The Elements
- Studio
- Wapos Bay Productions, National Film Board of Canada
- Distributor
- National Film Board of Canada
Synopsis
The survival skills of Talon, T-Bear, Raven and Mushom are tested by an unexpected storm.
The children are helping Mushom (grandfather) set up a cultural camp so young people can learn traditional ways. Bad weather hits and the radio, generator and ATV break down. Mushom leaves the camp for help but has an accident along the way.
Left alone, the children have several mishaps- including accidentally blowing up their ATV- and abandon camp.
The family makes it home safely, but their journey to Elders Island teaches the children that taking shortcuts at any age is best avoided. T-Bear learns that his knowledge of electronics can come in handy in any situation.
The children are helping Mushom (grandfather) set up a cultural camp so young people can learn traditional ways. Bad weather hits and the radio, generator and ATV break down. Mushom leaves the camp for help but has an accident along the way.
Left alone, the children have several mishaps- including accidentally blowing up their ATV- and abandon camp.
The family makes it home safely, but their journey to Elders Island teaches the children that taking shortcuts at any age is best avoided. T-Bear learns that his knowledge of electronics can come in handy in any situation.
Characters
Ron McCrane, Raven, Jacob, T-Bear, Talon, Officer Musqua, Kohkum, Principal Steele, Kid, Don Redcherry, Mushom, Uncle Peter
Credits
Directing
- Director
- Melanie Jackson
- First Assistant Director
- Trevor Cameron
- Second Assistant Director
- Rick Stefanowski
Producing
- Producer
- Dennis Jackson, Melanie Jackson, Anand Ramayya, Derek Mazur
- Executive Producers (NFB)
- Graydon McCrea, Michael J.F. Scott
- Line Producer
- Ellen McEachern
- Producer Trainee
- Rick Stefanowski
Writing
- Writer
- Elizabeth Denny, Melanie Jackson
Animation
- Animator
- Gilbert Baldhead, Carll Machiskinic, Bentley Poochay, Justin Scales, Jordan Yaworski
- Key Animator
- Carll Machiskinic
Voices
- Voice
- Mervin Brass (Ron McCrane), Raven Brass (Raven), Lorne Cardinal (Jacob), Taylor Cook (T-Bear), Eric Jackson (Talon), Delvin Kennedy (Officer Musqua), Andrea Menard (Kohkum), Jody Peters (Principal Steele), Jennifer Prokop (Kid), DeRic Starlight (Don Redcherry), Gordon Tootoosis (Mushom), Tyrone Tootoosis (Uncle Peter)
Music
- Music
- Ross Nykiforuk
Editing
- Editor
- Jennifer Prokop
Crew
- Casting
- Tasha Hubbard
- Director of Photography
- Paul Suderman
- Production Design
- Gloria Stefanson
- Art Direction
- Jean-Marie Michaud, Barry Stefanson
- Post-Production Supervisor
- Torin Stefanson
- Seamstress
- Lesley Jabour
- Sound Mixer
- Ross Nykiforuk
- Visual Effects
- Jordan Miller, Tracy Westgard
- Key Grip
- Daniel Shingoose
- Grip
- Craig Olson
- Post-Production Intern
- Ron Suchoplas
- Cree Translators
- Kennetch Charlette, Lawrence Durocher
- Production Coordinator
- Linda Nemeth
- Production Supervisor (NFB)
- Scott Collins
- Production Assistants (NFB)
- Melanie Coad, Monique Perron, Rolande Petit
- Program Administrator (NFB)
- Cyndi Forcand
- Business Affairs Coordinator (NFB)
- Faye Yoneda
- Production Consultant
- Torin Stefanson
- Background Photographer
- Dennis Jackson
- Still Photographer
- Shaun Salen
- Character Design
- Carll Machiskinic, Bentley Poochay
- Character Sculpture
- Carll Machiskinic, Bentley Poochay
- Bookkeeper
- Valentyna Mahina
- Dialogue Timing
- Justin Scales
- Work-Ed Student
- Cynthia Walker
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."
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."