Megan Folden

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Regina, Saskatchewan 

February 27, 2024 

 

Cameras Set to Roll: Double Feature Film Productions in Waskesiu 

Saskatchewan-based Trilight Entertainment along with Barbershop Films have begun filming two feature films in Waskesiu, resulting in $1.4 million in positive economic impacts to the province. These productions are made possible through the support of Creative Saskatchewan and financing from Executive Producer Daniel Ford Beavis along with Trilight and Barbershop. 

“As the province’s burgeoning film industry gains momentum, the Government of Saskatchewan is proud to continue contributing to its growth,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said. “This marks yet another milestone for Saskatchewan’s film sector while also highlighting the richness and diversity of Saskatchewan’s cinematic potential.”  

“Creative Saskatchewan is committed to fostering economic growth in Saskatchewan.” says Erin Dean, CEO of Creative Saskatchewan. “These productions contribute to the local economy and result in job creation and increased tourism.”  

“It’s our honor to bring compelling narratives to life against the picturesque backdrop of northern Saskatchewan,” says Jessica Watch, Vice-President of Trilight Entertainment. “This will be the fourth and fifth production we have done in the province over the last 18 months, and we are very thankful for the support of the Creative Saskatchewan Production grant. We feel this incentive is the best in Canada!” 

About the Films:  

Gifts of Christmas – A confident and hardworking proprietor faces financial struggles and the potential sale of her family’s legacy. However, when a guest with a shared history and a forensic accountant arrives at the resort, they uncover fraudulent activities and work together to save the property. As they navigate challenges and rediscover their connection, they experience the true meaning of the holiday season. Starring Teagan Vincze, Clayton James and Brenna Coates. Produced by Trilight’s Shayne Putzlocher and Jessica Watch and Barbershop’s Jeremy Drummond, executive produced by Daniel Ford Beavis and Kimberley Cardina, written by Carey Tufts and directed by Jeremy Drummond.  

Escape the Lodge – In the remote mountains of Colorado, Lee Hughes readies the resort he oversees in the off-season for the arrival of his estranged daughter, Megan. Upon arrival, Megan and her girlfriend discover men from her father’s past have tracked Lee down in search of cash he made off with after a heist years prior. With Lee dead, Megan and Lane’s badly timed weekend throw them into a cat and mouse chase in an empty lodge and miles from help. Starring Chloe McClay, Emma Newton, Saskatchewan’s Leo Fafard, Thomas Perras, Kent Allen and Daniel Ford Beavis. Produced by Trilight’s Shayne Putzlocher and Jessica Watch, Barbershop’s Jeremy Drummond, executive produced by Daniel Ford Beavis and Kimberley Cardina, written by Nicole Field, and directed by Jeremy Drummond. Both films are being distributed through Trilight’s distribution subsidiary Trilight International. 

-30- 

About Creative Saskatchewan 

Creative Saskatchewan is the economic development agency for Saskatchewan’s creative industries and the official film commission for the province. The agency’s investments propel creative entrepreneurs as they create, perform, innovate, and export in their pursuit of commercial success. 

For more information please contact: 

Megan Folden, Manager of Marketing and Communications, Creative Saskatchewan 

O: (306) 798-2191 | C: (306) 529-7377 | megan.folden@creativesask.ca | creativesask.ca  

 

Jessica Watch, Vice-President Trilight Entertainment 

C: (306) 527-6008 | jessica@trilight.ca  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Regina, Saskatchewan
November 17, 2023

15 more Creative Saskatchewan Productions Expected to Generate $14.6 Million In Economic Impact

Today, Creative Saskatchewan and the Government of Saskatchewan showcased 15 more trailers from the 34 productions funded over the past two years by the Creative Saskatchewan Feature Film and Television Production Grant Program during a screening event at the Roxy Magic Lantern theatre in Saskatoon, SK.

“Our investment into Saskatchewan’s film sector is resulting in the high-quality digital content that consumers are looking for worldwide. We’re so proud of our local producers.” Saskatoon-Churchill Wildwood MLA Lisa Lambert said, on behalf of Parks, Culture and Sport Minister, Laura Ross. “The return on investment for the province is resulting in approximately $14.6 million of positive economic impacts, not to mention the engaging and well-paying careers that the sector is creating.” Approximately 70 new full-time employment positions arose from these productions.

The featured productions boast a variety of content, from animation, to docuseries, feature films, and sitcoms. Four of the shows in today’s screening are either Indigenous led or focused on Indigenous topics.

Ryan Moccasin is one of the producers on the show The Feather News and was included in today’s showreel. For Moccasin, film provides an avenue to tell the rich stories of Saskatchewan’s heritage and illuminate the path for local indigenous talent. “Each investment in the film sector is a commitment to cultural storytelling and economic growth, nurturing a vibrant community where the arts and opportunity flourish in unison,” Moccasin said. “We are crafting a future where the industry not only thrives but also serves as a beacon for inclusivity and diversity in entertainment.”

