“Long Goodbyes was charming, funny & oozed a loving warmth. Would definitely see again!”
Emily Claire Afan, Writer / Contributor, Village Gamer and Orange Paperclip

“Wapos Bay: Long Goodbyes is a family friendly film that uses a creative and enhanced form of stop motion animation to tell the story of two kids whose father has accepted a political position that will mean relocating to the big city – and their ever more complicated attempts to prolong and pospone their farewells. While it has all of the hallmarks of the kind of well meaning children’s TV programming that the characters and storyline originally come from, including a ‘good citizen’ message, the clever script also features a few jokes just for the parents. The animation is seamless and slickly produced, with elaborately constructed sets.”
Anya Wassenberg, Writer / Reviewer, Arts & Culture Blog

“Wapos Bay has enjoyed six seasons of broadcast as an animated series. It has been a very positive experience for young aboriginal people to have themselves represented in television, as one audience member stated in the Q&A following the [world premiere at imagineNATIVE]. A child being able to self-identify with characters in the media is very important in identitying development and helps reaffirm self-worth. Many parents expressed their gratitude to the creators, cast and crew of the series.”
Tyler Hagan, Arts Correspondent, CBC

And check out the official trailer!

Can’t watch Sunday’s livestream? Watch the official trailer below to hold you over until the broadcast premiere on APTN! The national broadcast premiere is Saturday, Dec. 3 on APTN (8 p.m. ET on APTN HD and APTN East, 8 p.m. MT on APTN West, 8 p.m. CT on APTN North).

Make sure to watch for the eBooks, video game and episode downloads coming this fall.. And check out waposbay.com and waposbay.com/blog for all the latest news and updates from Wapos Bay!

Is sky diving on your bucket list?

And check out this Canada AM clip from today when producers Dennis and Melanie Jackson visited the studio to talk with Beverly Thomson and Seamus O’Regan about the end of Wapos Bay. Click here to watch!

Lorne Cardinal & Dennis Jackson

Beverly Thomson, Dennis Jackson, Melanie Jackson & Seamus O’Regan

The World Premiere & Stream

Wapos Bay: Long Goodbyes, based on the Gemini award-winning TV series, will have its world premiere at the prestigious imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto at its Closing Night Gala presented by Global Toronto. A co-production with the National Film Board of Canada, the movie was selected for the closing night of the Festival’s 12^th edition.

If you will be in the area or are interested in attending…
Sunday, Oct. 23 at 7:00pm
TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St W)

Tickets for the world premiere / imagineNATIVE are available in-person at the TIFF Bell Lightbox or Phoenix Concert Theatre, by calling the TIFF Box Office at 416-599-8433, or online at www.imaginenative.org.

Fans from around the world will also have the opportunity to be part of the premiere via the Closing Night Technical Partner IsumaTV and a free live streaming at www.isuma.tv/nfb. Creator / producers Dennis & Melanie Jackson, actors Andrea Menard (The Velvet Devil, Moccasin Flats) and Eric Jackson will be available for the Q & A following the screening, moderated by imagineNATIVE executive director Jason Ryle who will be taking questions from the floor and via Skype for the online viewers.

“It is humbling to have our Wapos Bay finale movie screened at imagineNATIVE because it is one of the premiere indigenous film festivals in the world,” said Dennis Jackson. “It is always an honour to be recognized by your peers whether other indigenous people, animators, filmmakers or friends. This screening will be a unique experience because fans can log in online and they don’t necessarily have to be here in Toronto to watch the premiere.”

The night will feature a special tribute to Wapos Bay cast member, the late Gordon Tootoosis (North of 60, Legends of the Fall). Announcements of the future of Wapos Bay will also be made on the night, including the launch of several digital media properties. Led by Brooke Burgess (writer, director & producer of Broken Saints), properties include a Mario kart racer – style video game, eBooks and episode downloads.

Other Festivals

The movie has also been selected to screen at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (Oct. 29), American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco (Nov. 5) and LA Skins Festival in Los Angeles (Nov. 16-20).

Broadcast Premiere on APTN

The national broadcast premiere for Wapos Bay: Long Goodbyes is Saturday, Dec. 3 on APTN (8 p.m. ET on APTN HD and APTN East, 8 p.m. MT on APTN West, 8 p.m. CT on APTN North).

Coming Soon!

Make sure to watch for the eBooks, video game and episode downloads coming this fall.. And check out waposbay.com and waposbay.com/blog for all the latest news and updates from Wapos Bay!

How are you raising a reader?

Photographer: Vanessa Neufeld @Vanessa Neufeld
Fashion Stylist and Dress Designer: Chelsey Gruza @chelseygruza
Accesories: Tonic- A Shop for Women @tonicsaskatoon
Hair: Amanda Dreis @chopchopsalonsk
Make-up: Jennilee Cardinal-Schultz @chopchopsalonsk
Models: Jennilee @jennileecs
Dragon: Wide Open Theatre
Special Thanks to Daniel Cote at Bricker’s Shoes who donated the paper for our paper bag dresses.

The power of the graphic novel can bring turn us all into comic book heroes.

Photographer: Kevin Greggain
Asst to Photographer: Dylan Greggain
Models: Katrina and sons
Katrina’s Hair: Keith Bastian @chopchopsalonsk
Sons’ hair: Sheila Morris @chopchopsalonsk
Make-up: Jennilee Cardinal-Schultz @chopchopsalonsk

Interact with e-books; just like a traditional children’s book, we can fall into the story in our imaginations.

