SaskTel Max Equity Grant Helps Staying Wild Secure Interest From Broadcaster Major Distributor

Jackie Kripki is a successful grant recipient of our SaskTel Max Equity Grant for their TV show, Staying Wild.

Jackie Kripski’s six-episode series, Staying Wild, documents the ups and downs of the busiest wildlife rescue centre in Saskatchewan, the Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. When Kripski received the green light from CityTV that the show would go ahead, she was excited but quickly realized that filming was going to happen simultaneously with applying for a grant from Creative Saskatchewan.

Kripki was quick to point out how supportive the Creative Saskatchewan team was during the application process. “The team was very helpful in answering our questions, which only helped to strengthen our application,” she says.

Staying Wild directly employs approximately 20 Saskatchewan residents. This includes highly skilled people such as camera operators, location audio, camera assistant, director, audio post-production, assistant editor, editors, color and finishing, legal and accounting, story consultant, story editors, producers, and an executive producer. The show also promotes Saskatchewan to international markets where viewers learn about local wildlife and natural surroundings.

Receiving the SaskTel Max Equity Grant allowed Kripki to produce the show at a level that secured interest from a broadcaster and a major distributor. With a goal of getting Staying Wild seen in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe, this interest provides the opportunity to sell it into those markets outside of Canada. “Without Creative Saskatchewan producing Staying Wild would not be possible,” Kripki notes.

When asked why she chooses to live and work here, Kripki states, “I love being here in Saskatchewan, the people are great and there are amazing stories still to be told. It’s an exciting time to be here because the real opportunity is taking a local story and turning it into something that people from other parts of the world will find interesting. And with the help of Creative Saskatchewan, I feel that goal is within reach.”