Wild Animal Sanctuary Adds 9,004 Acres To Its Colorado Operation

The Wild Animal Sanctuary (images via The Wild Animal Sanctuary's site)

The Wild Animal Sanctuary has completed the purchase of a 9,004-acre ranch located in southeastern Colorado near the agricultural community of Springfield.

With more than 460 lions, tigers, bears, wolves and other rescued animals currently residing at the non-profit organization's facility near Keenesburg, Colorado, the need for additional space drove the organization to seek additional land to continue fulfilling its mission.  

Working with law enforcement agencies and other animal welfare groups within the United States and around the world, the organization had reached capacity at its 789-acre Sanctuary located just thirty miles northeast of Denver, CO.

Already considered the largest carnivore sanctuary in the world, the organization chose to purchase the large contiguous parcel near Springfield due to its size and abundant natural amenities. Consisting primarily of hills, canyons and rocky bluffs blanketed in various species of pine trees, as well as valleys and pastures flowing with native grasses, Sanctuary management says the property is well suited for hosting wildlife.

The additional land will allow The Wild Animal Sanctuary to continue rescuing and rehabilitating captive wildlife for many years to come. The organization says it has no plans to close its Keenesburg facility, since it continues to educate more than 150,000 visitors annually. The site also features a unique 1.5-mile long elevated walkway that holds the Guinness World Records award for Longest Footbridge.

According to The Humane Society of The United States (1), tigers, lions, and other big cat species have exploded in popularity in the exotic pet trade. There are an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 tigers in the United States, but fewer than 400 of them are in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Foreign Policy Group (2), and World Wildlife Fund (3), also recognize the Captive Wildlife problems within the United States that lead to so many tigers and other exotic animals needing sanctuary.

Last year marked the 38th year of rescuing exotic and endangered animals for the wildlife sanctuary. The 789-acre facility outside of Denver, Colorado had functioned as the primary facility for the organization, but now the larger and more natural tract near Springfield will become the main receiving facility for new rescues. 

The Sanctuary specializes in rehabilitating captive wildlife and releasing them to live and roam freely within large natural habitats. 

⏩ To learn more about The Wild Animal Sanctuary, visit wildanimalsanctuary.org

A lion  (image via The Wild Animal Sanctuary's site

Footnotes:

(1) humanesociety.org/issues/exotic_pets/facts/dangerous-exotic-pets-big-cats.html
(2) foreignpolicy.com/2016/04/11/there-are-more-domestic-tigers-in-the-u-s-than-wild-ones-in-the-jungle/
(3) worldwildlife.org/stories/more-tigers-in-american-backyards-than-in-the-wild

SOURCE: The Wild Animal Sanctuary (Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center)

The Video:

Center for Puppetry Arts Will Honor Caroll Spinney, Beloved Puppeteer of Sesame Street's Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, At This Year's Benefit Stage Show and Dinner

The Jim Henson Company will host the Center for Puppetry Arts' fundraiser Puppets for Puppetry, a night of special and surprise performances celebrating all kinds of puppetry honoring Caroll Spinney.

The Center for Puppetry Arts proudly presents its second Puppets for Puppetry fundraising event on Saturday, May 5, 2018.  The dinner and show will be hosted by The Jim Henson Company on its historic Hollywood lot and presented with support from Sesame Workshop. 

Caroll Spinney

This year's event honors the beloved puppeteer Caroll Spinney, best known to fans around the world as the performer of the iconic Sesame Street characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. The evening will be hosted again by Broadway's John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek) with additional special guests (human, feathered, and furry) to be announced soon.

The mission of the Center for Puppetry Arts is to inspire imagination, education, and community through the global art of puppetry. This Atlanta-based nonprofit is the nation's only resource of its kind, featuring an international puppetry collection, a vibrant theatre space, and workshops and performances that develop puppetry talent; it also houses more than 500 puppets and props donated by the family of Jim Henson and The Jim Henson Company in its permanent exhibit, The Jim Henson Collection. 

