In Development

BEAR CAVE MOUNTAIN
Feature documentary.
In the middle of a 165 square kilometer ecological reserve is a place called <b>BEAR CAVE MOUNTAIN</b> teeming with wild life. For the Vuntut Gwitchen people this is a sacred place, undisturbed and untamed, one of the last truly wild places on earth. It is paradise, especially for the majestic grizzly – a symbol of wilderness itself, of something that is bigger and stronger than us. The area that surrounds Bear Cave Mountain is the size of Switzerland and is inhabited by less than 350 people. This isolation and the salmon make conditions perfect for the fall feeding cycle before the bears go into hibernation. Bear Cave Mountain has about 20 caves, which are essential for winter denning. Without the warm shelter of the caves they would not be able to feed as late in the winter season. Our guide is cinematographer and outdoorsman Phil Timpany who has spent 30 years working in north studying salmon runs, which by association means studying bears. Phil knows some bear families through four generations. He’ll be looking for ‘Boots’ a productive female with four offspring, one of her male cubs ‘Arnold’… Mrs. Tucker, Goldie, Fagan and Ole Brown – a reasonably tolerant male in his mid twenties who Phil hopes will see another winter. Although he has names for some of the grizzlies Phil is under no illusions. He doesn’t see them as friends, he doesn’t interact. He just watches. And more passive bears come very close and watch him back. Phil isn’t afraid but he is careful and constantly aware of the risk.

MISDIRECTION – in association with Prior Logic Productions
Feature documentary.
After traveling around the world filming some of its greatest magicians, the filmmakers came upon a whole new type of magic we had never seen before - in Queens, New York. Something more direct, more primal. A surrogate family had developed around Rogue’s, a small magic shop, made up mostly of criminals, gang members, and dropouts. Misdirection explores this family through its three most dynamic members, following each magician in their struggle for success, change, and fame - or in some cases, disillusion. It is about magic’s ability to inspire, as well as a gritty look at the difficulties of fulfilling creative dreams, particularly against the backdrop of a dark past and harsh economic barriers. To succeed in the competitive and illusionary world of magic, as their hero David Blaine has, requires everything of them. And it is this total commitment that will ultimately be their gateway to a better life. If they lose inspiration in the wake of defeat, these aspiring magicians will be lost – reduced to tired dreams, in which they can no longer live. Magic, when it works, is a source of amazement. If it fails, the failure is public and devastating - our characters’ personal lives follow that same code. Our cameras will be at ground zero as our guys burn to achieve greatness both professionally and personally. The film will deeply involve the audience in this raw and emotional human drama about growing up through the mystery and wonder of magic. And, bring us back to our youth, at that moment, when the world seemed all there before us - when anything was possible.

WAR ON WOMEN
Feature documentary.
The intention of this documentary is to put a spotlight on our nasty little secret - violence against women. In THE WAR ON WOMEN we will reveal that the killing of women by the intimate men in their lives continues unabated and that in this war, the fallen are more likely to be ignored than honoured. The reality is that our communities harbour domestic terrorists. Many people know who they are. No one speaks out. Battering isn’t the taboo, talking about it is. We intend to break that taboo and talk loudly with the help of some courageous women, and men and people in the frontlines of the battlefield on THE WAR ON WOMEN.

MORE…
In addition to the projects listed above, Real to Reel has a few more ideas in development that are still under wraps – 2 food shows, a sports program, a comedy series and a historical piece. Stay tuned!