Born to Be Wild

David Lickley
Morgan Freeman, Biruté Galdikas, Vanessa Sheldrick
2011
United States
Completed
English
40 minutes
Detailed introduction
This film (drama)Also known asBorn to Be Wild,is aUnited StatesProducerwomen sex,At2011Released in year
。The dialogue language isEnglish,Current Douban rating8.6(For reference only)。
"Born to Be Wild" tells the story of the relationship between human rescuers and orphaned wildlife. Some animals become orphans for various reasons after birth and are vulnerable to death in the wild. At this time, kind-hearted individuals take on the role of "saviors," with conservation teams, wildlife rescue organizations, and environmentalists voluntarily starting efforts to save orphaned wildlife. In "Born to Be Wild," viewers can see young elephants and orangutans receiving meticulous care from humans at a rescue center before ultimately returning to nature. The film also showcases the efforts and struggles of the world-renowned primatologist Biruté Mary Galdikas in protecting the orangutan population. Behind the scenes A long-cherished dream 17 years ago Seventeen years ago, the film's writer and producer Drew Fellman traveled to Southeast Asia, visiting Borneo and meeting the renowned zoologist Biruté Mary Galdikas. Upon returning, he was captivated by the idea of telling Galdikas's story in IMAX format. Although IMAX began in the 1970s, the notion of filming an IMAX documentary was still theoretical in 1994 when Fellman first contemplated it. The idea lingered in his mind for many years. Over a decade later, a friend showed him a news segment about a woman named Dame Daphne Sheldrick caring for orphaned elephants in Kenya. After seeing this story, Fellman realized that these two women's stories had similarities, and he could showcase both in one film. Fellman stated, "They are the true heroes and environmentalists of our planet." To best showcase the richness of the subtropical rainforest and the vastness of the African plains, and also to fulfill his vision, Fellman chose to use IMAX with cutting-edge 3D technology as the film's foundation. He expressed, "Anyone who has been there is amazed by the incredible biodiversity on Earth. The species diversity in Borneo is beyond imagination; even today, we haven’t fully understood how many species inhabit Borneo. Thus, to create an immersive and unforgettable viewing experience, using 3D with IMAX is the most suitable." The combination of IMAX, 3D, and ecological documentary quickly attracted director David Lickley, who specializes in IMAX-format ecological documentaries with extensive experience. Lickley remarked, "There’s nothing more exciting than directing this film. As we navigate different countries with large equipment, I feel it's one of the most beautiful things in the world because our work allows audiences around the globe to see Earth’s nature. If you can’t go into the wild or see these creatures for yourself, then watching them on IMAX is the best thing." To deliver the best IMAX 3D visuals, Lickley brought in the team behind "Under the Sea 3D." Lickley noted, "Operating IMAX 3D equipment is very complex and intricate, so finding the most experienced crew is key to the film's production. I recruited the team from 'Under the Sea 3D'; they are all elite in the industry and are foundational to perfecting the film." Driven by a love for the environment and a sense of responsibility, acclaimed actor Morgan Freeman volunteered to provide the narration for the film. Freeman's iconic voice added depth to the film, as he expressed, "This film tells the great work of two remarkable women, and their actions moved me. I approached the narration with great respect. I think it's time to focus on biological and environmental issues; while we already have some focus, it's not enough." Filming and homesickness Once the film entered the substantial shooting phase, the crew faced the challenges of outdoor filming. The biggest challenge stemmed from the natural environment of one of the locations, Borneo. According to the script, the crew needed to follow a pair of young orangutans as they grew healthy under human care before being returned to nature. Capturing human care was not difficult, as much of it occurred within the rescue center established by Biruté Galdikas for orangutans. The challenge lay in filming the moments when the orangutans were released into the wild. Fellman explained, "This is the emotional climax of the story because the ultimate goal of rescuing animals is to return them to the wild; otherwise, we might as well send them to a zoo. But if we do that, they are no longer wild animals." The orangutans being filmed were named Sininga and Pushka. To capture them in their wild state, the crew followed them deep into the rainforest. The dense bushes and trees made it difficult for the crew, equipped with large equipment, to navigate. David Lickley stated, "I was determined to capture this film. It would be a failure and a regret to give up on filming the release of the animals simply because it was difficult. The whole crew was united and motivated; after all, Galdikas has lived in the wild with orangutans for decades. What couldn’t we overcome? Besides, if we didn’t capture these shots, this documentary would be for nothing, as the film would then resemble many others broadcast on television." The second story in the film focuses on Dame Daphne Sheldrick's efforts to rescue elephants in Kenya, which takes place in a national park. Since Kenya often appears in various documentaries and some have covered Sheldrick's work, the crew completed the filming of the Kenyan elephant rescue program in just five weeks. Lickley remarked, "Filming in Africa went smoothly and was enjoyable because we didn’t have to overcome as many challenges as in the tropical rainforest, and the elephant rescue program here is well-organized with local and national government support. In contrast, the orangutan efforts in Borneo largely hinge on Galdikas's individual work. I hope that after this film is released, everyone can pay more attention to Borneo and the animals we often overlook." After the crew returned to the U.S., they collectively experienced a sense of "homesickness" for nature. Freeman stated, "This was an unforgettable experience. After going through all of this, I reflected on my actions. After all, this planet is not solely for humans." Director Lickley commented, "Although I have previously filmed animal documentaries, I had never covered the Asian orangutan or learned about elephant life. This shoot deeply moved me -- first by nature, and then by the scientists willing to devote everything to it. It is thanks to their efforts that we can appreciate the breathtaking biodiversity in this world." Among the crew, Drew Fellman felt the strongest nostalgia for nature, as he had prepared for this project for over a decade. He remarked, "Filming this movie has given me another home in my heart, which is the world of wildlife and nature. Their existence is a testament to humanity’s presence, and their living environment is deeply intertwined with ours. I hope that everyone who leaves the cinema will consciously do something, as there is only one Earth, and in a sense, humans and wildlife are all 'kin'." Behind the scenes - The film features 12 scenes filmed with a 4K resolution IMAX digital camera, marking the first time this machine was used for a feature film. - The digital IMAX camera weighs 75 pounds (about 34 kg), which is a quarter of the weight of traditional film IMAX cameras. - This film is one of the earliest documentaries made in the 3D-IMAX format. - The film premiered on March 30, 2011, at the IMAX theater in the Science Centre in Montreal, Canada, with attendees from several schools. - The film was shot in Borneo in Asia and in Kenya in Africa. - Biruté Mary Galdikas, who appears in the film, is the world’s most renowned primate researcher. She has lived with orangutans since she was 25 in 1971, conducting the longest continuous study of a wild mammal by a single researcher in the world.