The Center's educational programs serve schools nationwide, complementing national curriculum standards in language arts, social studies, science, math, and other areas. In the Center's most recently-completed fiscal year, visitors came from all 50 states. The Center's Distance Learning program has also reached all 50 states and nine countries with live and interactive workshops and performances, delivered through videoconferencing.

"The Center for Puppetry Arts is grateful for the support of The Jim Henson Company and Sesame Workshop through the Puppets for Puppetry fundraiser. I'm thrilled that this year's honoree is Caroll Spinney, a dear friend both to me and the Center," said Vincent Anthony, The Barbara and Bill Wylly Executive Director at the Center for Puppetry Arts. "It is a privilege for us to honor such a talented puppeteer.  Caroll's exceptional legacy and the creative team behind this show are sure to make for a spectacular evening!"

Individual tickets start at $250, with tables and sponsorship packages beginning at $7,500.  Special pricing is available for members of the Center for Puppetry Arts and Puppeteers of America.

⏩ For additional information please visit: puppetsforpuppetry.com.

About the Center for Puppetry Arts 
The Center for Puppetry Arts is supported in part by: Fulton County Arts Council • City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs • Georgia Council for the Arts • The Jim Henson Company. 

⏩ For a complete list of the Center's major supporters, visit puppet.org/about/sponsors.

Center for Puppetry Arts is a unique cultural treasure – a magical place where children and adults are educated, enlightened, and entertained. 

Since 1978, the Center has introduced millions of visitors to the wonder and art of puppetry and has touched the lives of many through enchanting performances, curriculum-based workshops, and the hands-on Museum as well as Distance Learning and Outreach programs. 

Center for Puppetry Arts is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and is supported in part by contributions from corporations, foundations, government agencies, and individuals. 

The Center is a member of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA/USA/ASSITEJ) and also serves as headquarters of UNIMA-USA, the American branch of Union Internationale de la Marionnette, the international puppetry organization.

SOURCE: The Jim Henson Company

Caroll Spinney Related Videos:

US: 'The Karate Kid' Returns to the Big Screen With a Sneak Preview of YouTube Red's Original Series Reboot 'Cobra Kai,' in Cinemas Nationwide April 25 Only

Cobra Kai: Premiere Feat. The Karate Kid

Moviegoers across the country will be practicing their "wax on, wax off" skills when Fathom Events and YouTube revive the beloved "Karate Kid" saga with an exclusive, one-night cinema experience featuring the original 1984 classic, "The Karate Kid," coupled with an exclusive advance screening of the first two episodes from the new YouTube Red Original Series, "Cobra Kai," based on the Karate Kid franchise.

⏩ Tickets for "Cobra Kai: Premiere Feat. The Karate Kid" can be purchased beginning Friday, March 23, at FathomEvents.com or participating theater box offices.

This special event screens in cinemas nationwide for one night on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.local time. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in nearly 700 select movie theaters. A complete list of theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Cobra Kai - Daniel and Johnny Face Off at Dojo

Originally hitting theaters in 1984, "The Karate Kid" received critical acclaim as a heart-stopping yet endearing underdog story following the friendship of high schooler Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and his apartment maintenance man turned martial arts trainer Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), as Daniel prepares to take on arch-rival Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) in the All Valley Karate Tournament. Through Miyagi's teaching, Daniel learns important life lessons, overcomes adversity and ultimately faces his opponent in an epic match. An instant commercial success, the film spawned a franchise of memorabilia, three sequels, a television series, and a 2010 remake featuring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan.

In the highly-anticipated return of two iconic characters, the arch-rivals from the legendary "Karate Kid" film reunite in "Cobra Kai." Now living in the affluent hills of Encino, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) leads an enviable life with his beautiful family, while running a successful string of car dealerships throughout the valley. Meanwhile, his high school adversary, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), whose life has taken a rocky turn, seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. Their lives inevitably become intertwined and the rivalry is reignited, setting forth the next generation of "karate kids" in "Cobra Kai," a YouTube Red Original Series. "Cobra Kai" is produced by Overbrook Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television.

