table of contents

table of contents

Episode Summaries

Awards

Production Notes

Crew Bios

Expert Bios

Cast Bios

Credits

Contact Information

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episodes

episodes

Episode 1 - Feather of Hope

Terri is afraid the falcon she rescued will die from its illness.

Chris receives ‘animergency’ call at the Wild Files research station from Terri, who has found a sick Peregrine Falcon. Chris takes Terri and the Peregrine to see raptor expert Dr. Gord Court, who discovers that she has the West Nile Virus. It’s up Terri and falconer Alastair Franke to help her return to the skies.

Music Video: My Peregrine, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

Episode 2 - Tale of the Giant Beaver

Lucas hunts for the truth about the ‘giant beaver’

Lucas is worried about his outdoorsy Grandpa, and thinks he should take things a little easier. Grandpa thinks Lucas should quit hiding his hiking boots. When Chris joins them on a fishing trip, Grandpa tells a story about a giant beaver with teeth like chainsaws. Has Grandpa lost it? Or is Lucas in danger of becoming beaver breakfast?

Music Video: Could It Bea…ver?, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

Episode 3 - You Say Buffalo, I Say Bison

A whole ‘buffaload’ about bison!

Chris and Ava are butting heads over space, and Amanda is butting heads with her science partner over, well, everything. Chris and Amanda head out to meet the wisecracking Carmen Callihoo, who helps to answer the age-old question: is it bison, or buffalo?

Music Video: Why Don’t We Ever Learn, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

Episode 4 - Arachnophobia on the Loose

Alicia is faced with a creepy crawly mystery.

Alicia is in BIG trouble. Her brother’s pet tarantula died while she was supposed to be looking after it. To help her figure out just what happened, Chris goes with her to meet Dr. Robin ‘Spider-man’ Leech. As they unravel the creepy crawly mystery, Ava gears up to thwart the ‘Spider Virus’ that is rumoured to destroy entire computer systems.

Music Video: Animals Are Disgusting Things, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

Episode 5 - You Go Caribou!

Caribou may like moving, but Remi sure doesn‘t!

Remi’s family just moved, she finally made some friends...and now they’re moving AGAIN. When she calls the research station looking for boxes, she finds Ava laid up with a broken leg, and Chris looking for an excuse to get outside. He tells Remi a bit about the caribou, but will he and expert Paula Bentham be able to make Remi feel better about her own migrations?

Music Video: Caribou Bu, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

episodes

episodes

Episode 6 - Just Can’t Bear it

Joanna can’t ‘bear’ the thought of camping.

Joanna’s got a real dilemma; she’s absolutely terrified of bears, but if she skips the school camping trip she’ll fail her outdoor education class! Chris introduces Joanna to expert Rebecca Reeves, who gives Joanna a crash course in bear safety. With 2 full cans of bear spray, what could possibly happen?

Music Video: Bear Pants, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

Episode 7 - Owl for One, One for Owl

Webster searches for the real magic of owls.

Webster’s head is full of wizards and owls, so he calls the research station. Chris takes him on a birding expedition, but unfortunately they have to bring Jordan – Webster’s obnoxious cousin. While Chris tries to distract Jordan from torment-ing Webster with the help of Chuck Priestly and his high-tech equipment, Webster gets lost in the woods.

Music Video: September Nights, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

Episode 8 - The Frog Who Would Be Prince

Lucy needs help - she can’t grow up fast enough.

Lucy can’t grow up fast enough. She’s practically a teenager, so why can’t she quit school and dye her hair green? Chris wants to help, but he’s at odds with Ava over her gadgets again. This time, it’s the underwater Aqua-peeper camera that’s causing all the trouble. Will Chris and Ava resolve their differences in time to help Lucy?

Music Video: Bob the Wood Frog, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

Episode 9 - Lair of the Tiger

How do you get a Tiger Salamander out of the basement?

Jessica’s brother Max has discovered computer games, and now he’s just no fun. Jessica wants him to get back into the wild world outside of his basement, so she calls Chris and Ava. Ava uses all of her tech savvy to help Jessica create a way to lure Max outside, but will it be enough?

Music Video: Sally and Stevie, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

episodes

episodes

Episode 10 - Big Ol’ Moose

Who wants to be called ‘Moose’? Not Jeff.

Jeff’s classmates have nicknamed him “Moose”, thanks to a huge growth spurt. Suddenly awkward and clumsy, Jeff re-sents his new nickname. He calls Chris, who thinks it might be helpful to see how real moose deal with their size. Things start to go a bit awry when they try some moose calls, and what was that about freezing to death?

Music Video: Job Huntin’ Moose, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

Episode 11 - Hare We Go!

Moeah doesn’t think she’ll survive her winter survival school trip.

Moeah has to go on a winter survival trip that is part outdoor education, part competition. She has a hard enough time with sport competitions to begin with, let alone in a few feet of snow. Chris invites her to learn about snowshoeing and the snowshoe hare with his friend Renee Franken, but things get pretty hare-y when Chris and Moeah get lost in the snow.

