Timing, it has been said, is everything! It appears that Kipling’s time is now. Whether it is divine intervention, kismet, the perfect alignment of the sun, moon, planets and stars or simply circumstances begetting circumstances, Kipling is the place to be!

That feeling was never more evident than at the November 7th public meeting with Corbin Bernsen, of Public Media Works, and Wally Start from Angel Entertainment Corporation. Corbin addressed the gathering and reaffirmed the connection he has found in Kipling and his willingness to help launch an amazing, “the sky’s the limit” opportunity.

Starting with the Christmas film, “3-Day Test”, Corbin outlined a series of projects that he is certain can be produced in Kipling with some tremendous spin-offs. The formation of the Kipling Film Productions Inc. to oversee local funding is a very positive step forward. Public Media Works and Angel Entertainment aren’t selling us something; they’re offering us something.

During the Red Paper Clip/Labour Day Weekend, it would have been very easy to disregard Corbin’s glowing comments about Kipling and his feelings of “ the Kipling magic” as a “caught up in the emotion of the moment” speech. Now, it’s two and a half months removed from that weekend and he is still stating the same goose-bump inducing speech!

Yes, he’s a very good actor, but one can feel the genuine affection he has for our little prairie town. Why ask why? We should ask, “Why not!?” To me, it appears that this very successful Actor/Producer/Director/Businessman/Entrepreneur shouldn’t need “Kipling Magic” to fulfill his life. I don’t know if he does. But whatever he found here, he keeps coming back for more and we should be thankful for that.

In his letter to the editor, in the November 17th edition of The Citizen, Ian MacDonald stated-“Now is the time for Kipling to diversify in its future”. Ian’s son, Kyle “One Red Paper Clip” MacDonald, is largely responsible for a lot of the attention Kipling is currently enjoying. I would never presume to speak on anyone’s behalf, but they also seem to be saying, “Why not?!” Yes indeed! Why not Kipling!?

In the November 3rd edition of The Citizen, Cristalee Froese wrote about how to keep young people in Saskatchewan. Now, it’s hard to paraphrase an entire column into a few words but her article can be summed up with these words-“Why not Saskatchewan?!”

Why can’t we make movies here? Why can’t our young people forge meaningful, successful lives in small town Saskatchewan? Why is the grass always greener elsewhere? We have been offered an amazing opportunity here. How we respond to this opportunity will answer those “Whys”.

“I can’t understand why people are afraid of new ideas. I’m afraid of the old ones”- John Cage (1912-1992).

“Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.”- Hesiod-Greek didactic poet (800 BC).

PERRY HUBBARD
Guest Columnist