the industry down and streamers have full wallets from binge viewers creating a huge demand for new content. As well, Canada is reopening allowing film production faster than the US and elsewhere as the pandemic unfolds, luring projects here. We just need to get more incentives from the provincial government, and we could boom like BC, Ontario and Manitoba.”

“Drumheller is one of the top filming locations in the province with hundreds of credits ranging from movies, TV shows, web series and commercials to corporate and music videos. Our main goal is to be the gateway and hub for the region providing producer, production management and services to visiting Canadian and international filmmakers. We will also continue producing and distributing our own content, including our Wildlife Wranglers and feature film projects.”

This innovative website was built with Brian and Nicole Yanish of local highly regarded web company MarketingHits. Brian says “We are excited that after several years of discussions with us, Starland Studios is providing a much-needed economic development resource for our region. We have utilized as many current internet tools as possible and integrated them into the website to make it more a marketing and revenue generating engine than a just a promotional platform”. 

Starland’s Directory of service providers and suppliers includes: MarketingHits, Jon Sheppard Media, Prairie Sky Productions, The Tickle Trunk, The Paint Store, Party Equipment Rentals, Drumheller Equipment Rentals, Hoodoo Voodoo Motorsports, actor Lothar Malmberg, and locations of the Dan McDermid, Neil Clark, David Stanger and Wanda McCann families.

Recently, Drumheller was a location for Ghostbusters, Fortunate Son, Into the Dark, Lost in Space, Wynonna Earp, Tin Star, Alpha, The Revenant, Seventh Son, Fargo, Hell on Wheels, and in past music videos for Merkules, Road Hammers, Tom Cochrane, Glass Tiger and more.

Matthew Todd Paproski is filmmaker and director of global TV specials Fire Attack with host William Shatner, Cougar Crossings with music by David Bowie, and First Response; host of TV series Wildlife Wranglers airing in Canada, Europe, Russia, Africa, Israel and the Middle East; and is founder of Starland Studios- a full service production and distribution company.

