Born to Be Wild with Director David Lickley! (CONTEST ~OVER~)

Talking With Down-to-Earth Born to Be Wild
Director David Lickley

If you are looking for a movie that is sure to please the whole family, do yourself a favour and see IMAX "Born to Be Wild", narrated by world class actor Morgan Freeman!  I had the privilege of watching the film at the Ontario Science Centre IMAX Theatre, followed by a personal interview with Canadian biologist-turned-filmmaker Director David Lickley.

Born to Be Wild focuses on two extraordinary women who save orphaned baby animals: Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas in central Borneo (orangutans) and Dame Daphne M. Sheldrick in Kenya (elephants).  Both women have devoted their lives to rescue and protect these wild animals--and then return them to the wild when they are ready.  This was no boring nature film or documentary!  I found it both fascinating and entertaining,  filled throughout with humour, tender hearted emotion and served with a strong shot of humanity.

The scenes with the orangutans and elephants were up close and personal, making me ponder I had never been closer to these animals even at the zoo.  And throughout the movie I remarked how relatable the movie was to audiences of all ages.  Although many cannot relate to the lifelong sacrifices made by Biruté or Daphne, we all can relate to the tenderness shown by both women to the animals in the same way we demonstrate love and compassion to our children or family members.

I found the cinematography in David Lickley's movie breathtaking, and the IMAX 3D film experience made the movie pop like you could reach out and touch the animals.  It really did make me feel like I was right in the film and I was quickly engrossed with Biruté's orangutans and Daphne's elephants.

It was a rare treat to meet Director David Lickley after the movie and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation.  Although I thought that the biologist side of him showed through during the film, more than anything his humanity shined through.  The message that I took away from him was how we can work in harmony with the animal kingdom and nurture it, instead of doing it harm.

I enjoyed an anecdote that David shared during our meeting.  It was along the lines of "elephants never forget".  He mentioned that an elephant that had been raised by Daphne 25 years earlier, returned with a sick calf--remembering to go to is former human caregivers in a time of need.  The calf was dehydrated, so it was nurtured back to health by Daphne's staff and given antibiotics.  Once well, the elephant and calf returned back into the wilderness.

He also discussed how Born to Be Wild had been shot by airplane, helicopter, boat and crane.  Yes, to achieve some of his amazing orangutan scenes in the treetops, he hoisted a 30-pound IMAX camera up on a crane!  As a result, the film really feels like you are climbing in the trees and swinging through the air with the magnificent species.

CONTEST ~OVER~ :

Winner: Annie Brown

WIN FAMILY PASSES (ADMIT 5) TO THE ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTRE!

Get entries by doing ANY of the following 7 tasks below (please do a separate post per entry).  You can do one or all, your choice.  Be sure to leave a way to contact you if you are a winner!  Most times we redraw winner as there is no contact information.

1. Leave a comment saying WHY you would like to WIN the Ontario Science Centre family passes OR what exhibits you would like to see if you won!  Here's the OSC website for inspiration: http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/  Leave a way to contact you if you win. 
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4. Tweet the following on Facebook for an entry (you can tweet once daily for an entry).
   
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This contest is open to all of Canada, but the prize must be redeemed in Toronto, Ontario.  Pass expires February 28th, 2012.  Does NOT include admittance to the IMAX theatre.  Contest ends Friday October 19th at 8:00pm EST.