Film Info3 minutes
Grizzly Creek Films, Rocky Mountain Wolf Project Available for Free and Ticketed screenings Synopsis: What happens when fairy tales and reality collide? Throughout history, myths about the “big bad wolf” have generated fear and concern that creeps out of our storybooks and into the real world. By the 1950’s, wolves were pushed to the brink of extinction in the lower forty-eight and more was lost than just the wolf. Meet The Real Wolf introduces a new chapter where the apex predator becomes the protagonist, changing the narrative of the ecosystems they are rebuilding. We learn what happens when the wolf is no longer antagonized, but instead realized as the missing link, and the denouement to our story. |
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Filmmaker Q&A
Co-Director: Thomas Winston
● Describe some of the challenges faced while making this film.
We wanted this film to challenge the myths that have been associated with wolves for many centuries. To do so, we used the “telling of a story” as the motif. The goal of the film is to show that the real story of the wolf is actually much more compelling than the over-simplified myths.
● How do you approach storytelling?
At Grizzly Creek Films we always want to tell a story that is both compelling and enlightening. This an especially fun challenge to make a tight script and couple it with the freedom that comes with animation. The animation allows us to make big leaps in perspective and style to enforce the very big story we are telling.
● What impact do you hope this film will have?
We hope this film will be part of a multipronged approach to build tolerance for wolves returning to Colorado. Since the reintroduction of wolves in the northern Rockies, every wolf that has migrated to Colorado has been killed. This effort hopes curbs that trend.
● Were there any surprising or meaningful experiences you want to share?
This film was made in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project. In addition to producing films, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project commissioned in-depth polling by both Democrat and Republican pollsters to assess the public knowledge and opinions about wolves. The most surprising outcome of these polls is that most Coloradans think that wolves still roam free in their state. When they were told that wolves DO NOT live in Colorado, they overwhelming felt they should, regardless of political affiliation. We used these polling results to shape the approach to the films.
● What do you feel is most important to remember when telling nature related stories to younger audiences?
While we are telling a very serious story about how myths reinforced that practiced that caused the demise of the wolf, we also wanted to work in style that would surprise and delight younger viewers. We used the animation style along with innovative transitions between scenes to make this piece accessible to a youth audience.
● What next?
We are planning to make additional short films for the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project into 2018.
Co-Director: Thomas Winston
● Describe some of the challenges faced while making this film.
We wanted this film to challenge the myths that have been associated with wolves for many centuries. To do so, we used the “telling of a story” as the motif. The goal of the film is to show that the real story of the wolf is actually much more compelling than the over-simplified myths.
● How do you approach storytelling?
At Grizzly Creek Films we always want to tell a story that is both compelling and enlightening. This an especially fun challenge to make a tight script and couple it with the freedom that comes with animation. The animation allows us to make big leaps in perspective and style to enforce the very big story we are telling.
● What impact do you hope this film will have?
We hope this film will be part of a multipronged approach to build tolerance for wolves returning to Colorado. Since the reintroduction of wolves in the northern Rockies, every wolf that has migrated to Colorado has been killed. This effort hopes curbs that trend.
● Were there any surprising or meaningful experiences you want to share?
This film was made in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project. In addition to producing films, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project commissioned in-depth polling by both Democrat and Republican pollsters to assess the public knowledge and opinions about wolves. The most surprising outcome of these polls is that most Coloradans think that wolves still roam free in their state. When they were told that wolves DO NOT live in Colorado, they overwhelming felt they should, regardless of political affiliation. We used these polling results to shape the approach to the films.
● What do you feel is most important to remember when telling nature related stories to younger audiences?
While we are telling a very serious story about how myths reinforced that practiced that caused the demise of the wolf, we also wanted to work in style that would surprise and delight younger viewers. We used the animation style along with innovative transitions between scenes to make this piece accessible to a youth audience.
● What next?
We are planning to make additional short films for the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project into 2018.
