Wapos Bay: The Series image

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2009 (estimated) TV Episode Wapos Bay: The Series

Studio
Wapos Bay Productions, National Film Board of Canada
Distributor
National Film Board of Canada

Synopsis

Talon, T-Bear and Devon are bored and want to go to the beach along the river to swim, but Mushom becomes ill and cannot take them. Uncle Peter decides to help the boys, but they have to collect the fish from the nets first. Raven goes on a girls' summer camp and gets caught up in the gossip about her friend Amber. More and more chores and tasks arise before they can go swimming, which frustrates Talon, T-Bear and Devon. Raven begins to feel uncomfortable when Amber finds out. Things become worse and worse when they try to finally go swimming. Raven must decide who to believe in all the rumors and gossip. The ensuing adventure makes Talon, T-Bear and Devon realize that spending time with Uncle Peter was more enjoyable than if they had just gone swimming.

Characters

Mushom, Jacob, Sarah, T-Bear, Raven, Pitsi, Talon, Lyne, Devon, Dr. Wilson, Amber

Credits

Directing

Director
Melanie Jackson
First Assistant Director
Trevor Cameron
Second Assistant Director
Jason Bohn

Producing

Producer
Dennis Jackson, Melanie Jackson, Anand Ramayya, Derek Mazur
Executive Producer
Derek Mazur
Associate Producers
Rick Stefanowski, Scott Collins

Writing

Writer
Melanie Jackson
Story Editor
Dennis Jackson

Voices

Voice
Gordon Tootoosis (Mushom), Lorne Cardinal (Jacob), Andrea Menard (Sarah), Taylor Cook (T-Bear), Raven Brass (Raven), Jennifer Prokop (Pitsi), Eric Jackson (Talon), Sarah Armstrong (Lyne), DeRic Starlight (Devon), Lee Wilson (Dr. Wilson), Diana Gossner (Amber)

Music

Music
Ross Nykiforuk

Animation

Animation Supervisor
Cam Lizotte
Animator
Gilbert Baldhead, Stacy Kulyk, Carll Machiskinic, Bentley Poochay, Justin Scales
Lead Animator
Andrew Doll
Senior Animator
Diana Gossner
Junior Animators
Devon Loiselle, Shane Molloy
Additional Animators
Lisa Lorenzo, Kelly Morrison, Curtis Witt
Animation Consultant
C.A. Pounds
Rigging
John Butler
Lighting Equipment
Andrew Gordon, George Hupka

Art Department

Art Director
Diana Savage
Storyboard Artists
Gilbert Baldhead, Andrew Doll
Character Design
Carll Machiskinic, Bentley Poochay
Costume Design
Amalie Atkins
Armature Design
Paul Atkins
Art Department Assistant
Diana Gossner
Art Department Production Assistant
Brandi Hattum
Storyboard Supervisor
Cam Lizotte

Visual Effects

Lead Visual Effects
Alina Pete

Camera

Director of Photography
Alan Poon
Gaffer
Craig Olson
Grip
Aaron Jackson
Additional Grip
Dwayne Turta
Grip Equipment
Andrew Gordon, George Hupka

Editing

Editor
Jennifer Prokop
On-Line Editors
Denis Gathelier, Françoise Laprise

Sound

Re-Recording Mixer
Evan Rust
Audio Post Supervisor
Ross Nykiforuk
Foley
Daryl Pierce, Randy Woods
Sound Effects
Daryl Pierce, Randy Woods

Production Management

Production Manager
Ellen McEachern
Production Supervisor
Scott Collins
Post-Production Supervisor
Torin Stefanson
Production Coordinator
Linda Nemeth
Post-Production Assistant
Teri Armitage
Production Accountant
Linda Nemeth
Production Assistants
Tatyanna Elash, Rolande Petit

Crew

Series Creators
Dennis Jackson, Melanie Jackson
Production Consultant
Torin Stefanson
Character Sculpture
Carll Machiskinic, Bentley Poochay
Set Construction
Clayton Malinski
Shop Consultant
Ted Heeley
Armature Construction
Paul Atkins
Silicone Caster
Allison Track
Mould Maker
Stacia Verigin
Plastic Caster
Stacia Verigin
File Processing
Elmer Estillore
Scanner
Sheena Lizotte
Bookkeeper
Linda Nemeth
Program Administrator
Cyndi Forcand

Companies and other credits

  • Mix Facility: Talking Dog Studios
  • On-Line Facility: National Film Board of Canada
  • Audio Post Facility: Cosmic Pad Studios
  • Production Insurance: Multimedia Risk Inc

Production notes

The kids of Wapos Bay love adventure.

And their playground is a vast area that's been home to their Cree ancestors for millennia: northern Saskatchewan.

Ten-year-old T-Bear, 9-year-old Talon and 6-year-old Raven star in Wapos Bay, a light-hearted stop-motion animation series about growing up in a remote Cree community. In Wapos Bay, modern life and ancient traditions meet. Hunting and gathering, dog sledding and shimmering northern lights are part of every day, but so are video games, TV and cell phones. Guided by elders, extended family and their own insatiable curiosity, the three children learn how to balance traditional ways with newer ones. Their discoveries unfold against the backdrop of northern Saskatchewan's varied seasons - winter, spring thaw, spring, summer, fall and freeze-up.

As they explore the world around them, the three children acquire some valuable lessons about respect, cooperation, honesty and tolerance. And of course, they also teach the adults a few things.

Aboriginal filmmakers Dennis and Melanie Jackson's exquisite characters come alive with the voices of well-known Aboriginal performers such as Gordon Tootoosis (North of 60, Legends of the Fall), Andrea Menard (The Velvet Devil) and Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas). Wapos Bay is a fascinating and often humorous portrait of a northern Aboriginal community from the perspective of its children.

Budgeted at an estimated $1.3 million Canadian.

Alternate title of series: "Wapos Bay."