Music Video: Rabbits and Hares, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

Episode 12 - Lone Wolf

Sarah finds the life of a lone wolf is not easy.

Sarah’s a young writer working on a wolf story. When she finds wolf tracks near her cabin, she calls the research station to report them. Chris and wolf expert Nadele Flynn meet up with her, hoping to reunite the lone wolf with its pack before it’s too late.

Music Video: Wolf Pack, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

Episode 13 - Strong as a Muskox

Amy discovers what muskox and football have in common.

When Amy’s dad is laid off from his job, the family has to survive on a lot less and Amy’s having a hard time adapting to the changes. Chris thinks she has the strength to get through and takes her out for a walk to help cheer her up. Amy is pretty doubtful, but maybe Dr. Jim Butler and his Muskox George can help her out.

Music Video: Muskox Waltz, written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

recognition

recognitionawards

Wildfiles.tv Interactive won a Kids First! All Star rating from the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media

Wildfiles.tv Interactive won Silver in the Education category at the 2005 Horizon Interactive Awards, Fishers, Indiana.

Wildfiles.tv Interactive won Best Interactive at the 2004 NextFest Digital Motion Picture Festival.

Feather of Hope won Silver in the Children’s category at the 2004 Worldfest, Houston, Texas.

Tale of the Giant Beaver won Bronze in the Children’s category at the 2004 Worldfest, Houston, Texas.

Wildfiles.tv Interactive received the Intermedia-Globe Gold Award for Best Interactive at the 2004 International World Media Festival, Hamburg, Germany.

nominationsWildFiles.TV was a finalist for Best Music Video, Best Director, and Best Performance by an Actress at the 2005 Alberta Film and Television Awards.

Wildfiles.tv Interactive was a finalist for the Interactive Award at the 2004 Wildscreen Festival, Bristol, United Kingdom.

WildFiles.TV was a finalist for Best Children’s Program, Best Performance by an Actress, and Best Host at the 2004 Alberta Film and Television Awards.

Wildfiles.tv Interactive was a finalist for Best New Media Production at the 2004 Alberta Film and Television Awards.

screeningsTale of the Giant Beaver was selected for screening at the Danville International Children’s Film Festival 2004, Danville, California.

WildFiles.TV developed out of Producer Ava Karvonen’s life-long love of wildlife and nature. Inspired by her parents to appreciate and explore the outdoors, Ava wanted to create this series for her own child, and also for children who don’t have the opportunity to see wildlife up close.

Ava and Chris Fisher, co-writer and co-star of WildFiles.TV, called on longtime friends and colleagues to help them with the series. These scientists are all active in wildlife biology, which adds to the authenticity of the dramatic storylines and exposes young viewers to real-life Canadian scientists. “I associate with them personally and professionally so it was very rewarding to be able to share this experience with them”, says Chris. “It sure helps that Chris and I know many of the same people,” Ava adds. “When he suggested we ask Dr. Jim Butler to join us, I knew exactly what he had in mind for the muskox episode. Jim is a past favorite university professor - and mentor - of both Chris and myself”.

Dr. Robin “Spider-man” Leech has been a friend of Ava’s since her father introduced her to him in the 1970s. “Robin was one of the first experts I had in mind when we started writing the scripts,” says Ava, “and when we wrote the character of “Grandpa” in Tale of the Giant Beaver I was thinking of my father. He loves to tell stories and spin tales so it only made sense to also cast him in that episode!” As for Albert, he said he enjoyed being on the other side of the camera but found it challenging to memorize lines and repeat scenes several times over. He much prefers his real job – a wildlife filmmaker. You can’t capture great wildlife shots with 3 days per episode of shooting so Ava drew on the incredible nature footage her father has captured on film over the past 30 years.

Most of the young performers in the series had a background in theatre, but had never acted for television before. Director Francis Damberger, with his background in acting, says “I always like working with young actors and helping them learn their craft, I love the challenges and rewards that go along with that.” Despite being an outdoorsy guy himself, even Francis learned from the experts. “Their commitment to wildlife is really inspiring.”

In addition to the humans, some episodes of WildFiles.TV featured animal actors. Feather of Hope featured a sick Peregrine, played by two different birds. The first bird was a Peregrine on its way to a zoo in Eastern Canada. This bird had to have blood drawn for a DNA sample, so ornithologist Dr. Gord Court performed this procedure on-camera for the diagnosis scene. All other scenes were shot with falconer Alastair Franke’s bird, Savannah. The subject of West Nile virus helps drive the episode’s dramatic storyline, connecting the series to current events.

Since 2002, a group of kids aged 7-14 have planned, written and illustrated 15 issues of the e-Zine WildFiles.TV News. This dedicated group of kids have worked together for two years, and are currently on hiatus as the producer seeks sponsorship to keep the e-Zine in production.