“It fills us with so much pride to show Saskatchewan’s capabilities to the world,” Creative Saskatchewan CEO Erin Dean said. “Stay tuned for even more activity coming down the pipeline with even bigger impacts. The future of film in Saskatchewan is very bright.”

Creative Saskatchewan invested a total of $3 million into the productions that were featured at the Roxy theatre. For every $1 invested, the economy received a boost of $4.93.

The productions featured included Blind Trust: A Guide Dog’s Journey, Bending Light, Our Big Punjabi Family, Paramedics: Emergency Response Season 7, Staying Wild Season 1, Summer at Charlotte’s, Honouring the Buffalo, Echoed Words, Stories of the North Season 1, Titus Puppets Vengeance, The Feather News, Canada Remembers Our Heroes Season 2, Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh and Friends Season 2, The Other Side Season 9, and Searchers Season 1.

-30-

---

About Creative Saskatchewan
Creative Saskatchewan is the economic development agency for Saskatchewan’s creative industries and the official film commission for the province. The agency’s investments propel creative entrepreneurs as they create, perform, innovate, and export in their pursuit of commercial success.

For more information please contact:
Megan Folden, Manager of Marketing and Communications, Creative Saskatchewan
O: (306) 798-2191 | C: (306) 529-7377 | megan.folden@creativesask.ca | creativesask.ca

Shared from Historica Canada:

New Heritage Minute Celebrates Professional Baseball Player Mary “Bonnie” Baker

TORONTO – 26 October, 2023 – October is Women’s History Month and Historica Canada is marking it with the release of a new Heritage Minute.

This Heritage Minute tells the story of Mary “Bonnie” Baker, a professional baseball player from Regina, Saskatchewan. Baker was a catcher and utility infielder in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) for nine seasons. She was one of 68 Canadian women who played in the league. In 1950, she also served as the only regular female manager in the league’s 12-year history. She was known as a feisty character on the diamond and a vivacious personality off it.

“There were a lot of things women were discouraged from doing in her era,” said Anthony Wilson-Smith, President and CEO of Historica Canada. “But Mary “Bonnie” Baker made a name for herself by doing them in spite of that. She was regarded as the best defensive catcher in the league, served as the it’s only female manager, and would go on to become Canada’s first woman sportscaster; a legacy well worth celebrating in a Heritage Minute.”

The Minute was filmed in June 2023 in Ogema, Saskatchewan, hometown of another AAGPBL player Arleene (Johnson) Noga. The Minute was produced by Historica Canada, Danny Rockett Productions and Barbershop Films, and was made possible through funding from the Government of Canada with funding support from Creative Saskatchewan and in-kind equipment support from William F. White International.

This Heritage Minute was written by Joleen Ballendine with producer Brent Kawchuk, and was brought to life by director Anita Ayres and director of photography Kristin Fieldhouse. Michelle Mylett of Letterkenny plays Mary “Bonnie” Baker.

“I think like a lot of people I was surprised to find out so many Canadians played in the AAGPBL,” said Anita Ayres, director of the Minute. “I was a big fan of the film A League of Their Own and of course Geena Davis’s character Dottie Hinson was loosely based on Mary. Mary “Bonnie” Baker was a star of the real “league of their own”, she and 68 other Canadian women made history and we rightfully should be celebrating that!”

On this production, Historica Canada consulted with Tom Hawthorn (member of the society for American Baseball Research), Merrie Fidler and Maureen Ulrich.

Historica Canada is a charitable organization that offers programs in both official languages that you can use to explore, learn, reflect on our history, and consider what it means to be Canadian. The Heritage Minutes collection is a bilingual Canadian series comprised of 60-second short films, each depicting a significant person, event or story in Canadian history.

Emilie Bourdages-Bittle
Communications Coordinator
communications@historicacanada.ca
(437) 290-9275
-30-

---

 

La nouvelle Minute du patrimoine célèbre la joueuse de baseball professionnelle Mary « Bonnie » Baker

Toronto — 26 octobre, 2023 : le mois d’octobre est le Mois de l’histoire des femmes, et Historica Canada marque cet événement avec le lancement d’une nouvelle Minute du patrimoine.

Cette nouvelle Minute du patrimoine racontera l’histoire de Mary « Bonnie » Baker, une joueuse de baseball professionnelle originaire de Regina, en Saskatchewan. Mary « Bonnie » Baker a été receveuse et joueuse de champ intérieur pour la All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) durant neuf saisons. Elle a été l’une des 68 femmes canadiennes à jouer dans la ligue. En 1950, elle a également été la seule femme à être entraîneuse régulière au cours des 12 années de la ligue. Elle était reconnue pour son caractère fougueux sur le terrain et sa personnalité animée à l’extérieur du terrain.

