Adam Beach Stars in CTV Original Movie
Luna: Spirit of the Whale, May 13 at 7 pm 

Toronto, ON (April 20, 2007) – Acclaimed actor Adam Beach (Flags of Our Fathers, Law & Order: SVU) stars in the poignant CTV Original Movie Luna: Spirit of the Whale,  premiering on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13.  Inspired by the true story of Luna, an orca whale who received international attention when he appeared in the harbour of a small aboriginal village off Vancouver Island in 2001, Luna: Spirit of the Whale  premieres in Toronto this week at the Sprockets International Film Festival. Shot entirely in British Columbia, the movie for all ages also stars Graham Greene (Spirit Bear, Transamerica), Tantoo Cardinal (Unnatural and Accidental, Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis) and Jason Priestley (Shades of Black, Beverly Hills 90210). 

Luna: Spirit of the Whale  dramatizes the plight of a lone orca whale and how he impacts the life of a man searching for his place in the world. When Mike Maquinna (Adam Beach) comes home to his estranged father’s funeral, a stray orca named Luna suddenly appears in the village harbour. Like his father and grandfather before him, Mike is destined to become Chief of his village, but it’s a task he feels would be better handled by a more suitable elder (Graham Greene). Mike’s people, the Mowachaht -Muchalaht, along with his mother Gloria (Tantoo Cardinal), believe that Luna is the embodied spirit of his late father, who has come to be Mike’s spiritual guide. But Mike, a man separated from his culture, is disbelieving.  

Luna soon becomes the center of a spiritual and political controversy when government official Ted Jefferies (Jason Priestley) announces plans to transport the whale overland to reunite him with his pod. Luna’s plight motivates Mike to face his fears and to fight for his people’s beliefs in an emotional struggle that rouses his entire community. Along the way, Mike’s journey inspires a troubled teen (Aaron Miko, Catwoman)  to embrace his past and forces a passionate Fisheries officer (Erin Karpluk, Godiva’s)  to question her own ideals.   

“As he prepares for a brand-new lead role in Law & Order: SVU,  Adam Beach delivers a terrific performance as a man searching for his destiny,” said Susanne Boyce, CTV President of Programming and Chair of the CTV Media Group.  

“While Luna is inspired by a true story, it was necessary to dramatize certain events to tell Luna’s tale,” said Executive Producer Trish Dolman. “In order to properly represent Luna and the people he touched most, we consulted the Mowachaht-Muchalaht and had their support and participation throughout the production.”

For more info, please visit the CTV website at: www.CTV.ca