With Season I of WildFiles.TV complete, Ava and the rest of the production team look forward to developing a second season with many more wild adventures.

production notes

production notes

crew

crew

Ava Karvonen - Producer/Co-Star/Story Editor

Ava Karvonen has been an active member of the Alberta film community for over 15 years. Her Edmonton-based production company, Reel Girls Media Inc., specializes in producing documentaries, children’s television series and new media that celebrate the arts, examine social issues and explore the human relationship with the natural world.

Ava is the producer, co-star and story editor of WildFiles.TV, a 13-part half-hour interactive TV series for children, exploring mysteries of the animal kingdom. As a companion to this series, Ava also produced www.wildfiles.tv, an interactive version of the series where kids conduct their own explorations of science and the 13 animals featured in the TV series.

“I grew up with parents who inspired me to appreciate nature“, recalls Ava. “I wanted to do WildFiles.TV for my own child and because I know a lot of children today don’t have the opportunity to see wildlife. I wanted to inspire kids to get outside and explore nature.”

Ava’s most recent credits include producing the one-hour TV documentaries; Return of the Peregrine and How the Fiddle Flows; the entertaining kids’ CD-ROM series, Zoology Zone: Bears, Raptors and Spiders; and seven award-winning episodes for Karvonen Film’s television series, Treasures of the Wild. Ava recently wrote/directed/produced two one-hour live events: Up Close and Palaeo and Wildlife Wired (which she also hosted) both live webcast and TV broadcast. She has also directed/produced six segments for CBC’s kids’ series Street Cents.

With her partners in Storytellers Productions Inc., she produced the four part, half-hour animated and live action children’s series, Stories from the Seventh Fire, based on the four seasons, and the companion documentary Shared Visions: The Art of Storytelling. To date, these award-winning programs have been selected for screening at 40 international festivals and received a total of 14 awards including “Best Animation” at both the San Francisco American Indian Film Festival and the 2003 Japan Wildlife Film Festival in Tokyo.

Karvonen has been an active volunteer since the age of fourteen. She currently is on the international board of FFC (Filmmakers for Conservation) and is a producer member of AMPIA, DOC, and CFTPA. She is a past board member of the provincial board of Alberta New Media – Edmonton, DOC (Documentary Organization of Canada), Women in Film and TV Alberta, the Alberta Motion Pictures Industry Association of Alberta and the Edmonton Arts Council.

Ava thrives on keeping busy, so when she’s not multi-tasking you may find her breaking her own travel record of over 30 countries as she explores the globe with her partner Shannon and their daughter, Hannah.

crew

crew

Frances Damberger - Director

Francis Damberger is an award-winning filmmaker who hangs his hat on a ranch in Tofield, Alberta, where he is the president of The Damberger Film and Cattle Co. Francis is a graduate of the BFA Acting program at the University of Alberta. He has worked as an actor in film, television and on stage. In 1985, he turned his talents to film making.

Francis had a lot of fun directing the children’s series, WildFiles.TV, and was impressed by the Wildfiles crew, the young actors and the wildlife biologists he worked with.

“I love wildlife, so it’s rewarding to work on anything to do with preserving wildlife. I learned so much from all the experts - their commitment to wildlife is really inspiring. It was also the first television experience for many of the kids on the show and I always like working with young actors and helping them learn their craft. I enjoy the challenges and rewards that go along with that, and I was particularly proud to work with my daughter Sarah on the Wolf episode.”

In addition to WildFiles.TV, Francis has worked on several children’s series including directing episodes of Jake and the Kid, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, So Weird, Mentors, A.D. 2030 and Caitlin’s Way.

His first film, On the Edge, a drama about teenage suicide, won awards around the world. Solitaire, his first feature film, swept the Alberta Film Awards and received four Genie nominations and a Genie award for Best Supporting Actor. Francis was nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Solitaire was also invited to several film festivals, including the prestigious Cannes Television Festival. Francis’ second feature film, Road to Saddle River, was well received and the Toronto Star called it “perhaps the best Canadian film of the year!” He also directed the TV Movie Trial By Fire, a North of 60 mystery. Francis used the beautiful south Saskatchewan river valley as the backdrop for his third feature film, Heart of the Sun. The film has earned much critical praise and several awards.

crew

crew

Chris Fisher - Co-Writer/Co-StarWith a long-standing passion for the environment and the critters that inhabit it, Chris Fisher loves to share with others his experiences with nature; his involvement in the production of WildFiles.TV enabled Chris to bring science and nature topics to a wide audience of kids. Not only the co-star and co-writer for the series, Chris was also involved with writing content for Wildfiles.tv Interactive.

Whatever hat he wears, Chris aims to introduce his audience to the natural world in hopes that others will share his passion. This is why he chose a career in interpretation and communications. Chris holds a Masters degree in conservation biology and completed his graduate studies in parks interpretation in Thailand. Chris has also had the opportunity to teach courses and lecture in the environmental and conservation biology program at the University of Alberta. His work as a nature guide has taken him to locations as far North as the Nahanni River and South to the Appalachians and the Everglades.

