Shot in the Dark Productions premiered two films at the Yukon Arts Centre on Nov. 15, featuring boreal forest puppetry and an Arctic romance trilogy, while seeking wider distribution channels.
Kelly Milner, the films’ producer, highlighted that the films are independently produced and available on YouTube and social media while seeking other distribution channels.
“I'm an independent producer. I don’t have to be the platform, but I need to figure out how to get this show out in the world,” Milner said at the premiere.
Northern Tails, a mockumentary-style web series, took centre stage as audiences gathered in the auditorium, where behind-the-scenes antics were projected onto the big screen, including a shot of Premier Ranj Pillai playing with puppets.
The muppet-esque series is self-described as a silly but serious educational exploration of environmental themes, caricaturing the behaviours of woodland critters with pop culture references sprinkled throughout.
Before each screening of the three ten-minute episodes, voice actors shared stories about how they became the person behind the puppet.
“I ran into Kelly at a grocery store, and she told me she was going to be making a puppet show. I emailed her afterwards saying I'd like to be in a puppet show. She took a chance on me writing on the show, and then she took a chance on me puppeteering on the show,” said Daniel Little, Winston the Wolf’s voice actor.
Shot in the Dark Productions believes puppets can captivate both children and adults with their ability to entertain and educate, as stated on the Northern Tails web page. The Calgary-designed puppets deliver sketch comedy, self-referential storylines and a retro production aesthetic, all wrapped up in storytelling that conveys environmental science themes.
Ali Eisner, a Canadian puppeteer and children's television writer, known for recent work on Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, served as puppet captain and consultant on the set of Northern Tails. Eisner was tasked with creating a skilled cohort of locally trained puppeteers for future seasons.
A federal investment supported Eisner's contribution to the production, providing professional puppetry training aimed at helping Northerners acquire the skills needed to work on future seasons of Northern Tails.
Shot in the Dark Productions received $25,000 in federal funding from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, part of an investment aimed at enhancing the territory’s cultural footprint nationally and potentially abroad, according to a Jul. 3 federal release.
“Our government is supporting these projects to strengthen the local industry, by expanding the number of made-in-the-Yukon productions and creating more opportunities for Yukoners,” MP Brenden Hanley said in the release.
Yukon Film Society artistic director, Andrew Connors, spoke to the News and shared his perspective on the challenges of distributing independently produced Yukon films to audiences outside the territory.
He highlights that filmmakers face significant hurdles, including lack of access to industry decision-makers, high costs of travel and attending events, a crowded marketplace with limited resources and the necessity of building partnerships early.
Shot in the Dark Productions self-distributes on platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, but Connors notes that this avenue requires substantial marketing efforts to stand out.
Connors highlighted that the Yukon's only federally-recognized broadcaster, Northwestel Community Television, has limited resources and budgets compared to larger broadcasters, posing a challenge for local filmmakers.
“Right now, a lot of broadcasters are being really conservative and cautious. There's a lot of content out there, and that may be part of the challenge,” Connor said.
“The traditional way would be to get that financing when you're in development. So essentially, you have the market before you release the work.”
Connors also emphasized the geographic isolation from major industry hubs like Toronto and Vancouver, making it harder for Yukon filmmakers to forge crucial face-to-face relationships with distributors, sales agents, and other decision-makers.
He suggests leveraging film festivals and industry events like TIFF and Banff World Media Festival to connect with industry players who can help expand the reach of their films.
He also highlights leveraging local resources and partnerships, such as working with non-profit streamers like Tenk, to find niche audiences and alternative revenue streams outside of traditional broadcasters.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of the puppet program as "Northern Tales" in fact it is "Northern Tails" the News regrets the error.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com