« À son époque, il y avait beaucoup de choses que les femmes ne pouvaient pas faire », affirme Anthony Wilson-Smith, président et directeur général de Historica Canada. « Mais Mary “Bonnie” Baker s’est fait un nom en les faisant malgré tout. Elle était reconnue comme étant la meilleure receveuse défensive de la ligue, elle a été la seule entraîneuse féminine, et elle est devenue la première femme animatrice sportive au Canada; c’est là un legs qui mérite d’être célébré dans une Minute du patrimoine. »

La Minute a été tournée en juin 2023 à Ogema, en Saskatchewan, la ville natale d’une autre joueuse de la AAGPBL, Arleene (Johnson) Noga. La Minute a été produite par Historica Canada, Danny Rockett Productions, et Barbershop Films, et sa conception a été rendue possible grâce au financement du gouvernement du Canada, au soutien financier de Creative Saskatchewan, et au soutien non financier de William F. White International.

Cette Minute du patrimoine a été scénarisée par Joleen Ballendine avec le producteur Brent Kawchuk, et elle a été mise en images par la réalisatrice Anita Ayres et par Kristin Fieldhouse à la direction photo. Michelle Mylett de l’émission Letterkenny incarne Mary « Bonnie » Baker.

« Je crois que plusieurs seront surpris d’apprendre que de nombreuses Canadiennes ont joué dans la AAGPBL », affirme Anita Ayres, la réalisatrice de la Minute. « J’étais une grande admiratrice du film A League of Their Own (v.f. Une ligue en jupons), et évidemment, le personnage de Dottie Hinson que joue Geena Davis est inspiré de Mary. Mary “Bonnie” Baker était la vedette de la vraie ligue en jupons. Elle et 68 autres Canadiennes ont marqué l’histoire et nous devrions célébrer cela à juste titre! »

Tom Hawthorn a servi de consultant pour Historica Canada sur cette production (il est membre de la American Baseball Research), ainsi que Merrie Fidler et Maureen Ulrich.

Historica Canada est un organisme de bienfaisance qui offre des programmes dans les deux langues officielles que vous pouvez utiliser afin d’explorer, d’apprendre, de réfléchir à notre histoire et à ce que signifie le fait d’être Canadien. La collection des Minutes du patrimoine est une série canadienne bilingue de courts métrages de 60 secondes, dépeignant chacun une personnalité, une histoire, ou un événement important de l’histoire canadienne.

Emilie Bourdages-Bittle
Coordinatrice des communications
communications@historicacanada.ca
(437) 290-9275
– 30 –

A special premier of A Cowboy Christmas will be held in Maple Creek tonight as the official launch for the holiday-themed rom-com that was filmed in the community with funding from the Government of Saskatchewan through the Creative Saskatchewan Feature Film and Television Production Grant.

“It is so exciting to support productions like this, who have chosen to film in our province and are so willing to work with local communities and give back,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said. “The benefits of projects like this are numerous and cast a wide net in terms of the positive economic effects in Saskatchewan.” Creative Saskatchewan invested $172,000 into the production, which is anticipated to inject approximately $800,000 of economic activity back into the province.

“This is so Saskatchewan,” says Erin Dean, CEO of Creative Saskatchewan. “Not only has this film created jobs and produced solid return of investment, but the community really rallied to make this show a success.” Over 200 locals participated in the production, decorating the main street, playing extras in their Christmas sweaters, and re-creating their seasonal market just for the show.

“The people of Maple Creek really came through for us on this production,” says Jessica Watch, a Producer with Trilight Entertainment, “they went above and beyond in every aspect to make this production happen and run as smoothly as it did. Every person we met wanted to help…They welcomed us with open arms, and we could not be more grateful for their help and support!”

A Cowboy Christmas was filmed in the area in March 2023. The premiere is doubling as a fundraiser for the community. Attendees can meet the film crew while snapping photos on the red carpet and enjoying local food. “The Production showcases the community of Maple Creek,” says Michelle McKenzie, the Mayor of Maple Creek, “where we get the impossible done with a smile on our faces and a song in our hearts. We welcome any and all upcoming opportunities to share the warmth and wonder of our area.” The world will certainly get a good look at Saskatchewan’s grasslands, historic Reesor Ranch, and small-town charm when the show is released internationally in Winter 2023.

The movie features a successful marketing executive who is sent to a guest ranch to woo a new client. She braves an unplugged life, outwits the schemes of an ambitious co-worker, and wins the reluctant heart of a handsome cowboy. The movie is produced by Regina-based Trilight Entertainment.

The trailer for A Cowboy Christmas is available here. Images are available for sharing here.

-30-

---

About Creative Saskatchewan
Creative Saskatchewan is the economic development agency for Saskatchewan’s creative industries and the official film commission for the province. The agency’s investments propel creative entrepreneurs as they create, perform, innovate, and export in their pursuit of commercial success.

For more information please contact:
Megan Folden, Manager of Marketing and Communications, Creative Saskatchewan
O: (306) 798-2191 | C: (306) 529-7377 | megan.folden@creativesask.ca | creativesask.ca
Jessica Watch, Vice Present / Head of Business Affairs, Trilight Entertainment Inc.
O: (306) 527-6008 | jessica@trilight.ca | trilight.ca