For information, please contact: Starland Studios
 Email: office@starlandstudios.com Phone: 403-334-1450
By Brian Yanish 12 Sep, 2018
Of the thousands of minutes of film judged, ‘Universe’ to be featured in 90 Minutes “selected” to be screened at Red-Carpet Gala on October 13.   ‘Universe’ was made in tribute to the Humboldt Broncos hockey team.
By Brian Yanish 11 Jun, 2018
Dedicated to the Humboldt Broncos and Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and supporting #strazstrong efforts for survivor Ryan Straschnitzki
By Brian Yanish 23 Apr, 2018
Appear 8pm, May 4 at Newcastle Pub in Drumheller and 3pm, May 5 at SpringFest in East Coulee. Launch of 6th album, Only Up From Here by singers Natashia and Alexandria Moodie (with writer Chris Burke-Gafney) being independently distributed by producer Starland Studios via CDbaby to Spotify, Itunes, Amazon…
By Brian Yanish 16 Nov, 2017
Please watch: Mahekan available on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/477262990 It shares we are “stronger together than apart” and could not come at a better time in our divisive society. Manitoba Grand Chief Arlen Dumas and real timber wolves make cameo appearances.
By Brian Yanish 06 Oct, 2017
Huge success filming ‘How Will Wolves Survive?’ as wolves Timber and Aurora sell out tours, help smash Guinness Record for ‘Most People Wolf Howling’ and appear in ‘Mahekan’ music video with Moody x 2.
By Brian Yanish 13 Sep, 2017
Animal actors Timber and Aurora filming ‘How Will Wolves Survive?’ in western Canada with wildlife filmmaker Matthew Todd Paproski.  It documents the journey of two rescued wolves going to Aurorafest & being ambassadors for The World Wolf Capital - Thompson, Manitoba.
By Brian Yanish 10 Jun, 2017
For Canada’s 150th anniversary, wildlife filmmaker Matt Paproski is appearing with wolves: ‘Timber’ as mascot of Thompson, Manitoba, “Wolf Capital of the World”; and ‘Aurora’, as guest of honor at their “Aurorafest: Celebrating Canada’s Wilderness and Wildlife”.
By Brian Yanish 07 Feb, 2017
For those interested in being an actor or performer, working behind the scenes or providing services for the film industry.  ‘Making Drumheller film friendly!’ free all-ages speaker panel.   7 pm, Thur., Feb. 16th, Canadian Legion, 295 Centre st., Drumheller.   Speakers: Jolayne Motiuk (Calgary Film Commission), Tina Alford (ACTRA/CSIF), Damian Petti (IATSE INT’L) and other special guests…  Drumheller, Alberta, Canada: Matthew Todd Paproski, the President of Starland Studios, says “we are happy to present a free initial public information session oriented to educating residents on ‘Making Drumheller Film Friendly’ and work opportunities in the booming media industries.    We based Starland Studios in Drumheller because it is one of the top film locations in Canada and to provide infrastructure, technical expertise and a pool of talent for producers coming here. To get things rolling, we have invited high-level contacts to speak to the Badlands community”.   Jolayne Motiuk (Calgary Film Commission Representative), will discuss how the building of a new state-of-the-art Calgary Film Centre and advent of new government initiatives geared for the digital media and tourism industries make it good timing for Drumheller to position itself in the market. Drumheller has unique world-class topography and may also double for many places.  Tina Alford (Branch Representative, ACTRA Alberta; President, Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers) will share information on how to be a professional actor, stunt person or filmmaker. Keeping in mind the levels range from no and low budget to medium and big budget, she assists talent in getting jobs, training, agents and casting, as well as filmmakers seeking qualified talent.  Damian Petti (President IATSE Local 212 Calgary; Int’l Vice-President IATSE Canada) will reveal that it looks like an exciting year for communities with good highways near Calgary as union studio zones were recently extended further from city limits. It now makes more economic sense and is safer to go to locations like Drumheller, by commuting or staying at local lodgings. (IATSE is huge global union representing large percentage of vital technical jobs on and off set)  Paproski says “With the ongoing volatility of our resource-based economy, it is more important than ever to now learn new vocations and work with businesses in entertainment and technology, whether performing, doing work behind camera ranging from artist or technician to carpenter or truck driver, or off set providing services related to locations, accommodations or restaurants.”  “Not only may film production result in millions for a community like the Town of Beiseker now hosting the filming of Fargo, Season Three, starring Ewan McGregor, it also has a direct positive effect on tourism. It lures visitors to locations like the Badlands and provides even more jobs. The Lord of the Rings increased visitors to New Zealand by 50% and triggered a multi-billion-dollar economy and now growth in the British Columbia film industry is reflecting a similar situation.”  Paproski has been a military officer, firefighter, actor, journalist, filmmaker and entrepreneur. Now based in Drumheller, Alberta, he operates Starland Studios, producing its own projects and providing media services for clients, and Construction Productions, a commercial contractor.  For Info: Phone: (403)334-2530, Email: office@starlandstudios.com , Facebook page: Starland Studios
By Brian Yanish 14 Dec, 2016
WOW! A deer stuck in ice. Was trying to have a rare nap on a weekend afternoon and a facebook post I was following was bothering me. I kept checking my phone. Before resting I saw a post by a neighbor about a deer that was stuck in ice on the Red Deer River we live on. Being an ex-firefighter and feeling empathetic to a living-being suffering and near death and knowing I could do something about it made me respond instinctively. I filled my truck with canoe, sled, ropes, harnesses, hip waders and a life jacket. I asked Laura to come for safety and as an after-thought she brought her camera. For bread and butter we are construction contractors but are also passionate wildlife filmmakers that have been saving animals. We want to inspire others to care for animals in distress. While helping out, Laura managed to get footage of the deer rescue. It was scary but the right thing to do. We never would have attempted this if we did not have the training and abilities to succeed and do not encourage those that do not have experience. Upon arrival at the scene anonymous neighbors helped us as I went down a steep bank. I had to go on thin ice to try and get close to the old doe but she tried to get away. I had to circle around behind her and get in the river myself to coax her toward shore. I tried lifting her out but she was weak and heavy. I wrapped a rope around her and with help from the shore pulling and me pushing at the same time, we got her out of the ice. It was an incredibly rewarding feeling to work with our neighbors to save the life of this animal. In a world where wildlife is being eradicated at an unprecedented and apocalyptic rate, we are motivated to use social media to increase our awareness of this environmental crisis. We need all species to survive! To this end we have produced a TV series called Wildlife Wranglers and short films about animals, please check out the videos on this page or on our website www.starlandstudios.com and support our work. Please Like, Comment and Share this Page to inspire other people to care about wildlife and each other…
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