Photos courtesy of both films Facebook pages

By Shaun Penner

Local Film

Two local films receiving Telus STORYHIVE grants

Aug 9, 2019 | 5:30 AM

The Telus STORYHIVE project is helping a pair of local filmmakers bring their projects to the silver screen with grants of $50,000.

One of those films is Small Town Strength, which will be produced by Grande Prairie’s Darryl Haugan. The film is meant to tell the story of the growth this city has seen in mixed martial arts.

“So, we’re going to be interviewing coaches, promoters, the athletes,” said Haugan. “I would like to do interviews with the sports commission, just kind of to get a whole scope on the entire MMA culture in Grande Prairie.”

MMA is a sport where local athletes have had recent success, such as Ian Stoby and Alex Martinez. Grande Prairie has also played host to several MMA events, such as Xcessive Force.

Haugan, who works with the local Combative Sports Commission and is heavily involved with the MMA community here, says the idea to make a film about the popularity of the sport in Grande Prairie just made sense.

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“Just two passions crossed one another, I guess,” said Haugan. “I’ve been on the sports commission for the past three years, and then I’ve been making short films here and there for the last few years and I decided ‘You know what, I’m going to make a film about MMA in Grande Prairie.’”

There is no shortage of ways for Haugan and her team to use the grant money as there are many different aspects to making the film.

“One, we have a local band that we’re going to be paying to score the entire film,” said Haugan. “We have equipment to purchase here and there or renting. Then paying the team and any other people that we might sourcing out, such as cinematographers or editors.”

Haugan says she is hoping to be able to debut the film in Grande Prairie in the summer of 2020.

Below you can watch the video made to pitch STORYHIVE for the funding:

The other local film project to receive the funding is called Undefeated: Journey to the Death Race, which will be produced by Wade Whibley. The film will tell the stories of participants of the gruelling 125-kilometre trek through the dangerous elements of the Rocky Mountains near Grande Cache.

The stories shared are meant to exemplify those of overcoming personal hardship, challenges and adversity through the race.

The pitch for that film can be found below: