Solaris Productions

11/10/2023

Looks like Calgary loves Windchasers! CSIF - The Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers has just nominated our puppet project for two Stinger Awards!

Congratulations to the whole team and thank you for the nominations. We are up for:

Best Screenplay - Andrew G Cooper & Anna Cu**er
Best Score - Chad Blain

We'd like to extend a huge thank you again to all the amazing organizations that made this project possible: Jupiter Theatre | Calgary Arts Development | City of Calgary | Canada Council for the Arts | (Government of Alberta)

19/09/2023

Here's a sneak peek at one of the scenes from our short film WINDCHASERS!

Windchasers is a fun-filled, fantasy puppet adventure that follows whimsical creatures on a faraway planet as they band together to save their species and their home. The project is currently nominated for three Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) Rosie Awards:

• Best Screenwriter (Scripted Under 30 Minutes) - Andrew G Cooper & Anna Cu**er
• Best Original Musical Score (Scripted) - Chad Blain
• Best Visual Effects Creator(s) - Morgan Ermter

Produced by Solaris Productions
Screenplay by Andrew G Cooper & Anna Cu**er
Director: Andrew G Cooper
Producers: Andrew G Cooper, Griffin Cork, Anna Cu**er, DerRic Starlight
Co-Created by the Calgary Puppeteer Collective: Jen Bain, Andrew G. Cooper, Anna Cu**er, Ali DeRegt, Braden Griffith, Jamie
Konchak, Ellis LaLonde, Geneviève Pare, and DerRic Starlight

Cast
Ven: Ellis LaLonde
Aria: Jennifer Lynn Bain
The Wanderer: DerRic Starlight
Kokani: Jamie Konchak
Nunu: Jen Bain
Additional Puppeteers: Andrew G. Cooper, Anna Cu**er, Ali DeRegt, Grace Fedorchuk, Braden Griffiths, Geneviève Paré, Liam Whitley

Director of Photography: David Baron
Production Manager: Erin S Lucca

Production Designer: Jennifer Lynn Bain
Set Designer and Set Decorator: Heather Faye
Miniature Set Builder: Connor Sadler
Art Department Assistant: Alexis Alvendia
Costume Designer: Jennifer Lynn Bain
Prop Master: Jennifer Lynn Bain
Puppets Developed by Brendan James Boyd and Reese Scott
Puppet Fabrication by Aaron Roberts and Sarah McPhee
Concept Artist: Jessica Snyder-Starlight

Video Editor: Morgan Ermter
Visual Effects: Morgan Ermter Composer: Chad Blain
Sound Designer: Chad Blain

Produced with the assistance of the YourAlberta (Government of Alberta), Alberta Media Fund. Shot on location in Alberta, Canada. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada. Funding in part by the City of Calgary and the Calgary Arts Development.

29/08/2023

By the Winds! WINDCHASERS has been nominated as a finalist for three Rosie Awards from the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA)!

Congratulations to our entire team on their incredible work with this project. And a special round of applause to our nominees!

Best Screenwriter (Scripted Under 30 Minutes) - Andrew G Cooper & Anna Cu**er
Best Original Musical Score (Scripted) - Chad Blain
Best Visual Effects Creator(s) - Morgan Ermter

Jupiter Theatre | Calgary Arts Development | City of Calgary | Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada | (Government of Alberta) | Keep Alberta Rolling

26/05/2023

Here's a first look at our upcoming project WINDCHASERS. Get ready for magic and fun in this puppet adventure!

When the Winds stop blowing on the plains, a herdguider and a windchaser set out to discover the secrets of an ancient civilization to save their home from a gathering force known only as the Unknowing.

Canada Council for the Arts | Calgary Arts Development | (Government of Alberta) | Jupiter Theatre

12/06/2022

Here's a small look at the project we're currently working on with the folks from Jupiter Theatre.

04/04/2022

Last month we tested prototype puppets with Jupiter Theatre for our upcoming project. We're very pleased with the results of our camera tests so far!

Here's a look behind the scenes. Pictured here is cinematographer David Baron and puppeteer Anna Cu**er with support from DerRic Starlight (puppeting the fan).

29/03/2022

We were busy all last week with Solaris Productions at the West Village Theatre and had a tremendous time testing, experimenting, and prototyping puppets/cameras for our next big project. Here's a sneak peek behind the scenes with director Andrew G. Cooper and cinematographer David Baron!

A big thank you to Calgary Arts Development / City of Calgary – Your Local Government again for making this important exploration work possible with the Calgary Puppeteer Collective!

22/03/2022

Happy ! Check out a sneak peek on our upcoming project with Jupiter Theatre!

Happy ! 🎊🎉

We've been pretty secretive about a fun and exciting new puppet project we're working on with Solaris Productions but we're excited to give you a tiny sneak peek behind the scenes today! This is our puppet and production designer Jen Bain working on a sculpture for one of the characters of up upcoming puppet film project.

The project, generously funded by Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada and Calgary Arts Development / City of Calgary – Your Local Government, is going to be completed later this year. We'll be releasing more information soon, so stay tuned!

18/02/2022

Here's a look at our upcoming project with Jupiter Theatre and the Calgary Puppeteer Collective from CBC Calgary.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2003875907926/

Calgary puppeteer DerRic Starlight, along with his cast of First Nation puppets, discovered a different style of performing — the Jim Henson way.

18/02/2022

Our team was featured on Global Calgary and talked about our upcoming puppet film project in collaboration with Jupiter Theatre and the Calgary Puppeteer Collective. More details about the project will be released soon.

Watch the interview online here: https://t.co/nuwk4esnZS

Being part of the big budget "Fraggle Rock" reboot is bringing a big boost for some talented Calgarians.

09/12/2021

Solaris Productions is a film and new media production company taking off in Calgary, AB in 2022. We'll be making announcements soon about our first major project.