Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment and Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) recently announced a major motion picture on Winter the dolphin, the dolphin with the prosthetic tail made my Hanger’s Kevin Carroll and Dan Strzempka. “A Dolphin Tale” is inspired by the true story of Winter who was rescued off the east coast of Florida and was not expected to survive after losing her tail. Her story of survival has become an inspiration to people all over the world.
The movie version, from Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment, is about a boy who befriends Winter, who lost her tail in a crab trap. The boy motivates everyone around him to help save Winter by creating a prosthetic attachment to replace the dolphin's tail. The marine mammal's strong survival instincts become an inspiration to people with life challenges throughout the world.
“We are very excited to bring this inspiring true story to the big screen – like “The Blind Side”, it fits squarely into the type of movie Alcon enjoys to make,” stated Alcon’s co-founders and co-CEO’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson.
Charles Martin Smith was hired to write and direct the film. Smith has experience with material concerning animals and kids, having directed the highly successful first "Air Bud" movie in 1997. The longtime actor and director, best known for his acting role in “American Graffiti” most recently directed "The Stone of Destiny”.
“We are excited to see Winter’s inspiring story reach the big screen,” said CMA CEO David Yates. “Alcon Entertainment and Warner Brothers are the perfect partner for this story, and we look forward to continuing to inspire millions of people around the world. Having someone with the experience and talents of Charles Martin Smith completes the team.”
"Winter has been so inspirational to so many people, it’s an honor to be able to bring her story to the screen,” Smith said. “I have enormous respect for Alcon Entertainment and the excellent films they make, and the people at CMA have been so helpful and supportive. It's a pleasure to be involved.”
Alcon Entertainment is run by co-founders and co-CEO’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson who will produce the film with Alcon’s Marketing President, Richard Ingber. Alcon's latest release, "The Blind Side," is currently the #1 movie in the U.S. and has made more than $130 million since its release last month. The movie stars Sandra Bullock. The company's next release is the Denzel Washington action movie, "The Book of Eli".
Winter’s amazing story is told in detail in Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again, a book recently published by Scholastic, and in the film “Winter: The Dolphin that Could,” sold at www.SeeWinter.com. Winter is a dolphin that “never says never” and her story of survival inspires people all over the world. Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a working animal hospital dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine life.
About Winter’s prosthetic tail – Hanger’s Vice President of Prosthetics Kevin Carroll and Sarasota, FL Practice Manager Dan Strzempka have volunteered their nights and weekends to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and provided Winter’s prosthetic tails since 2006. The unique levels of R&D necessary to fit a prosthetic tail on a dolphin have resulted in the development of a new gel material that is benefiting human patients. Winter’s case is the first time a dolphin’s entire tail fluke has been replaced by a prosthetic device.
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Jennifer Bittner, Hanger Orthopedic Group
904-249-4210, jbittner@hanger.com
Krisita Burket, Hanger Orthopedic Group
904-249-0314, kburket@hanger.com
Jeni Hatter, Clearwater Marine Aquarium
727-441-1790 x228, jhatter@cmaquarium.org |