A Message from the Director:

The Amazing Butterfly Project is uniquely accessible to young people and their families around the world with an inspired message of beauty, mystery, adventure and conservation. Access to various components of The Amazing Butterfly Project begins with the international distribution of our large format film, the Amazing Butterfly Quest.

This large format film will provide students, teachers and parents with a chance to enjoy the awesome IMAX® experience in a true combination of entertainment and learning. In many cases, the film will be presented in IMAX® venues that are located adjacent to existing butterfly houses. In some cases, exhibitors may create opportunities to include a traveling butterfly exhibit or to bring in scientists or educators who specialize in creating short-term displays or butterfly houses as well as climate change curriculum.

The Amazing Butterfly Project is more than just a giant screen film. The project includes a 3-part classroom series that will be made available to teachers in a traditional curriculum model along with internet streaming specific to national curriculum guidelines in the USA. The series will be presented in both English and Spanish languages.

The Amazing Butterfly Project also includes a give-back program to our host nation, Peru. As part of ongoing discussions with the Peruvian Department of Tourism and the National Museum in Lima, it is our intention to host two screenings of the film in Lima. One of the screenings will be a VIP event, the other will be open to the public free of charge. Both will happen on the grounds of the National Museum in Lima. We also plan to license a small-screen version of the completed large format film for use free-of-charge to the Peruvian government broadcast channel for a minimum of one year.

It is our intention to work with the Schools Online division of Relief International (not-for-profit) to provide disadvantaged students with access to the 3-part classroom series for a minimum of 5 years. Whenever possible, local Peruvians will be hired to assist in production of the film and implementation of the give-back program. Following completion of the location production, Thunder House Pictures will award a three-month internship (all expenses paid) for a Peruvian university student who will be allowed to participate as an editor's assistant during the offline edit of the film.

Last but not least, The Amazing Butterfly Project includes a Community Outreach Component targeting a minimum of 15 cities in the USA as well as both Lima and Cuzco, Peru. The community outreach campaign will be intended to further dialogue about butterflies and the changing conditions of their habitat in learning institutions and community centers. Where possible, natural history will be combined with climate change experts and community resources to further grass roots dialogue. To the extent possible, we also hope to highlight issues related to the preservation of culture and habitat of the indigenous people of Peru.

While we believe strongly in the opportunity for film to communicate new ideas and to facilitate both discussion and change, we believe it's equally important to build an infrastructure for this project that reaches beyond traditional IMAX® theater venues. The theater experience cannot be minimized - it's where our adventure will prove most accessible and appealing. But the additional components of classroom education and the community outreach campaign will extend both the film's message and the lifespan of the project.

Please join us in building a lasting, informal learning environment with the future of our planet and its people in mind. We welcome your insights and your assistance.

Sincerely,

Chip Duncan
Producer/Director

<<< Back to Synopsis

<<< Back to Large Format Films page