Chris is a naturalist and author of almost twenty books. Birds of Alberta and Mammals of Alberta are bestsellers for Lone Pine Publishing. His works are well respected and have received favorable reviews in the Toronto Star, the Los Angeles Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Chris was the writer for the award-winning one-hour documentary Return of the Peregrine. He co-wrote and researched a season of Acorn, the Nature Nut, a popular television series hosted by John Acorn for Great North Productions. He has also written several other television wildlife documentaries for Karvonen Films Ltd.

When he is not busy writing, teaching, or singing, you can usually find Chris walking along a trail birding or taking nature photographs.

Naomi Bock - Co-WriterFilmmaker Naomi Bock associate produced and co-wrote the first season of Reel Girls Media’s kids’ TV series, WildFiles.TV, and edited content for Wildfiles.tv Interactive.

Naomi previously production-managed the Reel Girls documentaries Return of the Peregrine (also associate producing and script editing) and How the Fiddle Flows (also directing a second unit shoot and writing publicity material).

Her TV documentaries include Kids of Fort Chip, which she directed and shot in 2002 for CBC Sunday; and the one-hour Bingo! Faith, Hope and Charity, co-directed with Mark Wright for CBC Rough Cuts and VisionTV that earned her a Hot Docs nomination for best writing. Her half-hour 16mm drama about suicide and urban isolation, Safe Distance, won an honourable mention at the 2000 Brandon Film Festival and was supported by the Canada and Ontario Arts Councils and the National Film Board.

Naomi has an honours Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University, specializing in documentary filmmaking. She also attended Etobicoke School of the Arts, where she studied directing, playwriting and acting. Her plays were showcased twice in the Ontario Sears Drama Festival. Now based in Vancouver, she also writes fiction and creative non-fiction, makes photo/video art, and experiments in her kitchen, creating unlikely delights.

experts

experts

Paula Bentham - “You Go Caribou!”Paula Bentham is a Wildlife Biologist who specializes in environmental impact assessments. She is

passionate about caribou and mitigating the impacts of human development on this unique and sensitive species. Paula obtained her M.Sc. in Wildlife Ecology, and B.Sc. in Conservation Biology, from the

University of Alberta. Currently, Paula works as a wildlife consultant within Alberta, BC and in the Territories. She was extremely thrilled to be a part of this episode. Not only did she get to talk about caribou for an

entire day, but she also experienced, for the first time, the world of television production.

Carmen Callihoo - “You Say Buffalo, I Say Bison”Carmen Callihoo has always enjoyed working outdoors with animals. She began in 1993 when she worked for Alberta Fish and Wildlife while studying at Lethbridge Community College. She then worked as a Patrol

Person in several national parks. In 1998, she completed a B.Sc. at the University of Lethbridge and in 2000 became the first Aboriginal woman in Alberta to become a Conservation Officer. Currently, she works

for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Carmen says she loved the television experience so much that she wants her own show and she’s worried she can’t go back to regular living now.

Dr. Jim Butler - “Strong as a Muskox”Dr. Jim Butler is an internationally celebrated naturalist and conservation biologist, recently retired as a

professor at the University of Alberta where he inspired and mentored many now currently active professors, biologists and interpreters, including Ava and Chris. He is an author, poet, environmentalist, ordained

Buddhist monk, and spokesperson for nature and wildlife protection. Jim is considered a world authority on boreal forest ecology, national parks management, the relationships of people and nature, and ecotourism.

He spends his time enjoying wild nature, consulting, writing, and lecturing worldwide on topics such as Darwin and the voyage of the Beagle, ecology of tropical islands and ocean life.

Rebecca Reeves - “Just Can’t Bear It”Rebecca receives strength and inspiration from the natural world and has dedicated her life to environmental protection and building awareness through education. She has recently completed her B.Sc. in Environmental and Conservation Sciences with a major in Environmental Sociology. Along with her seasonal employment in parks, Rebecca is an active volunteer and leader for a number of environmental organizations. In the future, Rebecca hopes to work internationally in environmental education, community sustainability projects and environmental law.

Kathryn Martell - “Tale of the Giant Beaver”Kathryn Martell has a B.Sc. from the University of Victoria and a Masters in Conservation Biology from the University of Alberta. In the past, she has conducted studies of frogs, badgers, macaws, and other wildlife in British Columbia and the Amazon. Kathryn’s work has focused on involving communities in conservation, working with people to protect and enhance habitat on their properties and to create an ethic of caring for all of the creatures around us. Kathryn had a lot of fun working with the WildFiles cast and especially enjoyed ‘accidentally’ pushing Chris off the beaver lodge, into the lake!

expertsKris Kendell - “Lair of the Tiger”

Dr. Gordon Court - “Feather of Hope”The Peregrine falcon has always had a hold on Gord Court. Throughout his childhood he dreamed of this great predator, and his passion is evident to all who meet him. This led to work with the birds on a project that eventually led to a Ph.D. on predatory birds. Gord did most of his schooling in Canada, completing a B.Sc. Honours degree and an M.Sc. at the University of Alberta. His Masters thesis focused on peregrine

falcons in Rankin Inlet in the Canadian Arctic. Gord conducted research in the Antarctic and completed his Ph.D. at Watogwo University in New Zealand. Gord now works as an endangered species biologist.

