MacGillivray Freeman Films

Last updated
MacGillivray Freeman Films
IndustryFilm
Founded1963 in Laguna Beach, California, USA
Founders Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman
Headquarters
Laguna Beach, CA
,
USA
Areas served
Worldwide
Key people
Greg MacGillivray (Chair, Founder, Director)

Shaun MacGillivray (President, Producer)

Brad Ohlund (Director of Photography)

Steve Judson (Writer and Editor)
ProductsMotion Pictures
Website https://macgillivrayfreeman.com

MacGillivray Freeman Films is an American film studio based in Laguna Beach, California and founded in the mid-1960s by Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman. It produces documentaries, feature films, and IMAX films.

Contents

History

MacGillivray Freeman Films was established in 1963 in Laguna Beach, California, by Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman. [1] Greg MacGillivray began making films when he was 13 and later partnered with his best friend, Jim Freeman, to form MacGillivray Freeman Films. In 1966, at the age of 19, the two dropped out of college to make movies full time starting with a film in South America after the success of one of their first surfing documentaries, Free and Easy, which recouped its production costs after only 10 screenings. [2] [3]

In the ensuing years, MacGillivray and Freeman produced a series of documentaries about surfing and skateboarding, pioneering a cinematic perspective for the genre by putting the viewer in the middle of the action via board-mounted cameras.

MacGillivray has produced and directed more than 50 films, over 35 of which are IMAX, [2] and has developed three IMAX cameras: a high-speed (slow-motion) model, a lightweight model and the “all-weather” camera he used while filming on Mt. Everest. [3]

Freeman died in a helicopter crash in 1976, two days before the release of To Fly! [4]

Films

Documentaries and other films

Prior to producing IMAX films, the company produced surfing documentaries, TV commercials and filming for Hollywood feature films.

In 1976, it produced Magic Rolling Board, a 10-minute documentary about skateboarding. The company has directed and photographed for Warner Brothers, Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount and Stanley Kubrick. Cinematographer Jonathan Livingston Seagull was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Photography in 1974. [5] The Towering Inferno received the Academy Award for Best Photography in 1975. [6]

IMAX films

Most well known for its IMAX films, the studio has produced and distributed 35 IMAX films since 1974. Its first IMAX film, To Fly! , produced for the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum, was later selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the National Film Registry.

Two of its films, Dolphins (2000) and The Living Sea (1995), were nominated for Academy Awards. Its film Everest (1998) appeared on Variety's Top 10 Box Office chart for North America.

The company's films have received nominations and awards from the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA). [7] [8] [9] [10]

Filmography

Below is a list of films and television commercials produced and/or distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films.

TitleRelease DateRuntimeFormatNotes
Let There Be Surf1963n/a16 mmJim Freeman's first commercial film.
Outside the Third Dimension1964n/a16 mmProduced and directed by Jim Freeman.

A film about Hawaiian surfing photographed and released in 3D.

A Cool Wave of Summer1964n/a16 mmGreg MacGillivray's first commercial film.

An avant-garde film about surfing in California.

The Glass Wall1965n/a16 mmProduced and distributed by Jim Freeman.
The Performers1965n/a35 mmProduced and directed by Greg MacGillivray.

A study of three Californians who find surf and adventure in Hawaii, Mexico and Florida.

Moods of Surfing196815 minutes35 mmShort Film for Theatrical Release by United Artists.
Television Commercials1969n/an/a
  • LTV Corporation
  • Global Van Lines
  • Oldsmobile
Catch the Joy196915 minutes35 mmAn aesthetic look at the sport of Dune Buggy-ing by United Artists.
Waves of Change1969n/a35 mm
Television Commercials1970n/an/a
  • Holiday Inns of America
  • Frosty Root Beer
  • Carnation
Sentinels of Silence 197028 minutes35 mmNarrated by Orson Welles.

Photographed by Jim Freeman.

