Deep Sea 3D (above), Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D, and Roving Mars will be screened as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 26th annual "Contemporary Documentaries" series on Wednesday, November 28, at 7 p.m. at the California Science Center's IMAX Theatre in Los Angeles. Admission is free.
Directed by Howard Hall and produced by Toni Myers and Michele Hall, Deep Sea 3D showcases marine biodiversity, which, thanks to overfishing, is becoming less diverse by the minute. The documentary explains how sea species interact within their highly complex — and fragile — marine communities. If those go, the planet will likely follow. Myers and Hall will be present to answer audience questions.
Directed by Mark Cowen, and produced by Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, and Cowen, Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D depicts the development of American space exploration, especially of the 12 Apollo astronauts. The documentary uses a combination of newly revealed photographs, previously unreleased NASA footage, and CGI reconstructions of the lunar landscape. Cowen will be on hand to take part in a discussion with audience members.
Directed by George Butler, and produced by Frank Marshall and Butler, Roving Mars documents the mission that sent two robot explorers — Spirit and Opportunity — to Mars. Associate producer Tara Grace will be on hand to answer questions about the film.
The IMAX screenings conclude the first part of the "Contemporary Documentaries" series which presented several of the 2006 Academy Award-nominated films as well as other documentaries considered by the Academy that year. The series will resume in March 2008 and continue through June.
The California Science Center's IMAX Theatre is located at 700 State Drive in Exposition Park, near downtown Los Angeles. All seating is unreserved. For IMAX information, visit www.californiasciencecenter.org. For additional information, visit www.oscars.org or call (310) 247-3600.
Photos: Courtesy of IMAX/Warner Bros. (Deep Sea 3D), JPL/NASA/CalTech (Roving Mars), IMAX/Playtone (Magnificent Desolation)
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