Chuck Priestley - “Owl for One, One for Owl”Chuck Priestley feels most at home in wild places because there is so much to discover and so many

mysteries to uncover. While science and research have taught us a lot about our world and the animals that live here, Chuck believes that one of the most important things to know about the natural world is that we do not know everything about it. Currently Chuck is studying the strategies that owls use to live in Alberta

during the winter. Chuck enjoyed working on this episode and is hopeful that the more kids learn to explore and enjoy wilderness, the more they will continue to help us learn about nature in the future.

Kris Kendell spent countless hours during his early childhood exploring the wilds of Fish Creek Park in Calgary, Alberta. From elementary school and through University, Kris recalls signing out nearly every library book from his local library and school on the subjects of birds, amphibians and reptiles in Alberta. Kris has made his passion and interest in wildlife, particularly amphibians and reptiles, his career. Today, Kris works as a biologist specializing in conservation. Now that he’s been part of a television production, Kris says he has a new appreciation for the craft of television and filmmaking.

Alastair Franke - “Feather of Hope”Alastair Franke’s interest in falconry was sparked when he was a boy growing up in Zimbabwe. After reading a book about falconry, he was lucky enough to meet a Falconer who taught him the tricks of the trade. Alastair completed a Physical Education degree at the University of Alberta before entering a Ph.D. program. Alastair is a Falconer as well as a graduate student, completing his Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and Management at the University of Alberta. Alastair thought filming Feather of Hope was a lot of fun and says he really enjoyed getting to see the intricacies of how a TV show is made.

Meg Krawchuk - “Big Ol’ Moose”Meg Krawchuk was an ecologist long before she knew what the word meant. She grew up in a family that camped their way across the continent every summer, which inspired her appreciation for nature. Meg has worked with turtles in Ontario, insects, plants and songbirds in West Virginia and Newfoundland, amphibians in Belize and waterfowl in Alberta. Moose have been a constant friend to her through most of these travels. Meg is working towards her Ph.D. in conservation ecology.

experts

experts

experts

Dr. Brian Eaton - “The Frog Who Would Be Prince”Amphibians have wandered in and out of Brian Eaton’s life ever since he was a child. He used to find salamanders in the Nova Scotian woods, and would catch frogs in the pond by his house. He fed his

interest at university, where he studied birds, reptiles, and mammals. Brian moved to Alberta to pursue his Ph.D., studying frogs and toads in the boreal forest. Brian really threw himself into his role in The Frog

Who Would Be Prince, enduring extreme heat, getting stuck in the mud and crawling his way out. Dr. Eaton currently works as an aquatic ecologist with the Alberta Research Council.

Dr. Robin Leech - “Arachnophobia on the Loose”With an entomologist father, Dr. Robin Leech could say the family names of many insects before he could

speak in full sentences. Robin studied spiders of the Lake Hazen area, N.W.T., and completed a study of the spider family Amaurobiidae for his Ph.D. Over the years, he has collected spiders from all over the

world. Robin is currently Executive Director of the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists, and Board member of the Edmonton Nature Centres Foundation. Dr. Leech thought working with the WildFiles cast

and crew was wonderful - he likes projects that make kids curious about the world around them.

Renee Franken - “Hare We Go!”Renee Franken has always had an interest in animals. She completed her B.Sc. in Ecology at the University

of Calgary, and worked as a wildlife biologist before going on to achieving her M.Sc. studying the collared pika, a lagomorph in the Yukon. Renee now works as an endangered species biologist with the Canadian

Wildlife Service/Environment Canada. Renee had a great experience working on this episode and says her most memorable experience was “watching Moeah when we had to carry the bunny poop around to the

various locations. At one point the cup full of pellets fell over inside her pack and she was pretty grossed out... I’m not sure if we ever got them all out of her pack!”

Nadele Flynn - “Lone Wolf”While completing a B.Sc. at the University of Guelph, Nadele Flynn had the opportunity to work all over Canada. Her first field job was working out of Fort Smith, N.W.T., where she saw her first wild wolf. Now Nadele studies the effects of change in water flow caused by road beds and beaver dams in the northern Boreal Forest of Alberta for her Master of Science research at the University of Alberta. Nadele enjoyed working on Lone Wolf, and remembers wondering if the pillars of snow accumulating on her toque would give away how long it actually took to shoot each scene.

