Canada Talk » Kanadische Rodeos bald im Deutschen Fernsehen (ARD)

Diesen Bericht fand ich heute im Internen Informationsdienst von Travel Alberta. Der Bericht soll im Fruehjahr 2007 im Rahmen der ARD-Serie "Laender, Menschen, Abenteuer" ausgestrahlt werden:

Road to the Canadian Finals Rodeo soon a German TV documentary

Major documentary by German Public Television

In late August, a film crew from Germany shadowed a few of the professional cowboys and characters associated with the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR), showing these individuals as they journey towards their goal of the CFR. Cowboys earn a birth at the CFR by finishing in the top 12 of the Canadian standings, based upon the money they won throughout the rodeo season.

The crew of Germans consisted of producer Kai Henkel, cameraman Reiner Heinzelmann and sound technician Carsten Sulzdorf, accompanied by Bonni Clark, who handles public and media relations for the Canadian Finals Rodeo at Northlands in Edmonton. The group covered five rodeos over two weeks at the end of August in southern Alberta and B.C.'s interior. The German filmmakers will return to Edmonton for the CFR, which is produced by Northlands November 8-12 at Rexall Place.

The German documentary examines the lives and travels of the CFR's 2005 All Around Champion Jeremy Harden and travelmate barrel racer Kirsty White, CFR barrelman, entertainer and artist Ash Cooper, saddle bronc rider Dustin Thompson, and roughstock contractors Keslers Roughstock Company.

''Every year, we travel to some exotic parts of the world. This year, we knew we wanted to focus on Canada and chose to follow CFR rodeo cowboys,'' says Kai Hendel, the producer for the documentary. ''The rodeo and cowboy lifestyle is something that's totally different from what any German would experience. As we researched, we discovered these cowboys travel to dozens of rodeos each year, trying to get a spot at the CFR. This provides a great element of adventure, excitement, drama and beautiful scenery as they drive from town to town.''

The trio began their journey at the Lethbridge Whoop-Up Days rodeo and a visit to the nearby Kesler Roughstock ranch. The German crew followed Harden and White and their horse trailer through the Rocky Mountains to a rodeo at Kamloops that same weekend, then drove with the pair to Armstrong, B.C. for the Interior Provincial Exhibition and Rodeo. After several days in Armstrong interviewing and videoing Cooper, Thompson and the Keslers, the German trio once again hit the road again, shadowing Harden and White as they rode at four rodeos within 48 hours - a Friday night performance at Armstrong, a Saturday afternoon rodeo in Golden B.C., a Saturday evening performance in Okotoks, Alberta, then an overnight drive to Merritt, B.C for an afternoon rodeo on Sunday.

Henkel says he was really surprised at how well the cowboys and roughstock operators treat their animals. ''The horses are always the first priority. The horses eat and drink before anyone takes care of themselves. I had thought they animals might be treated like a piece of equipment for the sport, but that was so far from the truth. They are treated better than family,'' says Henkel.

Henkel was also very surprised at the camaraderie amongst the cowboys, even though they are in direct competition with each other at the rodeos and for a spot at the CFR.

''We're really looking forward to coming to Edmonton for the CFR. It will be the culmination of everything we've seen so far. All the cowboys we met along the way in August will be in one spot, and we can see how their stories conclude during the championships,'' says Henkel.

The documentary is being created for a series on German TV called ''People, Countries, Adventures'' (Laender, Menschen, Abenteuer), and will debut in the spring of 2007 with repeat programs for about five years afterwards. German Public Television (ARD) is the most-watched station in that country, with a strong public following for its documentaries.