The YouTube Red Original series "Cobra Kai" will have its world debut at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 24 and will later launch to audiences around the world May 2 on YouTube Red.

The Karate Kid - Daniel and Mr. Miyagi

"'The Karate Kid' became an instant classic in the 1980s and continues to resonate with generations of film lovers across the country," said Fathom Events VP of Programming Tom Lucas. "We're excited to partner with YouTube Red to give audiences an exclusive look into the reignited rivalry in 'Cobra Kai,' along with the original film and a cast panel discussion -- all on the big screen."

"A beloved American classic, 'The Karate Kid' film continues to be one of the most searched entertainment properties on YouTube," said Susanne Daniels Global Head of Original Content, YouTube. "We're thrilled to recreate the world inside the dojo in this exciting new YouTube Red Original Series, featuring iconic cast members from the original film."

SOURCE: Fathom Events

The Trailer:

Disney Music Group Set To Release First 6 Remastered Star Wars Original Motion Picture Soundtracks On May 4

Star Wars Catalog artwork (PRNewsfoto/Walt Disney Records)

Since the release of the first Star Wars movie 40 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, groundbreaking special effects and iconic musical scores composed by John Williams.

On May 4th, Walt Disney Records is set to release the original motion picture soundtracks for the first six Star Wars films: A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005). With scores composed and conducted by Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams, each album has been remastered, features new artwork and a collectible mini-poster. 

The soundtracks were reconstructed from new hi-resolution (24/192) transfers supervised by Shawn Murphy and Skywalker Sound. In addition to physical, each soundtrack is also available digitally.

   John Williams (image via NME)

John Williams is well known for scoring all eight of the Star Wars saga films to date, beginning with 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope for which he earned an Academy Award® for Best Original Score. His score for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was nominated for an Oscar® and most recently, Star Wars: The Last Jedi received an Oscar nomination.

Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, five Emmy Awards and 23 Grammy Awards. With 51 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the Academy's most nominated living person and the second most-nominated individual in history, after Walt Disney. In 2005, the American Film Institute selected Williams' score to 1977's Star Wars as the greatest American film score of all time. 

The soundtrack to Star Wars also was preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry, for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Williams was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl's Hall of Fame in 2000, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004, the National Medal of Arts in 2009, and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016. 

Mark Hamill, John Williams & Harrison Ford at the 2017 Star Wars Celebration in Orlando.

Williams has composed the scores for eight of the top 20 highest-grossing films at the U.S. box office (adjusted for inflation).

Pre-orders are available at:

• A New Hope: disneymusic.co/ANewHopeCD
• Empire Strikes Back:disneymusic.co/EmpireStrikesBackCD
• Return of the Jedi: disneymusic.co/ReturnoftheJediCD
• Phantom Menace: disneymusic.co/PhantomMenaceCD
• Attack of the Clones: disneymusic.co/AttackoftheClonesCD
• Revenge of the Sith: disneymusic.co/RevengeoftheSithCD

⏩ The Star Wars: A New Hope 40th Anniversary 3-LP Collector's Edition hologram vinyl is available at Disney Music Emporium,

SOURCE: Walt Disney Records

The Shape Of Water: An Allegorical Critique Of Trump

The Shape of Water offers a clever allegory to Donald’s Trump’s presidency, with Michael Shannon’s character (on the left) representing some of the president’s worst qualities. (Kerry Hayes/Fox Searchlight Pictures)

By John Richardson, University of Ottawa

Resistance to Donald Trump’s presidency has taken many forms, including legal challenges, resignations, media criticism, women’s marches, political rebukes and endless rounds of late night mockery. The Best Picture winner at the 90th Academy Awards provides another, less obvious example of resistance. The top film was The Shape of Water, an allegorical love story between a mute woman and a green sea monster.

I am a high school English teacher and an adjunct professor in the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Education with a background in live theatre, critical pedagogy and youth culture. I teach Bachelor of Education students who may one day teach high school English classes.
Part of my course covers the importance of critical literacy, which I believe we can teach by asking teenagers to view film as more than just entertainment but as a vital source of insight on contemporary culture, issues and society.