Ski Movie One1970n/an/aProduced with Summit Films
Five Summer Stories 1972n/an/a
To Fly! 197627 minutes70 mmThe premiere film for the Theater of the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
The Living Sea 199540 minutes70 mm
Dolphins 200039 minutes70 mm
To The Arctic [11] 201240 minutes70 mmA close up look at Arctic wildlife
Journey to the South Pacific 201340 minutes70 mmA film about marine conservation in Indonesia
Humpback Whales [12] 201540 minutes70 mmA film about the resurgence of Humpback whales
National Parks Adventure [13] 201643 minutes70 mmA celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the US National Park Service
Dream Big: Engineering Our World [14] 201742 minutes70 mmPioneers of engineering and man-made wonders
We, The Marines [15] 201737 minutes70 mmLarge format documentary made for permanent exhibit at the National Museum of the Marine Corps
America's Musical Journey [16] 201840 minutes70 mmExploring the roots of America's music
Out Where The West Begins [17] 202140 minutes70 mmFour-episode documentary series explaining the history of the Western United States

Conservation

MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation

In 2004, Greg MacGillivray and his wife Barbara founded the non-profit MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation to contribute to the conservation of the world's natural and cultural heritage through giant screen films and companion educational programming.

One World One Ocean Campaign

MacGillivray Freeman established the One World One Ocean campaign, [18] which, along with other organizations, was featured in Laguna Beach Eco Heroes, a 30-minute documentary by The My Hero Project. The efforts of the Crystal Cove Alliance, ECO Warrior, Laguna Bluebelt, Laguna Canyon Foundation, Nancy Caruso, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Wyland, and Zero Trash Laguna were also highlighted in the documentary. [19]

Related Research Articles

<i>To Fly!</i> 1976 IMAX film by MacGillivray Freeman Films

To Fly! is a 1976 American short docudrama film directed by Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman of MacGillivray Freeman Films, who wrote the story with Francis Thompson, Robert M. Young, and Arthur Zegart. It premiered at the giant-screen IMAX theater of the National Air and Space Museum, which opened to celebrate the United States Bicentennial. The film chronicles the history of aviation in the US, with a narration written by Thomas McGrath. Thematically, it explores the search for national identity through the country's westward expansion as well as humanity's relationship with aviation.

<i>Speed</i> (1984 film) 1984 film by Greg MacGillivray

Speed is a 1984 documentary written and directed by Greg MacGillivray of MacGillivray Freeman Films which chronicles the development of human technology as part of our desire to go faster than before.

<i>Dolphins</i> (2000 film) 2000 American film

Dolphins is an IMAX documentary produced in 2000. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject. Directed by Greg MacGillivray, with Chris Palmer serving as executive producer, this feature follows a few scientists studying dolphins as they work to learn more about dolphins. The main focus is on research into dolphin communication and intelligence, along with some exploration of feeding habits and human interaction. Several species of dolphins are shown, primarily the bottlenose dolphin, the dusky dolphin, and the Atlantic spotted dolphin. Dolphins is narrated by Pierce Brosnan with music by Sting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surf film</span> Film genre

Surf movies fall into three distinct genres:

<i>Everest</i> (1998 film) 1998 American documentary film by Greg MacGillivray and David Breashears

Everest is a 70mm American documentary film, from MacGillivray Freeman Films, about the struggles involved in climbing Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak on Earth, located in the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet. It was released to IMAX theaters in March 1998 and became the highest-grossing film made in the IMAX format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandr Hackenschmied</span> American film director, photographer, actor, film editor and cinematographer

Alexandr Hackenschmied, born Alexander Siegfried George Hackenschmied, known later as Alexander Hammid was a Czech-American photographer, film director, cinematographer and film editor. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1938 and became involved in American avant-garde cinema. He is best known for three films: Crisis (1939), Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) and To Be Alive! (1964). He made Meshes of the Afternoon with Maya Deren, to whom he was married from 1942 to 1947. His second marriage was to the photographer Hella Heyman, who had also collaborated with Hammid and Deren on several films.

<i>The Living Sea</i> 1995 American film

The Living Sea is a 70mm American documentary film exploring marine locales intended to show the importance of protecting the ocean, released to IMAX theaters in 1995. It is narrated by actress Meryl Streep, with music by Sting, produced by Science World, a Vancouver-based science education centre, and underwater imagery directed by filmmaker Greg MacGillivray.

Greg MacGillivray is an American film director and cinematographer.

