Hollywood puts spotlight on Kugluktuk Grizzlies

The story of Kugluktuk’s Grizzlies sports team— and its success at building school and community spirit— are destined for the big screen.

A Hollywood-type sports and family-oriented feature film, which officially dubbed an “Untitled Teen Film”— but also referred to as “The Grizzlies”— is to start shooting in Nunavut in March, 2010, with Nunavut teens in star roles.

The Grizzlies’ impact on students and the entire community of Kugluktuk has already inspired short documentaries, such as this ESPN feature on the Grizzlies from 2007 on Youtube.

The $5 to $6 million film, to be produced by California-based Northwood Film Productions, recently cast a large net in Nunavut for actors eager to take on roles.

Auditions wrapped up last week — and the top 31 teens, who auditioned in person during a recent Kugluktuk audition or downloaded their audition tapes to casting company web site, are scheduled to attend an acting workshop in Iqaluit that starts Nov. 23.

Iqaluit filmmaker Stacey Aglok MacDonald, who is originally from Kugluktuk, will coordinate this workshop which includes classes on improvisation, storytelling, filmmaking, theater, Inuit circus arts, drum dancing, throat singing, Uaajeerneq dance from Greenland, and Inuit performance arts.

Award-winning actor Natar Ungalaaq, ArtCirq performers, Laakkuluk Williamson, Mathew Nuqingaq, Becky Kilabuk, Qajaaq Ellsworth and acting coach Melee Hutton will work with the workshop participants.

They’ll also be able to audition live for the film’s writer and director, Graham Yost, a Canadian film and television writer.

The 1994 film, “Speed,” starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, launched Yost’s career and was the first in a series of films he wrote.

His screenwriting credits also include, “Broken Arrow,” with John Travolta, “Hard Rain” with Morgan Freeman and Minnie Driver, and “The Last Castle,” with Robert Redford and Mark Ruffalo.

In the late 1990s, Yost launched his directing career with the Emmy and Golden Globe winning mini-series “From the Earth to the Moon.”

And in 2001, Yost teamed up with Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg on “Band of Brothers,” which won 22 awards and became one of HBO’s most successful mini-series.

The Nunavut film’s producer, Miranda de Pencier, is an independent producer who has worked in film, television and theatre for over 20 years. Her productions include the soon-to-be released feature film, “Beginners,” with Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer.

The film’s executive producer Zanne Devine is also a veteran feature film executive.

As president of production at Beacon Pictures, Devine served as executive producer on films “The Guardian,” with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher, and “A lot like love,” with Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet.

According to handout material from the auditions, the Nunavut feature film— www.InuitTeenMovie.com — is “an inspiring and heartwarming drama set in an Inuit community.”

A look at a section of the film script used for auditions shows the characters Susan, Tara and Peter (Tara’s dad) serving up pizza and cans of pop.

All the hockey kids are there,” along with John and Dan,” it says.

“Teen Boy”— one of the lead roles that will be filled by the auditions— speaks in one of them.

“This time last year, none of us had even held a hockey stick, and now, thanks to you guys, we’re all playing really good. So, we want to thank you for all the time you put in and all your hard work and we want you to have these,” Teen Boy says.

Kevin turns to Susan and Tara. They hand him two wrapped presents. They are the size, weight and feel of folded team jerseys. Kevin hands them out to John and Dan.

John and Dan open up their packages, unfold their jerseys and look at them. “Wow.”

John turns the jersey around and shows it to the kids.

On the jersey is the head of a roaring polar bear. Underneath it: Nunavut Bears.

Since 2001, the real-life Grizzlies — www.kugluktukgrizzlies.com — have encouraged students in Kugluktuk to live well, play hard and stay in school.
Being a Grizzly requires dedication to sports and good attendance at school.

And so far, this mix has produced outstanding results for the Grizzlies in table tennis, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, badminton and volleyball.

Participation in regional, national and international games, exchange trips, and special activities are among the perks Grizzlies enjoy.

But to remain part of the program, Grizzlies must maintain an 80 per cent attendance record at school and steer clear of trouble.

The story of the Grizzlies may soon be better known through a proposed feature film on Kugluktuk’s celebrated youth sports association. (FILE PHOTO)