Executive Producer Dean Kohut’s film ‘She Has a Name’ won the Alberta Film & Television Award for Best Production Design on the weekend.
Red Deer-based Production Designer for the film, Shari Aspinall, was on hand to accept the award in Edmonton.
"The acknowledgment of an established community of creatives such as Alberta Film & Television is not only satisfying but affirming of the heart and hours invested into independent films like She Has A Name,” notes Aspinall who shares a production design credit on the film with UK-based Donna Abraham.
The film was produced in Red Deer, Alberta, filmed in Thailand, and features an international cast and crew. Key creative team and many crew members originally hail from Central Alberta or were professionally trained in the province. Aspinall, also one of the film’s producers, hails from Red Deer.
She Has A Name exposes the $150 billion global human trafficking industry that sells children, women and men as commodities. The film’s visually rich style, vibrant colours and gritty cinematic look has been receiving acclaim around the world, including four other nominations at the weekend’s award ceremonies, including Best Dramatic Feature.
"My hope as both producer and designer is that the visual grit and beauty allows our audience to emotionally encounter the humanity of the characters and to attribute value that shifts paradigms currently facilitating child slavery,” says Aspinall.
For any craftsperson to be eligible for the awards, he or she must have been a resident of Alberta for the 2016 calendar year. Affectionately known as the Rosies, the award ceremony took place at a gala event on Saturday, April 29 at the SHAW Conference Centre in Edmonton.
She Has A Name was released in December 2016 in select theatres globally and is currently expanding to exclusive screening engagements across North America. In May 2017, the film has select engagements at theatres in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Blackfalds, Alberta, Folsom California and Ottawa, Ontario.
The new feature film by Unveil Studios was directed by Matthew and Daniel Kooman from the screenplay by Andrew Kooman. The Kooman brothers, along with Donna Abraham and Shari Aspinall are producers. Lance Kadatz and Dean Kohut are Executive Producers.
Unveil Studios produces original stories that impact audiences. It is owned and operated by Kooman brothers Matthew, Andrew, and Daniel. Unveil Studios’ films include She Has A Name; E for Everyone: The Mouse and the Elephant; The Ladder of My Life; The Story; and A Filmmaker’s Search for Revival.
Unveil produces a wide range of media across platforms including the web, film, TV, video, books, print media, and the theatrical stage.

To learn more about She Has A Name, visit the website here:

Drumheller RCMP is investigating a door-to-door campaign that may have been signing up local customers for utility service without their knowledge.

 Constable Jon Foran tells the Mail there have had several reports of local residents being signed up for Direct Energy services without their knowledge or consent.  It has been alleged the homeowners' signatures were forged by a contractor for Direct Energy.  

“This is the first time I have heard of this going on,” said Foran.

In instances where the customer was not with Direct Energy, their current energy provider was discontinued, and Direct Energy took over the service and billed the customer accordingly.

Beginning January 1, the province prohibited the solicitation of door-to-door sales of energy products.

“Now the fact is this is illegal, you can’t even go door-to-door to sell,” he said.

He said right now there are two active investigations, however, has heard of more. He said often people are hesitant to come forward when they are the victims of an alleged scam. He encourages anyone who may have experienced this type of incident to come forward.

   He adds that with an active investigation, it may be easier to get a resolution.

The more people I can get, the better,” he said.  

Should you have any information on this or any other crime, or feel you may be a victim, please contact Drumheller RCMP at 403-823-2630 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.