Last Friday, we had the great opportunity to learn more about the IMAX “ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADAGASCAR” during its Press Conference, with the director/cinematographer David Douglas, writer/producer Drew Fellman, the narrator Morgan Freeman, Dr. Patricia C. Wright and songwriter Hanitrarivo Rasoanaivo.
This film reunites Academy Winner Morgan Freeman with Drew Fellman, who also wrote and produced the 2011 IMAX 3D documentary “Born To Be Wild 3D” and director/cinematographer David Douglas, who was the director of photography on that film.
Photo provided by Warner Brothers
IMAX “ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADAGASCAR” tells the incredible true story of nature’s greatest explorers, the lemurs. Captured with IMAX 3D cameras, the film takes audiences on a spectacular journey to the remote and wondrous world of Madagascar, where lemurs arrived millions of years ago as castaways. They have since evolved into hundreds of diverse species, but are now highly endangered. The film, also highlights the tireless efforts of trailblazing scientist Dr.Patricia C. Wright and her lifelong mission to help these strange and adorable creatures survive in the modern world.
Photo provided by Warner Brothers
According to Dr. Patricia C. Wright, there are 103 different species of lemurs and 91% of them are threatened or endangered, becoming the reason she had stayed as long as she had on Madagascar.
“The lemurs are mostly endangered, because of the deforestation and also by being hunt. Before, the villagers out there who had all the wisdom, would say “do not eat them, because they are so much like gods and they are sacred”, but recently the hunting has become more popular” explained Dr. Patricia C. Wright.
Dr. Patricia C. Wright photo provided by Warner Brothers
An interesting fact, that was collaborated by songwriter Hanitrarivo Rasoanaivo (who is from Madagascar) to the press, telling us that yes the population of Madagascar is eating them, because of hunger.
“For us is just a normal thing, to see this animals doing all different things. But yes, we do eat them now, because people are poor and hungry and I’m so thankful that this people, have come all the way from Hollywood, because hopefully it will help to keep them alive” said Hanitra.
Also, Morgan Freeman who was again invited by Warner Brothers, to narrate this wonderful adventure documentary IMAX “ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADAGASCAR”, said he had to do it, especially if it’s to help.
“Warner Brothers reached out to me and told me about this documentary, Lemurs in Madagascar and that they would like me back to narrate it and that is a project that might give some SUCCOR (help, relief, aid, assistance). So, when it’s something that gives attention and consideration to the other life forms on our planet, I’m happy to do that, it’s an obligation, I had to do it” said Morgan Freeman.
Morgan Freeman photo provided by Warner Brothers
The habitat of the lemurs in Madagascar, was beautifully shot, with an IMAX D3D camera and it showcases the first ever aerials shot in IMAX 3D. The director David Douglas used a balloon called the cinebull, which came from France and that he describes as “a strange flying lawn chair” with a three foot propeller on the back allowing it to move in any directions. And it came quite in handy, especially when he needed to be around the lemurs.
“One of the things that we noticed while scouting, is that we needed to follow the lemurs on the trees, for us to tell their story and that meant, we needed to get off the ground somehow and would resist to have on it a 3D camera, which weighs about 60 pounds” explained David Douglas.
Director David Douglas on the “cineball” photo provided by Warner Brothers
For the film crew to get close to the lemurs on their habitat with the equipment, was very challenging, especially the terrain of the Ring-tailed lemurs according to Drew Fellman.
“Getting to the locations, was very hard, but I probably have to say that working with the ring-tailed lemurs was perhaps the hardest, because that terrain was so difficult and it’s sort of a place that you get lost in a second without all the guides we had with us. Is this huge boulder field, jumping through and around, living in all the cracks of that, it was very hard just to get around” explained Drew Fellman.
While David Douglas inserted, by saying something interesting about the ring-tailed lemurs terrain, and is that there equipment would get lost everyday on this location.
Writer/Producer Drew Fellman photo provided by Warner Brothers
To finalize, Dr. Patricia C. Wright who was a social worker, before she became a scientist said, that when she got approached by the production, to be the scientific adviser for this documentary she was a little skeptical about it.
“I was a little skeptical, because I didn’t want lemurs to be made fun of. I want people to really understand, how beautiful they are and how their lifestyle is. And these two guys (referring to David Douglas and Drew Fellman) are scientists… asking the right questions, thinking about how the animals would actually be doing things and they are really good. It didn’t take me long to figure that out, so I was very proud to be part of this and I feel that maybe I can do something, maybe through this film, so the lemurs could survive in the future” said Dr. Patricia C Wright.
Photo provided by Warner Brothers
IMAX “ISLAND OF THE LEMURS: MADAGASCAR” In Theatres April 4th!
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