Photographer: Naidu Photography
Adult Model: Bobby Henry from the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network
Models’ Hair: Sheila Morris @chopchopsalonsk
Models Make-up: Jennilee Cardinal-Schultz @chopchopsalonsk
Bobby’s outfit: @MintFashionCo

The Saskatchewan Literacy Network is celebrating Raise-a-Reader Day by embracing digital literacy. Today, the SLN is releasing the photo series Living What We Learn on its newly redesigned website. The photo series will also be shared on Facebook and Twitter to encourage the public to consider different forms of learning for families.

The Living What We Learn photo series reflects the donated time of a dozen local businesses dedicated to promoting family literacy. Three photos showcase forms of families learning together: Through an e-book and website, a graphic novel and a children’s book. The photo series will be shared online with the intention of sparking awareness of an emerging form of literacy – digital literacy.

“As our society moves toward using computers and digital technology in daily life, it is important for families to learn to use technology together. Just as books can be used for parents and children to interact and learn together, a computer game, a website, social media or an e-book can have similar applications,” Lisa Erickson of the SLN said.

Wapos Bay, the Gemini Award-winning children’s show, was the focus of one of the photos. Its website, www.waposbay.com, has interactive games and e-books that encourage families to learn together. Naidu Photography‘s photo of Bobby Henry from the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network depicts the way we can interact with e-books – just like a regular children’s book, we can fall into the story in our imaginations. Henry is wearing clothing donated by Mint Fashion Co, another supporter of literacy.

More traditional forms of literacy are depicted in the picture of Jennilee Cardinal-Schultz of Chop Chop Hair Salon. The photographer, Vanessa Neufeld, captured an imaginary scene inspired by a children’s book: The mother and daughter are living what they are learning from the story. The beautiful image is enhanced by a puppet dragon contributed by Wide Open Theatre and dresses designed by Chelsey Gruza.

The third photo depicts a less-recognized medium for reading – the power of the graphic novel. Kevin Greggain captured local producer Katrina German reading a graphic novel within a comic book setting.

All pictures are shared on the SLN’s website (www.sk.literacy.ca) and its Facebook page. People are encouraged to share the pictures on Twitter and Facebook to show their support for literacy and Raise-a-Reader.

HOW DO YOU RAISE-A-READER?

Just as technology has changed the face of communicating, it is also changing the way people learn and practise their literacy skills.

Today volunteers, literacy organizations, local businesses and the general public are encouraged to answer the question: “How do you raise a reader?” Through Twitter, the addition of the hashtag #RAR to the end of a tweet will start a conversation about literacy that will span across Canada.

“Twitter is a new way to share ideas and we want to share the Raise-a-Reader campaign with as many people as possible,” Erickson said.

Saskatoon Twitterer @katrinavision notes that “if every person adds the hashtag #RAR to their tweet, we should be able to get a very cool list of the ways that Canadians are interacting and learning with their kids.”

Leaders in social media, such as Darren Sproat (@ DarrenSproat) of Regina, who manages 40,000-plus Twitter followers and the popular blog Then Life Happens (http: //www.then lifehappens.com/), will be tweeting and blogging along with @katrinavision and several hundreds of volunteers across Canada.

Providing newspapers for a donation has long been the pillar of the Raise-a-Reader campaign. The 2011 social media Twitter campaign for Literacy will augment this time-honoured practice by offering volunteers and those interested in supporting literacy one more way to become involved. The social media campaign will promote online donations by sending Twitter followers to the main donation site at www.canada.com.

RAISING FUNDS FOR LITERACY

This special-edition of The StarPhoenix helps raise donations to Raise-a-Reader.

Raise-a-Reader raises money for northern Saskatchewan literacy and education organizations to help children get a good start in reading

Twenty-seven newspapers across Canada participate in Raise-a-Reader, raising $17 million for literacy programs since its launch in 2002.

© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

Read more:

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/literacy/raiseareader/Literacy+learning+goes+online/5468162/story.html#ixzz1ZM8AJroj

We’re proud to be part of the 10th annual Raise-a-Reader Day campaign on Wednesday, September 28, 2011. Their photo shoot was held at our animation studio! Last year the campaign raised $79,600 for literacy in Saskatoon. Check out their video and the Saskatchewan Literacy Network for more details!

Visit RaiseaReader.com to donate and for more information for communities across Canada!

Wapos Racerz, where the kids from Wapos Bay take their go-karts to the streets and trails, is nearly ready to rumble. The game is approaching its “Beta” stage of development, which means it’s a bit rough around the edges, but just about done. We’ve been working hard this year with the Wapos Bay Interactive team in bringing the characters and scenes of the series into the game world. As you race through the streets and back roads, the cast of character dot the town and countryside. Keep your eye out for cool little areas that make you want to slow down to look around. My fav spots are the drive-in theatre and the waterpark. On your tour through town, be sure to collect “Slushy Kitty” cups, grab a rabbit pickup to boost you to the front of the pack and avoid turtle pickups that will slow you down. There are even some hidden Easter Eggs for you keeners!

Courtesy Ericka Evans, Producer at Phantom Compass

This Master Class is a two-day seminar for industry professionals, students and enthusiasts. Demos and lectures organized with visuals, live-action and animated clips to give attendees the tools needed to create their own stories and quality animations.

At the end of Day 1, attendees will head to the Broadway Theatre for a private screening of the Wapos Bay movie: Long Goodbyes followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and a reception.

Tickets are $450 ($250 for students). Click here to register!