Dear Ocean Odyssey Pod:

I thought you might like to see info on the film's screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival next week. Below is info and press release. The NBFF is anticipating high demand so they are placing OO in their largest theater for an Earth Day screening and have scheduled an encore screening as well.The NBFF requested that the film be shown at their fest after programmers saw it at Palm Springs in January, where it was voted best of fest. It has also won the DiqiQuest Jury Award at the Riverside Film Festival in Riverside, Ca. in March.  

Ocean Odyssey has been chosen for the 1st Inspiration film fest in Santa Monica on Sunday, April 24th in connection with the LOHAS 9 (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) Forum, a well attended 3 day conference focusing on sustainable business practices and social consciousness. Attendees include business leaders, the entertainment industry, celebs and execs of non-profits. They called us to ask if the film could be shown because of all the great buzz they have been hearing about it. Also, The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Ca. is having a Pacific Islander Festival this summer and is interested in showing Ocean Odyssey then.

April 13th, Paul Gilman, the Co-Creator, Director, and Composer of the film made a presentation about the making of the film and the inspiration behind it to The Inside Edge Education Foundation, a prominent speakers series at University of California at Irvine. He played live music and recounted some of his experiences. Paul received a standing ovation and many people were actually crying - it was quite an emotional event.

Following is a press release for this film as well as the HTML piece that the Newport Beach Film Festival  kindly did for us to help promote the screenings of the film at the upcoming fest. 

This film is the NBFF's Earth Day offering on Friday, April 22nd at the Lido Theater (with an encore on the 27th at the Orange County Museum of Art) and, I think, is very worthy of your attention. Anything you can do to help promote this very worthwhile film would be much appreciated.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Deborah Godley
760-777-8978

EARTH DAY SCREENING OF AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY, OCEAN ODYSSEY, TO BE PRESENTED AT 6TH ANNUAL NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL

Composer and Filmmaker Paul Gilman Utilizes the Universal Language of Music to Communicate With Whales, Dolphins, and Orcas On an Amazing Journey Of Adventure and Discovery

Ocean Odyssey will be Shown on Earth Day Friday, April 22 at 2:30pm At The Lido Theater, Newport Beach, Ca.

Fresh from its Best Of Fest audience award win at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January and recipient of The Digiquest Jury Award at the Riverside Film Festival in March, Ocean Odyssey has been chosen by The Newport Beach Film Festival for its Earth Day presentation on Friday, April 22nd.

From the crystal waters of Hawaii, to exotic Tonga, to the mysterious Pacific Northwest, filmgoers are along for the journey of a lifetime when Paul Gilman and his dedicated filmmaking “pod” travel the world to experience the childlike play of dolphins, the magnificence of the lyrical humpback whales, and the untamed beauty of Orcas up close and personal.

In the film Paul communicates directly with these magnificent marine mammals with a Native-American flute and electronic keyboard played from dive boats, a kayak, and an outrigger canoe. When Paul “calls” the animals with his music, they respond with their own sounds in a fascinating dialogue and then allow him to swim alongside and amongst them, accepting him into their pods. Filmgoers are right there with Paul, as they seem to dive through the eye of the underwater cameras to experience a visual feast synced with music. The film’s music is composed of layers of sound combining the “songs” of the animals in combination with musical instruments- in effect, creating a new ensemble.

This very unique film for people of all ages engenders a profound respect for these awe-inspiring creatures and is a perfect film for Earth Day, which will help create awareness of the importance of the preservation of these animals and their precious and fragile ocean world.

“We are truly delighted that the Newport Beach Film Festival has selected Ocean Odyssey for this year’s festival and it is really significant that the film was selected for presentation on Earth Day. Ocean Odyssey provides deep insight into the underwater world, the need to preserve the marine environment and it also demonstrates that music transcends all barriers- even between species”, said filmmaker and director of Ocean Odyssey, Paul Gilman.

Paul Gilman is truly a modern renaissance man. He is a pioneer in electronic music and, for Ocean Odyssey, is using film and recording technology in an innovative way to bridge the gap between humans and mammals. The International Whale Day Committee voted him 2001 Artist of the Year and his original music is featured in the film Ambassadors of The Sea, about the lives of sea turtles, whales, and dolphins.

Paul attended the Boston Conservatory of Music and is the recipient of many awards for his television and film work for scoring, composing, and sound design. He has produced famous recording artists as well as his own original compositions. Paul performed the first solo electronic concert held at Boston’s Symphony Hall and has recently invented a new sound technology which has been utilized by Paul McCartney on his new album, “Live New World Tour”.

Valerie Gill is the co-creator of Ocean Odyssey and served as producer and videographer for the film. In this capacity Val largely worked behind the scenes with Paul and the team to bring Ocean Odyssey to life. ”The journey we have taken to make this unique film has been a true odyssey. During this time I have seen the creative vision that Paul and I originally shared evolve and grow into an important statement about the relationship of man to the sea as well as a profound respect for the majestic creatures we came to know”, Gill commented.

For more information on the making of Ocean Odyssey, please visit www.paulgilman.com.

Gilman will be at the screening to introduce the film and perform some of its haunting and evocative music and both he and Valerie Gill will be on hand for audience Q & A and discussion afterwards.

There will be an encore screening of Ocean Odyssey on Wednesday, April 27th at 11:00am at the Orange County Museum of art.

For tickets to the screenings please visit the Film Festival’s website www.newportfilmfest.com or call the Newport Beach Film Festival office at 949-253-2880.

Uncharted Seas Entertainment _ 471 North Palm Canyon Drive_ Palm Springs, Ca. 92262_ 760-320-7185_ www.paulgilman.com

The trailer for the film is also available for viewing at www.paulgilman.com. It is accessible from the home page.