Terry Thormin - “Arachnophobia on the Loose”Terry Thormin is the ‘Chief Bug Wrangler’ at the Provincial Museum of Alberta’s Bug Room, and has worked with the museum since 1978. His interest in bugs dates back to his early childhood when he often kept spiders and insects as pets. As the Chief Bug Wrangler, Terry looks after the welfare of the live bugs and helps develop educational programs and special events for visitors to the museum. He also answers bug questions from the general public. Terry was a key member of the team that created the museum’s new habitat gallery, Wild Alberta.

cast

cast

Joanna Roy - “Joanna”Just Can’t Bear It was Joanna Roy’s first television experience and as a result she has a new love for TV and film. Joanna has always been drawn to the arts; acting and dancing since age three and performing in many local theatrical productions, including The Nutcracker. Joanna is very involved in her community

and keeps herself busy with classes in tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop and lyrical dance, as well as drama classes. Joanna enjoyed acting on WildFiles.TV; her favourite part of filming was driving over to the set each day and

looking at all the wildlife, including bison, beaver, swans and a family of moose.

Stephen Sawchuk - “Lucas”Playing Lucas in Tale of the Giant Beaver was Stephen Sawchuk’s first television role. Stephen says he actually learned a lot about beavers and working in front of the camera. This grade eight honors student

also finds time to play the electric guitar, volleyball, golf, and soccer. Stephen loves to be on stage and was the master of ceremonies at a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) presentation at his school and has

taken both a theatre and television acting workshop. Apart from filming in the rain and cold, Stephen loved the television experience and looks forward to his next acting gig.

Amy Keating - “Amy”Her role in Strong as a Muskox was Amy Keating’s first experience acting for television, but she has

played a number of roles in high school productions, and acted in The Merry Wives of Windsor and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Camp Shakespeare for Shakespeare in the Park – Free Will Players. She also appeared in Peter Pan with Stage Polaris. Amy is taking acting classes at the Foote Theatre School and has performed in seven productions with the Youth Theatre Dance Company in Edmonton. She loves

movies and Shakespeare, particularly his comedies. She absolutely loved being a part of WildFiles.TV and the opportunity to spread the word about a truly inspiring animal, the muskox.

Amanda Rakovszky - “Amanda”Amanda Rakovszky’s role in You Say Buffalo, I Say Bison, is her first experience acting in a television series. She has acted since the age of four and has had roles in more than fifteen theatrical productions and two commercials. Amanda is an avid camper, nature lover, and owner of cats, dogs, chinchillas, hamsters, salamanders and fish. Amanda believes we should all explore our own backyard because Canada offers so many opportunities to learn about interesting landscapes, animals and people. She had a great time filming with the WildFiles.TV gang, and says she’ll never forget having to poke the bison pie to see if it was fresh - neither will her boots!

Albert Karvonen - “Grandpa”Producer Ava Karvonen cast her 73-year-old father in the role of “Grandpa” in his first dramatic television role. For award winning wildlife cinematographer and producer Albert Karvonen, being on this side of the camera was tough – not only did he have to memorize lines but he had to do scenes over and over again for coverage! Growing up on his family’s homestead in northeastern Alberta, surrounded by the ever-changing landscape of the boreal forest, Albert gained a profound respect for the earth’s marvels and was delighted with the opportunity to help teach kids about the beaver.

cast

cast

Remi Kanji - “Remi”Remi Kanji’s role in You Go Caribou! is her first experience acting in television, however she has appeared on television performing classical North Indian Kathak dance. Remi is involved in drama at her junior high

school and has taken acting classes at the Foote Theatre School. She has also performed Kathak dance for public celebrations in and around Edmonton. Remi hopes to continue acting and eventually to make it her profession. She enjoyed working with the WildFiles crew and said the food on set was great; all the cross-

country skiing and working outdoors really built up her appetite!

Frances Dewart - “Terri”Frances Dewart’s role in Feather of Hope was her first television appearance, though not her first brush

with acting. She appeared in Bottom’s Dream at the 2002 Fringe Festival and has also acted in an Alberta Learning video. Born and raised in Edmonton, Frances was voted “most likely to lead a revolution” by her

high school classmates. One of the highlights of Frances’ WildFiles.TV experience was working with the live Peregrine; she said the bird was a lot heavier than it looks. Frances received a “Best Actress” nomination at

the 2004 AMPIA awards for her WildFiles.TV performance.

Jesse Lyman - “Jordan”Jesse Lyman was pleased to make her first television appearance playing Jordan in Owl for One, One for

Owl. Jesse has a strong interest in acting and dramatic arts and has performed in many school plays. She is also a snowboarder, storywriter, and has studied ballet and jazz dancing for seven years. She is a socially

aware fifteen-year-old and spends many hours volunteering for charitable organizations in her community. Jesse enjoyed performing for this episode of WildFiles.TV; she learned a lot about Barred Owls and found

they actually do sound like they’re saying “who cooks for you”.

