[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ background_color=”#262626″ custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” transparent_background=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/treaty6productions.ca\/abductedthemovie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/46970591_10156627704090482_4786997916206104576_n.jpg” title_text=”Best Animation Win” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”21px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/treaty6productions.ca\/abductedthemovie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/10485383_10152558592915482_8918577208639001914_n-225×300.jpg” title_text=”At the Lac St. Anne Pilgrimage” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/treaty6productions.ca\/abductedthemovie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Dan-with-Chief-225×300.jpg” title_text=”Dan with Chief” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/treaty6productions.ca\/abductedthemovie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/IMG_4760-200×300.jpg” title_text=”A Raven’s Song” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/treaty6productions.ca\/abductedthemovie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/The-Horned-Serpent-Movie-Poster-concept-4-01-1-1-200×300.png” title_text=”The Horned Serpent Movie Poster ” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/treaty6productions.ca\/abductedthemovie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/IMG_20200706_090022-225×300.jpg” title_text=”Elder Wilson Bearhead” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”14px|||||” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
The story behind <\/span>Abducted<\/span><\/i> \u2026<\/span><\/p>\n People ask \u201chow long have you been working on this film?\u201d In the broadest sense, we could say this has been in development for years. Technically, Sharlene and Dan have been creating short films together for 8 years and with each short film, we have learned more about the art of filmmaking and how to produce a high quality project even with a low budget. <\/span><\/p>\n Our short film \u201cA Raven\u2019s Song<\/a>\u201d was a thread from the original concept for this feature film. Our short animated series \u201cRaven Adventures\u201d included an episode called \u201cRaven Goes Fishing<\/a>\u201d which garnered the top animated short film award at the American Indian Film Festival. It was this win which propelled our team to receive financial backing for a feature film through Canada\u2019s Telefilm \u201cTalent to Watch\u201d<\/a> funding stream.<\/span><\/p>\n The bones of this story started with a seed many years ago when Dan envisioned a tale about an Indigenous boy who was living in poverty and who needed to help his family. Included in this original concept were strong women (his grandmother and a gang leader). Dan was also learning more about his Metis culture and he and Sharlene spent time attending some amazing cultural and spiritual events and celebrations, including community pow wows, smudges, and the Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Derrick is young, na\u00efve, talented, and protected by his grandmother and sister. There are no strong male role models in his life. His story is inspired by the many young males who are being raised without strong role models, and the lack of rites of passage that young men once went through. Especially in Indigenous culture, these rites and rituals were essential for boys to experience physical, mental and spiritual challenges to prepare them for manhood. Derrick\u2019s character arc is from an unsure boy into a man who is intent on saving the world.<\/span><\/p>\n Each character in this film has a well-researched story and each story is worthy of its own film. Kokum is a survivor of the residential schools. Dan and Sharlene attended many Truth and Reconciliation<\/a> events and spent time with men and women who shared their experiences from their time in residential schools. The stories that were shared were heart-wrenching and inspirational. We also spent time learning from elders and storytellers about Indigenous culture, history and worldview. All of this information was pulled together to form the backstory for Derrick\u2019s grandmother.<\/span><\/p>\n Lakota and Lisa are members of an all-woman gang. In our research, we spoke to members of the Edmonton Police Service gang<\/a> and major crimes units. We spoke to women who had been in gangs and heard stories about what life in urban gangs is like. We learned how women in gangs differ from men, and the roles they play. We also learned how the men and women in the police service and in social agencies work hard to keep women living at risk safe.<\/span><\/p>\n Our research also took us into the darkness of the world of serial murderers. We talked to the RCMP<\/a> about their research and investigations into the missing and murdered women in the Edmonton area. We learned that there is a killer (or killers) who prey on women who \u201cwon\u2019t be missed\u201d if they disappear \u2026 those living at risk lifestyles including runaways, prostitutes and gang members. We also researched the psychopathic and sociopathic characteristics of serial killers, in addition to learning about brain injury and treatments. It is from all this research that our main antagonist, Tyson, evolved.<\/span><\/p>\n We created a trailer in 2018 called “The Horned Serpent”<\/a> where the beginnings of our killer emerged. This original concept had an underlying theme of the Horned Serpent and Thunderbird mythologies. Due to budget constraints this theme was discarded for the feature film.<\/p>\n