With Born to be Wild, the IMAX and Warner Bros 3D film, due for theatre release on 8th April it was important that our own Dame Daphne Sheldrick join the press tour in the USA. Helping to promote the film and with it to share her wealth of experience with a new audience and increase public awareness of the plight facing elephants and other wild animals, as well as threats to habitat and the efforts of the DSWT to make an impactful and lasting positive difference. The film brings to the biggest of screens the rescue and rehabilitation projects of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Orangutan Foundation International. Focusing on the pioneering and life saving work of Dame Daphne Sheldrick and Dr Galdikas. It was therefore essential in the promotion of this film that Dame Daphne and Dr Biruté enter, for them, the exceptionally surreal world of press calls, red carpet screenings and back-to-back TV interviews that are part and parcel of marketing a movie. There presence ensuring that the species they protect are brought squarely into the media spotlight, that audiences recognize that elephants and orangutans are threatened species and that without the financial support of a global public, these species will be lost forever. Having only just returned to the Nairobi orphanage from South Africa, there was no time to rest for Dame Daphne, who accompanied by her daughter Jill, had to travel to Los Angeles for the world premiere of the film. With a stop over in London on route, which threw up an unexpected delay as while Daphne's in date passport allowed her to fly to Japan in February, and South Africa and UK in March, it wasn't acceptable to the USA where one must hold an electronic passport. Thankfully it was possible to arrange a new passport within 24 hrs and so on 31 st March Daphne, Jill and Rob Brandford our UK Director followed Daphne's son in law and DSWT Trustee, Robert Carr-Hartley to Los Angeles. Robert had proceeded on the original scheduled flight allowing him to check on early preparations in LA. With a day to recover from the travel, Dame Daphne's 'media schedule' began with a meeting with Morgan Freeman. The film's narrator; though to hear his voice cast over this film, he is more than a narrator, adding a 4th dimension to this 3D film.
Daphne completed 30 one-on-one television interviews, a selection of press interviews and a round table press call! No small task for a hardened Hollywood pro like Morgan Freeman who had a similar schedule, so quite some experience for a lady who has spent the last 50 years in the bush, choosing to avoid concrete jungles where possible! The next day, Sunday 3 rd April was the big event, the world premiere of Born to be Wild 3D at the California Science Museum IMAX Theatre. With the red carpet beckoning at 11.30am, both Dame Daphne and Dr Galdikas were treated to more of the celebrity Hollywood lifestyle, as a professional make-up artist visited them at their hotel! Looking quite wonderful in a flowing dress Dame Daphne and her party arrived by Limousine at the Science Museum. Greeted by a multitude of camera flashes, Daphne posed for photographs before talking with various members of the media. The scene was no different to that which occurs at any film premiere, however in this instance, Dame Daphne was one of the stars.
Dr Galdikas followed shortly after Daphne, before a series of celebrities worked the red carpet, all delighted to be invited to the premiere of this 3D film. They included DSWT supporter and advocate Kristin Davis, Melissa Gilbert, Marcia Gay Harden and Stephanie Pratt. While Victoria Beckham was to be found inside later, enjoying the film with two of her boys. Of course THE Morgan Freeman, narrator of this movie, also attended, adding his unique touch of class to this glamorous event.
3D glasses at the ready, the film was introduced by writer and producer Drew Fellman, one member of the brilliant team that can be credited with creating a stunning film and unique 3D experience for audiences. One that immerses you into the world of Elephants and Orangutans and the rehabilitation projects that have been established by two inspirational women, Dame Daphne Sheldrick and Dr Biruté Mary Galdikas. The DSWT and our orphans have as our supporters know been filmed on many occasions, for whch we are grateful, as such coverage helps share with the world the plight of these animals. This film though is different in two significant ways, it comes to you on the big screen and it comes at you in 3D. The result, it does not bring the elephants or orangutans to you, it takes you to them. It literally feels like you are alongside the orangutans in their jungle and in the mudbath with the elephants in Tsavo. The screening, quite rightly received a rapturous round of applause, which has been repeated at subsequent press screenings that have been taking place in the lead up to the film s release on 8 th April.
A drinks reception and party followed the Los Angeles Premiere, allowing invited guests the opportunity to meet Daphne and Biruté. That Daphne s sole home is in Kenya, from where she had travelled for the event, it was clearly a particular treat for many to meet her, as unless they take the long journey in the other direction, they would never be afforded this opportunity. While Dr Biruté s field work is in Borneo, she has roots in Los Angeles and Canada too, where she is a Professor at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. From Los Angeles it was onto the US capital, Washington DC, just in time for a screening at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Following an informative and thought provoking Q & A with the audience it was off to another reception. Not though before spending time with the Kenyan and Indonesian Ambassadors the United States, who d both just attended the screening with their immediate families. Both agreed the film brilliantly presents, in an exciting format, the world and work of Daphne and Biruté and the critical importance of what they are doing to protect not just individual species, but all wildlife and habitats.
The day after the night before was filled with various press interviews, including a onehour appearance on The Diane Rehm show on National Public Radio. With Dame Daphne and producer Drew Fellman fielding questions from Diane, as well as the public, who bombarded the show by phone and email. Desperate to share their wildlife stories, while others sought this opportunity to congratulate, thank and praise Daphne for being such an inspiration and for dedicating her life to protecting animals, all too often in the face of adversity. Next stop was New York, with a red carpet screening on the evening of Thursday 7 th April at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square & IMAX Theatre on Broadway. Coming in by train on 6 th April, it was a case of dropping the luggage before taking part in interviews at the offices of Warner Bros, who are integral partners in the production and distribution of Born to be Wild 3D. The morning and much of the afternoon of 7 th April was filled with radio interviews, taking place across the Big Apple. Before a few hours downtime in advance of the New York premiere, which at the time of writing is just 8 hours away! Born to be Wild 3D will be released across the United States on 8 th April. We urge you, where possible, to watch this beautiful film, for it truly does put you in the center of the action like no film before it. For everything you need to know about this film, including where to watch it, how to buy tickets and to watch the trailer, please go to our special webpage at: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/html/imaxborntobewild3d.html The film is being sold internationally and as soon as we know of countries that have taken it up, we will let our supporters know, at this time it is due for release outside of the USA as below: April 8 Hungary (1 theatre) April 15 Poland (5 theatres) Austria (2 theatres)
Germany (1 theatre, Bremen) Czech Republic (1 theatre, Prague) ---------------------------------------- HOW TO HELP Everyone can help elephants, by never buying ivory products and making others aware of the need to protect this flagship species. More immediately you can help by fostering an elephant in the care of the DSWT, for yourself or as a gift, and become immersed in that elephant s life through the monthly updates we send out http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp ------------------------------------------ SPECIAL THANKS We would like to thank British Airways and their Community Relations Team for not only re-arranging Rob Brandford s flight, at their expense, to enable him to assist with Dame Daphne s new passport application, but also for providing a free return ticket for his travel. We would also like to thank IMAX and Warner Bros for arranging and covering the cost of all travel arrangements for Dame Daphne, Jill and Robert Carr-Hartley.