Dane Christian Hartwell - “Max”The role of Max in Lair of the Tiger was Dane Hartwell’s first television experience. Eleven-year-old Dane loves drama classes, singing, dancing and a wide range of music. He is also a huge fan of hockey, the Colorado Avalanche, and “whodunnit” stories. Dane was fascinated with the process of filming WildFiles.TV and was most interested in how parts of different scenes can be edited smoothly together. He enjoyed filming the scenes outdoors in the cool, early morning and looks forward to more work in television in the future.

Julian Savaryn - “Webster”Playing Webster in Owl for One, One for Owl, gave Julian Savaryn his first experience acting for television, although he is no stranger to performing. Julian has taken acting classes, acted in the lead role of Danny Gallagher in The Great Electrical Revolution at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre, and was the understudy for two lead roles, Brian and Forbsie, in Who Has Seen the Wind at the Citadel Theatre. Julian is also an accomplished cellist and performs at local events in a trio with his siblings. Julian enjoyed filming this episode of WildFiles.TV and looks forward to acting in film and on the stage in the future.

Jeff St. Arnaud - “Jeff”Acting in Big Ol’ Moose was Jeff St. Arnaud’s first television experience, but he has had roles in a number of school plays. He is involved in drama, dances, and school sports with his grade eight classmates and he is also an avid hockey player and snowboarder. Jeff found acting outdoors somewhat challenging when he had to kneel on logs or rocky ground, but he was really impressed when he got to see two moose on the first day of filming. Jeff is thrilled to have played a role in the WildFiles.TV series and looks forward to many more acting opportunities in the future.

cast

cast

Sarah Damberger - “Sarah”Acting in Lone Wolf was Sarah Damberger’s first professional acting gig. Sarah has been involved in

dance, music and drama. She has worked as an extra on Mentors and starred in a cooking video that she produced for her French class. Sarah enjoys playing most sports and has won Gold and Silver medals in

Provincial fastball. Sarah’s favourite part of filming Lone Wolf was the great cast and crew – “They had a lot of fun together”. She also liked filming outdoors even though they got very cold sometimes.

Moeah Dupuis - “Moeah”Her role in Hare We Go was Moeah Dupuis’ first television experience and she enjoyed every bit of

it. Moeah has also performed on stage in plays, Irish dance dramas and piano concerts. She enjoys badminton, bicycling and swimming. 13 year old Moeah also loves playing the alto saxophone in her school

jazz band, and sings in the choir. She says playing a role in the WildFiles.TV series was a thrill, especially when they searched for Snowshoe hare tracks. She didn’t have much practice with the snowshoes, but she

learned fast! Moeah looks forward to more acting adventures in the future.

Lisa Evans - “Lucy”Playing the role of Lucy in The Frog Who Would Be Prince adds to Lisa Evans’ previous experience acting for television; she had a role in an episode of Mentors, and has done commercials and work as an extra. Lisa has also had roles in St. Albert’s Children’s Theatre productions including Rags to Riches, Guys and Dolls and most recently, Footloose. This fourteen-year-old takes vocal lessons as well as competitive dance. Lisa’s favorite part of filming this episode was working with live animals; before this role, she had never held a real, live frog. Lisa says she learned a lot from this role and looks forward to delving further into the world of television and film.

Alicia Achen - “Alicia”Acting in Arachnophobia on the Loose wasn’t too much of a stretch for Alicia Achen, who admitted to a bit of nervousness around the tarantulas. Alicia has previously acted in several school productions and played the lead in an educational video, Running the City. This grade nine student excels at school and still has time for other interests like classical guitar, hip-hop dance, and playing alto saxophone in the school band. Alicia learned a lot about spiders during her WildFiles.TV experience and actually held a real tarantula.

Emma Paetz - “Jessica”After several years of acting in theatre productions, Emma Paetz made her television debut as Jessica in Lair of the Tiger. She performed in The Mad Woman of Chaillot at her junior high school, where she was the only grade seven student with a speaking role. Emma loves to read, write, and practice her electric guitar. She also enjoys the outdoors, camping, fishing, and horseback riding. Emma had a great time working on WildFiles.TV, and hopes to work with the WildFiles crew again soon. She will always remember how much she loved filming out in the forest and what it’s like to hold a live salamander.

credits

credits

Ava Karvonen

Frances Damberger

Chris FisherNaomi Bock

Chris FisherAva Karvonen

Alicia AchenSarah DambergerFrances DewartMoeah DupuisLisa EvansDane HartwellRemi KanjiAlbert KarvonenAmy KeatingJesse LymanEmma PaetzAmanda RakovszkyJoanna RoyStephen SawchukJulian SavarynJeff St. Arnaud

Paula BenthamDr. Jim ButlerCarmen CalihooDr. Gordon CourtDr. Brian EatonNadele FlynnAlastair FrankeRenee FrankenKris KendallMeg KrawchukDr. Robin LeechKathryn MartellChuck PriestleyRebecca ReevesTerry Thormin

