From screen to page: N.B. filmmaker brings Ug Wug to life in book
For more than two years, Brian Finlay has been trying to bring a mythical figure to life in Saint John, N.B.
He started with a television series before returning to the editing booth to transform it into a feature-length film. With every new iteration, the legend grows.
Finlay and his team are now turning to the written word to raise the profile of the creature known only as the Ug Wug.
“The book is the illustrated version of the film,” Finlay said. “We’re going to do a lot more books that dive way deeper into human characters and introduce other Wugs.”
The Ug Wug is a legendary creature said to exist beneath the rough waves of the Reversing Falls in Saint John. Similar to the Loch Ness Monster, the Ug Wug has captured the imagination of many people in the area, including Finlay.
Drawn To It Studios put together a television series based on the Ug Wug for Bell Fibe TV in 2022. The story focuses on a young girl named Ariel, who befriends the creature during summer vacation.
Finlay later edited the program, which used 3D animation to bring the Ug Wug to life, into a film that is now available on YouTube and streaming service Tubi.
“We ended up lucking out and got a distributor for it, which is crazy,” Finlay said. “Ultimately it ended up as DVDs in the U.S., which was funny because we’d get updates on how it was doing. It wound up on Tubi, which was very exciting.”
Finlay said they have written a script for a sequel, but they need further financial backing to get it off the ground.
“I used up every favour in the industry with the first series,” he said. “Building the interest is the key component here. I believe if we can make the local community really fall in love with the Ug Wug, we can perhaps leverage that into approaching potential investors for another film.”
To drum up more interest, Finlay has partnered with Steamers Lobster Company to distribute the new book from their Saint John location at 110 Water Street. They will have an official launch for the book with a movie screening at the Lily Lake Pavilion at 7 p.m. on Sept. 7.
The cover of the new Ug Wug book, published in Saint John, N.B. (Source: Brian Finlay)
Finlay said the growth in popularity of the Ug Wug franchise was slow at first, but they’ve recently seen a surge.
“It was stagnant for a few years, but this year we’ve had a crazy response,” he said. “I get more and more people liking the Ug Wug Facebook page and direct messages complimenting the movie.
“If we’re able to move enough copies of the book, we’ll look at doing more.”
A drawing of the Ug Wug, which is featured in a Saint John, N.B., book. (Source: Brian Finlay)
Finlay hopes the growing interest in the Ug Wug could translate into a wider popularity of imaginative filmmaking in the Port City.
“I really want to bring fantastical film storytelling to Saint John,” he said.
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
2 dead, third in critical condition after attack in Kingston, Ont., suspect arrested
Two people are dead and a third suffered life-threatening injuries following an attack at an encampment in Kingston, Ont., Thursday. A suspect has been arrested following a multi-hour standoff.
B.C. will scrap carbon tax if feds remove requirement: Eby
British Columbia's premier says the province will end the consumer carbon tax if the federal government removes the legal requirement to have one.
Actor Chad McQueen, son of Steve McQueen, dies at 63
Chad McQueen, an actor known for his performances in the 'Karate Kid' movies and the son of the late actor and race car driver Steve McQueen, has died. He was 63.
Family of Sikh man speaks out against Toronto-area hospital after beard shaved
The family of a Sikh man from Brampton is seeking an apology, an explanation, and a promise to do better from the local hospital network after they say the facial hair of their loved one was removed without their consent.
Ottawa resident who tested positive for mosquito-borne virus dies, public health says
An Ottawa resident who died of a viral encephalitis this summer tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV), the first human case of the virus in Ottawa.
Trump rules out another debate against Harris as her campaign announces US$47M haul in hours afterward
Donald Trump on Thursday ruled out another presidential debate against Kamala Harris as her campaign announced a massive fundraising haul in the hours after the two candidates met on stage.
'Keep your bags packed': Consul general grilled over $9M NYC condo purchase
After weeks of pressure, Canada's consul general Tom Clark is testifying on Thursday before a House of Commons committee about the purchase of his new official residence in New York that generated a lot of political attention over the summer.
NEW N.B. premier's asylum seeker comments spark controversy
Claims from New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs that Ottawa wants to force the province to take in 4,600 asylum seekers are 'largely fictitious,' says federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
TIFF pauses screenings of documentary about Russian soldiers due to 'significant threats'
The Toronto Film Festival says it has been forced to pause the screenings of a documentary about Russian soldiers this weekend, citing 'significant threats to festival operations and public safety.'