MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Dark Thunder Productions, the National Film Board of Canada and Aboriginal Peoples Television Network present:

Wapos Bay - There’s No ‘I’ in Hockey,
a stop-motion animation children’s series produced in Saskatoon, SK

Animated children’s series stars Gordon Tootoosis (Legends of the Fall) and Saskatoon’s Andrea Menard (Moccasin Flats, Velvet Devil).

May 3, 2005 (Saskatoon, SK. Canada) – Saskatoon based production company Dark Thunder Productions in co-production with the National Film Board of Canada has completed this unique stop-motion animated program that will be broadcast nationally on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). Directed by Saskatchewan based filmmaker Dennis Jackson, the pilot episode “There’s No “I” In Hockey”, completed 43 days of production on February 4th 2005.

Dark Thunder Productions plans to hold a press screening of the film for cast and crew at the Broadway Theatre on Saturday May 7, 2005 at 3 pm. Cast that will be in attendance include Gordon Tootoosis, Andrea Menard, Tyrone Tootoosis and Krystle Pederson, along with young, up and coming actors. The producers and actors will also be available for interviews at the screening.

The airdate for this unique production is set for May 14, 2005 at 4:30 pm CST on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. This one of a kind, half-hour, stop-motion series pilot focuses on three Aboriginal children as they learn about teamwork and cooperation from their grandparents in the fictional northern community of Wapos Bay. The producers plan to start production on the series in the winter of 2005.

Gordon Tootoosis (Legends of the Fall) voices the wise and good-humored grandfather Mushom. Andrea Menard (Moccasin Flats) voices the patient, kind grandmother, Kohkum. Saskatoon based newcomers Eric Jackson and Taylor Cook play the calm, team player Talon and the rambunctious, independent spirited T-Bear. The innocent, playful and spunky Raven is played by emerging talent Raven Brass, and the character Melanie is voiced by Krystle Pederson (Strength of Spirit, SNTC Theatre Productions).

Wapos Bay – There’s No “I” In Hockey is produced by Dennis and Melanie Jackson, Anand Ramayya and Michael Scott (NFB). Executive Producers include Graydon McCrea for the National Film Board of Canada and Bob Crowe of Angel Entertainment. The production will be distributed internationally by the National Film Board of Canada.

A Wapos Bay Productions Inc. and National Film Board of Canada Co-production

For more information on Wapos Bay, please contact:
Dennis Jackson
Wapos Bay Productions Inc.
Telephone: (306) 652-9333 x14 Cell: (306) 384-3412

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