From Lord of the Rings to Guardian of the Reefs
by Jacob Kamhis
by Jacob Kamhis
Dean Lyon
Dean Lyon created a fantasy of visual effects years ago for the award-winning "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. He is doing it again with his own production about an essential ocean resource in jeopardy.
Lyon's vehicle will be a 3D IMAX documentary about the ailing coral reefs around the world. The oceans face chemicals, debris and changes to the water, according to numerous reports. And that significantly affects reef ecosystems.
Coral reefs provide safe zones where marine organisms can live. They protect coastlines from waves and storms. Ultimately, reef environments generate nitrogen and vital nutrients for marine food chains. That affects everyone's survival.
"We need to be guardians of our planet," says Lyon. "The voice of the ocean is a global story. Kaua'i is a base, and a jumping off point for the world.”
To produce his 3D IMAX project about the reefs, Lyon and his associates are raising $7.8 million through crowd funding, philanthropic organizations, angel donors and individual contributions.
Lyon's vehicle will be a 3D IMAX documentary about the ailing coral reefs around the world. The oceans face chemicals, debris and changes to the water, according to numerous reports. And that significantly affects reef ecosystems.
Coral reefs provide safe zones where marine organisms can live. They protect coastlines from waves and storms. Ultimately, reef environments generate nitrogen and vital nutrients for marine food chains. That affects everyone's survival.
"We need to be guardians of our planet," says Lyon. "The voice of the ocean is a global story. Kaua'i is a base, and a jumping off point for the world.”
To produce his 3D IMAX project about the reefs, Lyon and his associates are raising $7.8 million through crowd funding, philanthropic organizations, angel donors and individual contributions.
Lori Miller
Lyon
has already done the impossible once, so why not do it again? He worked
on the movie "As Good As It Gets" with Jack Nicholson. Other
productions he worked on were “Armageddon,” "Independence Day" and "Air
Force One."
While island residents stand to lose their lifestyle as reefs deteriorate, local Hawaiians face the threat of losing their culture. Reefs are part of the ecosystem that allows for their sustenance, and Hawaiians use the ocean for cultural activities as well.
A healthy ocean and fishing are at the very core of Hawaiian culture, according to Keao NeSmith, executive partner with Nā Hōkū Welo, a consulting firm that integrates Hawaiian culture with services and products.
NeSmith says the ocean is so important to Hawaiians that Hawaiian words exist to describe the different parts of a wave. These words have no English equivalents. "This indicates reefs and ocean environments of all kinds have always played an integral role in the lives of Hawaiians," he explains.
But making a movie is a group activity, and the idea of a documentary about the reefs caught one producer's attention.
“When I take my grandchildren to the ocean, I don’t want to one day tell them they can’t go into the water,” says Lori Miller, who has joined Lyon as co-executive producer of Splinter Studios.
Miller spent 15 years in the Hollywood film industry working on a variety of film and television projects for Burt Reynolds Productions, Universal Studios, CBS, ABC and Walt Disney's Touchstone Pictures. One day, she stopped watching the screen and took a good look at the world around her. She now resides on Kaua'i and heads Prosperity for Humanity that supports community groups wanting to raise awareness for a variety of causes.
“In the eight years since I moved to Kaua'i, I've noticed a difference in the reef systems,” she says. “There is more silt and algae, and overpopulation of some species as predominant ones disappear."
Miller has been researching heavy metals, chemicals and run-off. She has even delved into sun blocks that swimmers apply as part of her search for solutions.
“This 3D IMAX 'edutainment adventure' will weave immersive technology and modern environmental science with traditional knowledge and Hawaiian wisdoms,” Miller says. “These messages will be shared through the curious and creative minds of our youth, as they search for credible answers and viable solutions for long-term sustainability."
Miller believes future generations are saddled with a huge burden they did not cause. "We need to do something before it’s too late,” she says.
Information About the Condition of World Reefs
Visit Prosperity for Humanity to learn about Project Coral Reef on the Hawaiian island of Kaua'i.
The Queensland Museum in Australia provides valuable data about human impacts on the reefs here.
The London-based Guardian newspaper reports on the dire condition of Caribbean reefs here.
Dean Lyon and the reef documentary articles published in The Garden Island, Kauai's main newspaper:
"Coral: A global issue" (October 28, 2014)
"Filmmaker Dean Lyon to Skype Kauai residents on film project" (July 27, 2014)
"We're facing a potential catastrophe" (July 9, 2014)
While island residents stand to lose their lifestyle as reefs deteriorate, local Hawaiians face the threat of losing their culture. Reefs are part of the ecosystem that allows for their sustenance, and Hawaiians use the ocean for cultural activities as well.
A healthy ocean and fishing are at the very core of Hawaiian culture, according to Keao NeSmith, executive partner with Nā Hōkū Welo, a consulting firm that integrates Hawaiian culture with services and products.
NeSmith says the ocean is so important to Hawaiians that Hawaiian words exist to describe the different parts of a wave. These words have no English equivalents. "This indicates reefs and ocean environments of all kinds have always played an integral role in the lives of Hawaiians," he explains.
But making a movie is a group activity, and the idea of a documentary about the reefs caught one producer's attention.
“When I take my grandchildren to the ocean, I don’t want to one day tell them they can’t go into the water,” says Lori Miller, who has joined Lyon as co-executive producer of Splinter Studios.
Miller spent 15 years in the Hollywood film industry working on a variety of film and television projects for Burt Reynolds Productions, Universal Studios, CBS, ABC and Walt Disney's Touchstone Pictures. One day, she stopped watching the screen and took a good look at the world around her. She now resides on Kaua'i and heads Prosperity for Humanity that supports community groups wanting to raise awareness for a variety of causes.
“In the eight years since I moved to Kaua'i, I've noticed a difference in the reef systems,” she says. “There is more silt and algae, and overpopulation of some species as predominant ones disappear."
Miller has been researching heavy metals, chemicals and run-off. She has even delved into sun blocks that swimmers apply as part of her search for solutions.
“This 3D IMAX 'edutainment adventure' will weave immersive technology and modern environmental science with traditional knowledge and Hawaiian wisdoms,” Miller says. “These messages will be shared through the curious and creative minds of our youth, as they search for credible answers and viable solutions for long-term sustainability."
Miller believes future generations are saddled with a huge burden they did not cause. "We need to do something before it’s too late,” she says.
Information About the Condition of World Reefs
Visit Prosperity for Humanity to learn about Project Coral Reef on the Hawaiian island of Kaua'i.
The Queensland Museum in Australia provides valuable data about human impacts on the reefs here.
The London-based Guardian newspaper reports on the dire condition of Caribbean reefs here.
Dean Lyon and the reef documentary articles published in The Garden Island, Kauai's main newspaper:
"Coral: A global issue" (October 28, 2014)
"Filmmaker Dean Lyon to Skype Kauai residents on film project" (July 27, 2014)
"We're facing a potential catastrophe" (July 9, 2014)
