Carl’s Way nominated for 7 Alberta film awards

Times Reporter     

 

A few years ago Rosebud Theatre actors Aaron Krogman, Royal Sproule and Jordan Cutbill decided to launch their own production company, Smoke Signal Media. 

Shortly after the launch the men were approached about producing a historical movie on Carl Anderson, a colourful farmer who had managed to get the Eastern Irrigation District (EID) from the CPR and put it in the hands of Southern Alberta farmers in the 1930s.

Carl’s Way is a 35-minute historical drama that details Anderson’s legendary negotiation with CPR, who actually paid the farmers of the EID to take over in 1935.

The production was recently nominated for seven Alberta Film and Television awards including best dramatic production over 30 minutes. The 2014 Alberta Film and Television Awards will be held at the TELUS Convention Centre in downtown Calgary on April 12. 

“We are delighted to have Carl’s Way nominated,” said art director and camera operator Royal Sproule in a press release.  “When we formed our film company, we dreamed of producing our first significant film in three to five years, so to get the opportunity so early on was is a big surprise and huge honour for us.”

One thing to which Sproule attributes their success so far is that as soon as they got the assignment they surrounded themselves with experienced filmmakers. 

Sproule and his colleagues approached award-winning Albert filmmaker Francis Damberger to direct and Wes Doyle as Director of Photography. 

“Having two veterans like Francis and Wes guiding us through the shoot was the key to the success of Carl’s Way,” said Sproule. 

“It was amazing to watch them walk into a location, quickly eyeball it out and plan out where the cameras and the actors would be placed. This was a huge learning opportunity for us.”

“It was a shock to discover, in my home province, such a great story that I knew nothing about. I jumped at the chance to bring the story to Albertans and Canadians,” said screenwriter Aaron Krogman.

“It’s great to be part of the tradition of Albertan content, made by Albertans, for Albertans,” said producer Jordan Cutbill.

The first screening of Carl’s Way will be in Brooks on June 14. The film will be available to the general public at the Eastern Irrigation District Historical Park in Scandia this summer.