Many of my classroom discussions focus on the ways in which this year’s top movies, not just Oscar nominees, offer clever responses to the racist, sexist and xenophobic policies and rhetoric that have accompanied Trump’s rise to the top.

Lady Bird argues that the lives of young women are worthy of exploration. Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri offers a flamethrower portrayal of the corruption, racial conflict and violence at the heart of the American dream. Black Panther triumphantly demonstrates that Black actors and filmmakers can produce a Hollywood blockbuster and that African-American culture can yield an exciting, mythological story appealing to all audiences.

But it is The Shape of Water that offers the most detailed, poetic critique of Trump and the hollow promises of his “Make America Great Again” philosophy.

Lives of quiet oppression 

Set in 1962 Baltimore, director Guillermo Del Toro’s film tells the story of Elisa, a young mute woman who works as a cleaner at a mysterious government facility that is home to a recently captured “Amphibian Man.” Zelda is her African-American co-worker and Giles, a gay graphic designer whose work and identity are “ahead of his time,” is her roommate.

These are the Americans who live lives of quiet oppression in the past-tense America that shimmers, mythical and revered, at the heart of the Trump campaign promise. The film both upholds and undermines the old mythologies that can provide comfort and reassurance to people whose lives have been disrupted by global trade, population movements and the emergence of AI in the workplace.

‘The Shape of Water’ features the lives of Americans facing everyday oppressions. (Kerry Hayes/Fox Searchlight Pictures)

The Cold War is in full swing in the film, and the dichotomy between the United States and Russia, between “good” and “evil,” is both referenced and undermined.

Americans and Russians are in conflict, but it’s a Russian agent who acts ethically. There is a traditional Main Street dessert shop, but the affable server turns out to be a vile racist and homophobe who adopts a southern accent for marketing purposes and is actually from Ottawa.

The pies look appealing, but they are mass-produced and the store is part of a new phenomena, the franchise. The film is poised at the moment when authenticity is being lost to illusion.

A Trump proxy 

Opposing the quiet, marginalized Americans is Strickland, a shadowy government worker upon whose character the filmmakers apply hateful qualities like layers of slime. It becomes evident that Strickland is designed as a bridge to Trump’s present-day political toxicity when a smooth-talking car salesman tells him: “You are the man of the future.”

A further connection to Trump is made when Strickland announces: “The future is bright. You gotta trust in that. This is America.” Here the film has fun with its ironic presentation of the past. As audience members in 2018 watching a film set in a period of time more than half a century ago, we may question whether the future has indeed turned out to be “bright.”

Reading news stories about the Robert Mueller investigation into the Trump campaign’s alleged involvement with Russia, we may feel profoundly uneasy about the relationship between trust and leadership.

Witnessing the assault on otherness and a turn to American nativism, we may question what it now means to be American, and where a nation that was once so welcoming to immigrants has gone.

The Shape of Water is an unconventional love story between a mute woman and a sea creature. (Kerry Hayes/Fox Searchlight Pictures)

But then the film also picks up on the way in which truth in the Trump era has been attacked, questioned and undermined. “Bonanza is not violent. It’s real life. The way it was,” Strickland tells his son about the popular Western TV show of the time. A TV show is said to be “true” much in the same way that Trump draws on cable news personalities as experts fit to serve in the White House.

Like Trump, Strickland boasts about his power to sexually assault women when he harasses silent Elisa with the line: “Bet I can make you squawk a little.” He has sex with his wife in a mechanical manner that diminishes and belittles her. His casual vulgarity oozes male privilege. His repellent masculinity crowds out a woman’s agency.

Strickland calls the beautiful South American Amphibian Man an “affront” and takes pleasure in torturing him with his sizzling cattle prod.

“How did they get in?” he asks of the Russian agents who infiltrated his facility, the question echoing the current political discourse around “illegals” and “shithole countries” as well as the president’s restrictive immigration policies.

