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JUNE 10, 2017: CANADA'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY, WILDLIFE FILMMAKER MATT PAPROSKI IS APPEARING WITH WOLVES
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”.
(September 16-24, 2017)
Thompson, Manitoba, Canada:
“Who would have thought wolves Timber and Aurora, rescued as pups from being prey on a captive game hunting farm, would on their journey through life end up as global ambassadors for Thompson, Manitoba, the Wolf Capital of the World?” asks filmmaker Matthew Todd Paproski of Wildlife Wranglers Productions. He says: “Three years ago we became aware of community-based group, Spirit Way Inc. in Thompson, Manitoba with a bold plan to be Wolf Capital of the World
and are pleased they are now working with us. Working with Spirit Way allows us to finish filming the recent adventure of our lives as Wildlife Wranglers that involved ten long, hard years of raising wolves. Thompson provides a perfect ending where the wolves end up howling with civic and aboriginal leaders.”
Marion Morberg, President of Spirit Way Inc. says “This is a perfect time to have wolves appear as guests in Thompson. They will be introduced to residents and visitors and help educate the public about the importance of this apex predator in the wilderness, its essential role in a balanced ecosystem and why wolves need not to be feared or maligned. This is an ideal wildlife story that can be told to the world. We foresee benefits for the animals and a legacy for the community”.
Thompson is in northern Manitoba and surrounded by vast pristine boreal forest with a vibrant wolf population. The city is the gateway for many wildlife visitors and researchers from around the globe who stream to Churchill, Manitoba, known as the Polar Bear
and Beluga Whale Capital of the World. With all the controversial issues in the news such as wolf culling in western Canada and the USA, it makes educational and marketing sense to film a story of rescued wolves on a journey to appear at new sanctuary in Thompson, “Aurora and Timber will become Thompson’s ambassadors in the conservation world,” commented Paproski. “Our wolves will also greatly enjoy exploring the new wolf habitat at the Boreal Discovery Centre, with its natural spaces and features that meet international standards”.
Morberg states, “So far Spirit Way Inc. has raised over $1 million for a variety of wolf initiatives, such as school education projects, the world’s largest lighted mural of a Robert Bateman wolf painting, 49 wolf statues painted by artists used in a province-wide “GPS Wolf Hunt” and other projects. Our focus now is to create a Wolf Centre of Excellence
with a vision of best practices in all things wolf. Our organization is excited about the synergy created working with Matthew who offers things that benefit our education and research programs. We are confident in his experience as entrepreneur, wildlife filmmaker and wrangler”.
Matthew Todd Paproski is a respected filmmaker of TV specials Fire Attack
with host William Shatner and Cougar Crossings
with music by David Bowie; host of TV series Wildlife Wranglers
in Canada, Europe, Russia, Africa, Israel and the Middle East; and head of Starland Studios in Drumheller, Alberta.
For information, please contact:
Volker Beckmann, Project Director, Spirit Way Inc., 162 Princeton Dr., Thompson, MB. R8N 2A4 www.thompsonspiritway.ca Email: thompsonspiritway@gmail.com Phone: 204-778-7434
Unveiling is at socially distanced special event 8pm, Wednesday, September 2, 2020- at the Royal Canadian Legion in Drumheller…
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.
Dedicated to the Humboldt Broncos and Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and supporting #strazstrong efforts for survivor Ryan Straschnitzki
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…
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.
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.
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.
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
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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