Becker

Jody Polowick

Kim CleggCindy MitchellKevin Mones

Franco Dottor

Larissa LazarowichNaomi Bock

Producer

Director

Writers

Starring

Cast

Guest Experts

Composer

Editor

Graphic Design and FX

Production Manager

Associate Producers

Geraldine CarrLarissa LazarowichChristi Erickson

Ava Karvonen

Christie Jones

Daron DonahueTrevor WilsonDoug SteeleRick Bremness

Jamie KiddGarrell ClarkDowny KarvonenBrenda Donahue

Jody PolowickChristie Jones

Geraldine Carr CDC

Gabrielle Christopherson

Shannon Parsons

Shannon ParsonsDaniel StevensonConstance WhiteChad Cuthbertson

Vincent MesseckChristine Weidlich

Franco Dottor

Nicole AuserChristine WeidlichElise HolmCindy MitchellSarah DambergerEmily DambergerDarcie GraceLarissa LazarowichBree DregerLisa Stewart

Nicole AuserDarcie GraceElise Holm

Scott ParkerAdam Kidd

Production Coordinators

Story Editor

Story Consultant

Cinematographers

Location Sound

Post ProductionCoordinators

Casting Director

Educational Consultant/ Production Assistant

Set Construction and Design

Set Painters

Set Dressers

Production Accounting

Production Assistants

Assistant Editors

On-Line Post Production

credits

credits

Cathy McMillanKeith Sun

Downy KarvonenJerry Krepakevich

Dan Power

Andrea Macnab

Herman AnsinkJoe Owens

Tyler HillKevin House

Chrysta Krislock

Karvonen Films Ltd.Doug SteeleReel Girls Media, Inc.

Linda Callaghan

Jones Brown

Additional Graphic Design

Audio Post Production

Still Photography

Post Production Coordinator - Studio Post

Colourists

Versioning & Layback

Closed Captioning

Archival Footage and Sounds Courtesy of

Legal

Insurance

Developed with the assistance of the Independent Production Fund/Videon Program

Developed in association with CBC Alberta

Developed and produced in association withACCESS - The Education Station and Canadian Learning

Television

Produced with the participation of the Alberta Film Development Program of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts

Developed and produced with the participation of the Shaw Children’s Programming Initiative, through the Dr. Geoffrey R.

Conway Fund and the Shaw Television Broadcast Fund

Produced with the participation of the CanWest Western Independent Producers Fund

Developed and produced with the financial participation of the CFCN Fund in association with CTV Television Inc.

Produced with the participation of the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund

Developed and produced with the participation of Star Choice Communications, Inc.

andThe Canadian Independent Film & Video Fund

Produced in association with Saskatchewan Communications Network

Produced with the participation of Rogers Telefund

Produced with the Participation of the Canadian Film and Video Production Tax Credit Program

Special Thanks to:

Todd Crawshaw, David Gummer, Bill Weiman and the Staff of the Provincial Museum of Alberta, Katherine Wilson,

Amenla Achen, Elaine Butler and George, Ed Whitelock and the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Grazing, Wildlife and Provincial Recreation Area, Alberta Community Development, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division,

T-Bird the salamander, Savannah the peregrine, Richard Fyfe, Kevin Barry, Captain S. Peck QM 1PPCLI, PJ’s Pets, Jean Funk, Kathy Girvan, Gareth Swinnerton and the Strathcona Wilderness Centre, Eva Paul, Ross Chapman and the Staff at Elk Island National Park of Canada, Evelyn Henke, Dr. Lu

Carbyn, Andrew Manske, Dr. Anne Gunn, Pat Marklevitz, Locke Girvan, John Janzen Nature Center, Dean Treichel and the

Edmonton Valley Zoo, Mountain Equipment Co-op Edmonton, David’s Restaurant, Shannon Parsons and Hannah Karvonen-

Parsons, Pirkko and Albert Karvonen, Al Parsons, Garry Popowich, Jill Bonenfant, Andra Sheffer, Charles Zamaria,

Gail Yakemchuk, Wendy Sulzle, Jane Bisbee, Robin Jackson, Richard Gustin, Cherie Westmoreland, Caroline Underwood, Ray Moschuk, Carl Karp, Sandra Greene, Chuck Scott and

Robin Mirsky.

Songs

“Animals Are Disgusting Things”“Bear Pants”

“Bob the Wood Frog”“Caribou Bu”

“Could It Bea…ver?”“Job Huntin’ Moose”

“Muskox Waltz”“My Peregrine”

“Rabbits and Hares”“Sally and Stevie”

“September Nights”“Why Don’t We Ever Learn”

“Wolf Pack”

Songs written and performed by Chris Fisher and Becker.

contact

contactFor more information about WildFiles.TV,

contact Ava Karvonen at Reel Girls Media

Ava Karvonen, PresidentReel Girls Media

9860A - 33rd AvenueEdmonton, Alberta

T6N 1C6

ava@reelgirlsmedia.com

www.reelgirlsmedia.comwww.wildfiles.tv