Make plans now to see True Wolf when it screens in a city near you

New dates are being added all the time. You can stay up to date on all the showings and special Q&A sessions by following True Wolf on Facebook and Twitter. Also, check the Screenings page on the official film website.

The Timber Wolf Allliance and National Wolfwatchers Coalition will co-present True Wolf in Madison, WI on March 13. Advance tickets are available on the Barrymore Theater website. After the film, enjoy a special presentation and Q&A session by wolf scientists and advocates.

Dr. Joy Browne on WOR talks with True Wolf director, Rob Whitehair

Listen to the podcast from Sep 14, 2012 WOR, Newstalk 710AM

Dr. Joy Browne loved the film True Wolf calling it “Terrific!”  She invited the film’s director, Rob Whitehair, to come in and talk with her about it on her show. Listen to the podcast as they discuss all the messages the film has to deliver.

Follow the link to the podcast or find it on iTunes.

Hint: Scrub forward to 18:59 for the start of the interview!

Dr. Joy Browne on WOR Newstalk 710 in NYC.

Here’s a link to tickets

Special Event – Aug 17 • 7:35pm • Cinema Village • NYC

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR SPECIAL EVENT – Aug 17 • 7:35pm • Cinema Village • NYC

When wolves come to the Big Apple, it’s a pretty big deal! For the opening night of “True Wolf” in New York City, we’ve teamed up with Wolf Conservation Center and the National Wolfwatcher Coalition to bring you a very special experience.

Following the evening show (7:35pm, Aug 17) on opening night, join us for an awe-inspiring, up-close encounter with “Atka,” the ambassador wolf from Wolf Conservation Center of South Salem, NY. Learn about the importance of this misunderstood predator and the effforts to save these magnificent creatures for future generations. The film director, Rob Whitehair, and members of the National Wolfwatcher Coalition will also be there to answer questions.

Atka is doing the same important outreach work that Koani, the wolf from “True Wolf,” did during her lifetime. During this special evening, you’ll have a chance to experience the presence of a wolf in person.

Buy your tickets early! This is one wolf-encounter you don’t want to miss!

Cinema Village is located at 22 East 12th Street in Greenwich Village, NY, NY

Meet Atka the wolf at Cinema Village in NYC on Aug 17.

Following the NYC Premiere of “True Wolf” on Aug 17 at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street, NYC), stick around for an awe-inspiring, up-close encounter with Ambassador wolf, “Atka,” from the Wolf Conservation Center of South Salem, NY.   Join us to learn the importance of this misunderstood predator and the efforts to save these magnificent creatures for future generations. Members of the National Wolfwatcher Coalition and film director, Rob Whitehair will also be in attendance to answer questions.

Make plans now to join the pack on opening night in NYC!!

Buy tickets at CinemaVillage.com

View a photo slideshow from the evening shot by Jess Abel of Red Light Studios.

After the screening, Robert Chase from Trail 1033 hosted a talk by Bruce Weide and Pat Tucker. Director Rob Whitehair was also on hand to answer questions from the audience.

As a final send off, Pat Tucker led the crowd in a group howl.
Watch the video and howl along!

Koani as a pup being bottle fed

The perfect description of True Wolf from John Hartl of The Seattle Times. What more could a documentary ask for?

No spoiler alert, just a great compliment from Sally Mauk, News Director of KUFM who called the ending “one of the really amazing moments in documentary film that I’ve seen.” During her interview with Bruce Weide and Rob Whitehair, she explained “the value of the film is that it raises as many questions as it does answer questions about the whole notion of our relationship to wild animals.”

Read, watch and listen to more reviews on the Reviews page.

Official Movie Poster – True Wolf

Here’s the official movie poster you’ll see at these theaters:

Screens July 20 – Waterville, ME – Maine International Film Festival

More to come! Stay Tuned….

If you want True Wolf to come to your town, tell your local independent theater you want them to book it!

True Wolf has begun its theatrical run!

Come out to see it on the big screen. More cities being added, so check back often.

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date when it comes to your city.

Here are the starting dates in cities so far:

Starts June 22   Seattle, WA  Landmark Varsity Theater

Starts June 29  Portland, OR Cinema 21

Starts June 29  Missoula, MT  The Wilma Theater

Starts  July 13   Denver, CO  Landmark Chez Artiste Theater

Starts  July 13  Santa Fe, NM  The Screen

July 13 – 22 Waterville, ME  Maine International Film Festival

By Bruce Weide

Koani as a young pup with Bruce's video camera

The making of True Wolf began more than twenty years ago, in 1991, when Koani entered our lives. At first, I borrowed a video camera from Missoula Community Access Television. Later, when Wild Sentry could afford it, I bought a 3-chip camera. Filming our life with a wolf was done on the fly without the luxury of multiple takes and in terms of priorities, it lay well below caring for Koani, running Wild Sentry, and presenting programs. Nevertheless, I shot footage for sixteen years with the belief that this was a good story.

But it wasn’t until 2006, that I truly felt compelled to make a film about Koani. If you live a life with a wolf, you understand that they are meant to live wild and free. I saw a film as a legacy to a wolf who spent her life in captivity and thereby provided many people with a new understanding of wolves. So I set about looking for another filmmaker to work with. I wanted to collaborate with someone for two reasons: Fifteen years had passed since my second documentary aired on public television. During this time I’d engaged in a career entirely apart from filmmaking and much had changed in that world. But of even more importance, I believe in the creative power that comes from team work.

As I searched for a partner, I set about the arduous task of fundraising and eventually, due to the loyalty and generosity of people who had supported Wild Sentry in the past, succeeded. During this period, I also wrote draft after draft of the film. I knew the story I wanted to tell and the three primary elements I wanted to see included:

1. the importance of education;
2. the role stories play in influencing our perceptions and attitudes;
3. the critical need for civil discourse.

Also, I wanted to make a film that underscored the fact that wolves (and hybrids) are not good pets.

Over the course of that three and a half year search, I found people more interested in co-opting the project than collaborating on it. I came quite close to calling it quits… after all, there comes a point when perseverance can turn into stubborn silliness. But I decided to give it one more try.

I explained the story to Rob Whitehair of Tree and Sky Media Arts. This was not an ‘elevator pitch’, this was a full description of story as well as the themes I wanted to see woven into that story. And something unusual and fantastic happened; Rob listened. As I told the story, Rob’s eyes grew more animated and after I finished he said, “Awesome!” And so began a richly rewarding relationship and collaborative effort that resulted in True Wolf.

I hope you enjoy the film. I’m proud of it and I’m delighted to have worked with Rob, but more importantly I now feel a sense of relief because I’ve fulfilled a vow I made to Koani, a commitment to create a legacy to the educational work she achieved and the sacrifice it cost her.