About our Studio
We are an up and coming Production Company based in Amherst, Massachusetts that is trying to make great movies… and oh yeah, we’re kids. Riverwolf Productions was founded by Joshua Wolfsun in December 2007, and its first film premiered in May 2008. Less than a year later, in February 2009, Riverwolf's second film, The Paper, premiered and was accepted into a national film festival. Riverwolf's third short film, "The Bard" premiered at the University of Massachusetts Renaissance Center in October 2010.
In February 2009, Riverwolf Productions launched its first television series with the premiere of Student News. Entering its fourth season in Fall 2011, Student News currently airs once a month from September-June on six public access television stations across the Pioneer Valley, including Amherst Media (ACTV), Northampton Community Television (NCTV), Greenfield Community Television (GCTV), Hadley TV-5, Frontier Community Access Television (FCAT), and Belchertown Community Television (BCTV).
In April 2010, Riverwolf Productions premiered its second television show, Lights Up From Youth in the Valley, a half-hour sketch comedy show that features original writing, an ensemble of talented actors, and musical guests. Lights Up aired every other month from October 2010-June 2011, and the show will be returning for its final season this fall. Like Student News, Lights Up airs on all six public access stations, and both shows also can be accessed “on demand” through Amherst Media.
We work with a very low budget, and very limited equipment, but we want to make and produce great television and film - that's what we've done and that's what we're going to keep doing. This is just the beginning…
PRESENTING:
In 1593, two playwrights ruled the stage in London - Christopher Marlowe (Alec Nelson) and William Shakespeare (Jaimison Bust). History recorded that on May 30 that year, four men met together in a Deptford lodging house. At the end of that night, one great playwright was dead. Lost to history, however, there was one more man in the room. In Riverwolf Productions' third film "The Bard," you get history, drama and murder most foul. The Bard premiered to the public on October 22, 2010, at the University of Massachusetts Renaissance Center.
Television
Riverwolf Productions' first television show, Student News, premiered on February 2, 2009. This half-hour show airs on Amherst Media (ACTV), Northampton Community Television (NCTV), Greenfield Community Television (GCTV), Hadley TV-5, Frontier Community Access Television (FCAT), and Belchertown Community Television (BCTV), as well as on demand through the ACTV website. New episodes come out approximately once a month from September through June and are repeated frequently over the weeks that follow. The mission of Student News is to provide a free speech zone for young people and a forum for news that affects youth, reported by youth. To see past episodes of Student News, click here and select “Student News” from the list of original series.
Riverwolf Productions' second TV show, Lights Up From Youth in the Valley, is a clean, yet edgy exploration of life in the Valley through the eyes of teens. It is entirely student-written, produced, acted, and edited. It premiered in April 2010, and is returning for a third season this fall. Lights Up is sketch comedy that showcases youth at their most funny, incisive, smart, and satirical. With a full cast of youth, Lights Up mines humor from everyday life, school, community, and the foibles of youth, parents, teachers, school administrators, and politicians. By turns silly, sweet, or shot through with social commentary, the show’s good-natured ribbing of adults, teens, schools, the show itself, and the country at large is intended to entertain through humor. To see past episodes click here and select “Lights Up from Youth in the Valley” from the list of original series.
Film Updates
Riverwolf Productions premiered its second film, The Paper (written and directed by Joshua Wolfsun), on November 20, 2008, to cast and crew and their families. It premiered publicly at the YouthFilm Festival, in Northampton, Massachusetts on February 21, 2009. The Paper also was accepted into the national KIDS FIRST! Film and Video Festival, a juried showcase of new and classic children's films and videos from studios as well as independent and youth filmmakers. From April 15 to July 15, 2009, Kids First! screened The Paper, along with 74 other films, at film festivals across the United States.
Links of Interest
Below we have some links we think are interesting and good to check out for anyone who's interested in what we do.
Amherst Cultural Council - In 2011, Riverwolf Productions received a grant to support Lights Up from the Amherst Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The Amherst Cultural Council is directed to support and nurture arts activities in the community by seeking private or other public funds and initiatives.
Amherst Media (formerly ACTV) - Amherst Media operates three public access television channels in Amherst, Massachusetts. A great partnership has emerged between Riverwolf Productions and Amherst Media, and they have been extremely helpful in providing Riverwolf with studio space, film and editing equipment, and training and technical assistance.
Student News on Facebook - If you are a Facebook user, become a fan of Student News and follow the show in your news feed! New links, background information, and regular updates are posted to the show's Facebook page.
Lights Up on Facebook - Lights Up is also on Facebook, with innumerable funny updates!
ACLU (MA Chapter) - Features a “Youth and Student' Rights” web page with links to fact sheets and other information on students' rights, including free speech rights and the right of students to be provided with a safe school environment that is conducive to learning.
Student Press Law Center (SPLC) - SPLC is an advocate for student free-press rights and provides information, advice and legal assistance at no charge to students and the educators who work with them.
Building Harmonies - Building Harmonies is a youth-led program started by Amherst middle schoolers in March 2006 to provide opportunities for local youth performers, artists and writers to work together to support and organize around social justice issues. Several of the original Building Harmonies organizers and performers are currently involved with Riverwolf Productions.
Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools (Rethink) - Rethink is a group of students (who call themselves Rethinkers) in New Orleans who are bringing youth voice into community-wide dialogue on rebuilding the schools after Hurricane Katrina. They believe that no one deserves a voice on rebuilding New Orleans schools more than the students who go to these places every single day. Rethinkers first visited Amherst in 2006 as part of a Building Harmonies benefit concert (see above), and they provide Student News with periodic updates on their progress.
Hampshire Shakespeare Company (HSC) - The Hampshire Shakespeare Company puts on quality productions of Shakespeare plays every summer. HCS’s Mainstage and Young Company productions over the past several years have featured a number of Riverwolf actors, including PJ Adzima, Alec Nelson, Owen Hayden, Robert Williams, Pilar Solomon-Jefferson, John McPhee, Amelia Yeye Tarren, and Joshua Wolfsun. Along with the University of Massachusetts Renaissance Center, HSC also loaned Riverwolf costumes and props for staging The Bard.
Strong House, Amherst Historical Society and Museum - Built in 1744, the Strong House is a period residence and home of the Amherst Historical Society, which generously allowed Riverwolf Productions to take over the upper floor for filming The Bard over two weekends in September 2009.