<i>Adventures in Wild California</i> 2000 American film

Adventures in Wild California is a documentary film showcasing the scenery and extreme sports found in California. It is narrated by Jimmy Smits and was released to IMAX theaters in 2000. The film is directed by Greg MacGillivray and features songs by musician Lindsey Buckingham.

<i>Five Summer Stories</i> 1972 film by Greg MacGillivray

Five Summer Stories is a 1972 surf film by Jim Freeman and Greg MacGillivray of MacGillivray Freeman Films. The last film of the genre by the duo, it explores the joy of surfing amid the backdrop of 1970s political and environmental problems. Its stars include David Nuuhiwa, Eddie Aikau, Gerry Lopez, and Sam Hawk.

Honk is an American rock band based in Laguna Beach, California. It is best known for providing the soundtrack for the 1972 surf documentary film Five Summer Stories.

The My Hero Project is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization established in 1995 by philanthropist Karen Pritzker, Jeanne Meyers and Rita Stern Milch that promotes the sharing of positive role models from around the world for the online digital storytelling project. By 2013, it reached 194 countries.

<i>Amazon</i> (1997 film) 1997 film

Amazon is a 1997 American short documentary film directed by Kieth Merrill. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.

Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk is a 2008 American documentary film directed by Greg MacGillivray and narrated by Robert Redford. It was released to IMAX 3D Theaters in 2008.

Alec Lorimore is a twice Academy Award-nominated film producer and screenwriter who has concentrated his focus in creating giant screen, IMAX documentary films. He is credited as one of the three producers of 1998 IMAX film Everest, which had generated over $140 million in worldwide box office, making it the highest grossing IMAX documentary film of the time.

James Lawson Neihouse is an American cinematographer who has been involved with many of the most memorable and successful IMAX 2D and IMAX 3D films to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Palmer (film producer)</span>

Chris Palmer is a Hong Kong-born English environmental and wildlife film producer and director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking at American University. He was executive producer for the Oscar nominated film Dolphins. He is author of Shooting in the Wild: An Insider's Account of Making Movies in the Animal Kingdom (ISBN 1578051487), Confessions of a Wildlife Filmmaker: The Challenges of Staying Honest in an Industry Where Ratings Are King (ISBN 193895405X), and Now What Grad: Your Path to Success After College (ISBN 1475823665).

Jordi Llompart Mallorquès is a Spanish journalist and film producer, director and writer. He directed and presented many Radio and TV shows, mainly as anchorman on news, and he also produced and directed several films and documentary series for cinema and television including innovative projects for IMAX and stereoscopic 3D cinema.

<i>Journey to the South Pacific</i> 2013 American film

Journey to the South Pacific is a 2013 IMAX documentary film directed by Greg MacGillivray. It was narrated by Cate Blanchett.

References

  1. "About Us | MacGillivray Freeman". macgillivrayfreeman.com. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  2. 1 2 "Our Story | MacGillivray Freeman". macgillivrayfreeman.com. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  3. 1 2 "Maximum Exposure | FLYP". 2010-12-25. Archived from the original on 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  4. "Surf-film pioneer MacGillivray to be honored at Newport Film Festival". ocregister.com. 2014-04-25. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  5. "The 46th Academy Awards | 1974". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  6. "The 47th Academy Awards | 1975". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  7. "2015 Award Winners". giantscreencinema.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  8. "2014 Award Winners". giantscreencinema.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  9. "2013 Award Winners". giantscreencinema.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  10. "2012 Award Winners". giantscreencinema.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  11. "To the Arctic: Film Review". hollywoodreporter.com. 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  12. "'Humpback Whales': Film Review". hollywoodreporter.com/. 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  13. "Film Review: 'National Parks Adventure'". variety.com. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  14. "Film Review: 'Dream Big: Engineering Our World'". variety.com. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  15. "To the Arctic: Film Review". military.com. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  16. "Latest IMAX Film Studies History of American Music". smithsonianmag.com. 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  17. "Out Where the West Begins Season 1 - episodes streaming online". JustWatch. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  18. "Our Story". One World One Ocean. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  19. Laguna Beach Indy Staff (August 6, 2015). "Roundabout Comes to Town". Laguna Beach Indy. Retrieved December 5, 2016. Documentary is posted at 2015 Eco Heroes, My Hero {{cite news}}: External link in |quote= (help)