Interview excerpts from the movie producer Shaun Macgillivray
What was your goal as producer of the film? What were you trying to accomplish?
Our biggest goal was to immerse people in these incredible places and inspire them to not only care about these parks, but also want to protect them for the next generation. The way we live now, we spend so much of our day stuck in an office or in big cities. You really need to experience these places for yourself in order to realize how important they are and how much they do for our soul. One of the great things about these types of films is that you feel like you’re being taken somewhere. You’re immersed in an interesting new environment. I think that can change behavior and inspire people to actually go outside and experience this for themselves.
Who is the target audience for the film, and how many people are you hoping to reach with it?
These are giant-screen films that play in museums and science centers around the world, so you’re looking at a diverse audience—the 4-year-old up to the 94-year-old. Twenty-five percent of our audience is usually on a school field trip—fifth, sixth, and seventh graders. And a lot of families. We also get a more affluent crowd, people who love to travel. So it’s an interesting mix, but one that I think is important.
What was it like to work with Robert Redford as the narrator for the film?
We were very excited to have Robert Redford as a narrator. He is obviously a fantastic fit; he is so passionate about the environment and truly what people think of as a kind of Americana brand. When he said yes, we were jumping for joy. We are recording him this month, and so it’s going to be a real treat to be able to meet him and get to hear his voice cut to the film.
When is the film opening, and where will people be able to see it?
It comes out on February 12 and will be playing in just over 50 theaters in the United States and in more around the world. It will be in or near almost every major city in the States. On the West Coast, it will be showing at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, the California Science Center in Los Angeles, and the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose. We’ve got some fantastic establishments where it will play for six months to a year.
“National Parks Adventure” opens February 12, 2016 in select IMAX®, IMAX 3D® and other giant-screen theatres.http://www.nationalparksadventure.com/
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Narrated by Academy Award® winner Robert Redford, “National Parks Adventure” takes audiences on the ultimate off-trail adventure into the nation's awe-inspiring great outdoors and untamed wilderness. Immersive IMAX® 3D cinematography takes viewers soaring over red rock canyons, up craggy mountain peaks and into other-worldly realms found within America’s most legendary outdoor playgrounds. Join world-class mountaineer Conrad Anker, adventure photographer Max Lowe and artist Rachel Pohl as they hike, climb and explore their way across America’s majestic parks – including Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Yosemite, and Arches – in an action-packed celebration that will inspire the adventurer in us all, and highlight how important it is that we protect these treasured landscapes.
A MacGillivray Freeman film, “Natioinal Parks Adventure” is produced in association with Brand USA and presented globally by Expedia, Inc. and Subaru of America, Inc. REI is the domestic sponsor of the film. Major support was provided by the Giant Dome Theater Consortium.
“National Parks Adventure” is directed by Greg MacGillivray and produced by Shaun MacGillivray. Filmed with 15perf / 65mm IMAX 3D® cameras, “National Parks Adventure” is written by Stephen Judson and Tim Cahill with a musical score by Steve Wood.