A rebuke to ignorance 

When the mute woman, the Black woman and the gay man act together to free the beautiful “undesirable” from his prison, the film suggests that the creativity and humanism of outsiders can prevail against cruelty and corruption.

Cowardly, vile and literally rotting from having lost fingers earlier in the story, Strickland dies by the same violence he promulgated. He is the real monster. Elisa and Amphibian Man fall in love and slip away to a watery paradise. Breathing underwater, she opens her eyes and looks at him. She is alive.

Not everyone can escape to the ocean’s depths to escape the Trump presidency, but we can escape to the movies. The Shape of Water reminds audiences of the humanity of those people who are marginalized and belittled. Its artistry alone is a rebuke to ignorance.

About Today's Contributor:
John Richardson, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

This article was originally published on The Conversation. 

The Trailer:

Makers of Indie Film "Hex" -- a Satisfying, Surprising Mix of Horror and Skydiving -- Launch Indiegogo Campaign to Fund Post-Production

"Hex" - Poster

Filming has wrapped on the new indie horror film "Hex," and now the producers are seeking community support to complete post-production and bring the pulse-pounding adventure to audiences everywhere. The team hopes to raise $53,000 via an Indiegogo campaign; the crowdfunding effort has already raised a significant portion of that amount, and with a month left in the campaign, Producer Bethany Baptiste is confident it will reach its target. More information about the film, including a trailer and special message from the film's co-directors, is available at hex-movie.com/index.html.

"The talent, creativity, dedication and passion of this amazing cast and crew have carried us a long way," says Producer Joey Box, whose 30-year career includes stunt work on blockbusters like "Oblivion," "Star Trek" and "I Am Legend," among others. "Now, we're looking to film lovers everywhere to help us realize our dream. The entire team is sincerely thankful for all contributions to our campaign."

"Hex" is a unique addition to the horror genre, combining skydiving action with chilling horror themes. The film follows protagonist Sarah, played by Kayla Adams, as she and five fellow skydivers execute a taboo aerial formation. What happens next defies explanation: Sarah witnesses an inexplicable disappearance during the dive, and the team soon find themselves haunted and fighting for their lives against an unseen, mysterious force. They quickly discover that nothing is what it seems, and the viewer is carried right along with them on the wild ride.

The idea for a film merging horror and skydiving came naturally to the crew, who collectively have over 25,000 dives to their credit and a deep love of horror films. Renowned screenwriter Hans Rodionoff has previously collaborated with the likes of Guillermo del Toro, Clive Barker and John Carpenter, all revered modern masters of the horror writing craft.

Cinematographers Mike Carpenter and Lloyd Bateman brought professionalism, skill and blockbuster technology to the film. During the filming of each pulse-pounding dive, Carpenter employed the perfect framing and camera moves to communicate the aerial action in ways never seen before. The visceral experience sets a high bar for dynamic cinematography. Every scene was also shot in splendid 4Kresolution, and one of the important post-production duties will be adding the right color grading to each frame, as well as creating the necessary visual effects.

"Our post-production team is ready to go," says Co-director Chris Johnston, "and your contribution will help us complete the visual effects, sound design and color grading — these are some of the necessary finishing touches to what we know is a great film. This production has been an incredible journey for Co-director Andy Malchiodi and I, and we're enormously grateful for any support the community can give us. Even if you can't afford to donate money, you can help up tremendously by sharing this campaign on social media."

Makers of Indie Film “Hex” — a Satisfying, Surprising Mix of Horror and Skydiving — Launch Indiegogo Campaign to Fund Post-Production

⏩ Perks for supporters of the "Hex" crowdfunding campaign start at $15, at which level supporters will see their name listed on the website's "Wall of Fame." For a contribution of $30, campaign backers will also receive a digital poster and digital download of the film; the premier is slated for summer 2018. A Hex fanny pack made of parachute material and a "mystery gift" will greet anyone who contributes $125 to the campaign. At the highest contribution level of $10,000, backers will be credited as executive producers and enjoy a plethora of exciting perks.

SOURCE: Hex

The Trailer: