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| OUR COMPANY |
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For more than 40 years, MacGillivray Freeman Films - a talented and innovative team of specialists in the development, production, and distribution of large-screen experiential motion pictures - has studied and perfected the art of motion pictures entertainment. Founded by Greg MacGillivray and the late Jim Freeman, this award-winning film production company creates positive, enriching motion picture experiences as it explores new and more exciting ways to take audiences on an unforgettable adventure. The most experienced independent producer and distributor of special venue (70mm) motion pictures in the world, MacGillivray Freeman Films produces films known for their artistry and successful blend of education and entertainment. |
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| Mission Statement |
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| MacGillivray Freeman Films aims to inspire, inform and entertain people of all ages with giant screen motion picture experiences. Using the finest film technology that exists, our company is able to reveal the wonders of the natural world on screens seven stories tall. Company president Greg MacGillivray is especially committed to promoting the health of the world's oceans and has already directed three ocean-themed films. "I grew up surfing, sailing, snorkeling and diving on southern California's beaches," says MacGillivray. "The ocean is my life. I hope my films inspire people to love the ocean as much as I do and to do everything they can to ensure its lasting health." |
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| MFF Profile and History |
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MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world's most prolific independent producer of giant screen films with 35 large format films to its credit. This relatively small company is creator of the highest-grossing giant screen film ever produced (Everest, 1998), the longest-running documentary to play in one theatre (To Fly! has played at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum non-s#top since 1976), two Oscar®-nominated documentaries, The Living Sea (1995) and Dolphins (2000), and most recently Hurricane on the Bayou and The Alps.
In 1998, the company embarked on its most far-reaching project ever: the start of production on ten real-life adventure documentaries that fall under the brand Great Adventure Films®. These films, starting with Everest, take audiences on giant screen adventures to extraordinary places in the company of unique and compelling individuals. Films that have appeared under the Great Adventure Film umbrella are Everest, Dolphins, Journey Into Amazing Caves, Coral Reef Adventure, Mystery of The Nile, Greece: Secrets of the Past, and The Alps.
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In March 2008--on World Water Day--the company will release its first 3D giant screen experience--Grand Canyon Adventure—an uplifting look at the world’s freshwater crisis and how ordinary people can make a difference. Grand Canyon Adventure continues the company’s mission to produce at least ten films about water and ocean conservation issues and follows such popular water-themed films as The Living Sea, Dolphins, Coral Reef Adventure and Hurricane on the Bayou. “Grand Canyon Adventure is an important film because of what’s at stake,” says producer/director Greg MacGillivray. “By 2050, the United National estimates that 40% of the world’s people could face life-threatening water shortages. My hope is that our film will raise new awareness of this global crisis and inspire positive action and change. The survival of civilization depends on our ability to find creative solutions.”
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MacGillivray started his company with Jim Freeman. They met in the early 1960s when both were focusing their lenses on the art and sport of surfing. Together they produced several films including the surf cult classic, Five Summer Stories. The two gained critical success as they ventured into commercials, corporate promotional pieces and Hollywood motion pictures. Their photography for the documentary Sentinels of Silence helped the film win two Academy Awards® in 1971 and their camera work for Jonathan Livingston Seagull helped the film receive an Academy Award-nomination for Best Cinematography in 1973. The Towering Inferno, for which they supplied aerial photography, received a 1974 Oscar in cinematography and was that year's highest grossing motion picture.
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The team's aerial filmmaking expertise prompted an offer from the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum to produce the bicentennial film for the museum's new IMAX Theatre, the first of its kind in the United States. By 1976, MacGillivray and Freeman were set to release their inaugural giant screen production, To Fly! Just two days before the premiere, the auspicious event turned tragic. On a test shoot in California, Freeman died in a helicopter accident. "I really didn't know if I could continue filming without Jim," shares MacGillivray, "He was a talented filmmaker and my best friend."
Selected in 1996 by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, To Fly! joined other classics such as Citizen Kane and Gone with the Wind as one of the most important films in 100 years of American filmmaking history. The film has been seen by over 100 million people since it first premiered at the Smithsonian in 1976, and in 2001 it was inducted into the IMAX® Hall of Fame.
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MacGillivray and his company are responsible for several technical innovations for the IMAX® format, including developing specialty cameras and photographic techniques. Each add to the visceral experience unique to the format. The company mounted the giant camera on a jet dragster, a whitewater kayak, a downhill ski racer, the Blue Angels' F/A 18 jet aircraft, and inside the P-3, a research plane that flies into hurricanes. They even placed their camera directly in the path of an avalanche to achieve a maximum impact shot.
In 1996, a MacGillivray Freeman climbing and film production team photographed from the summit of Mt. Everest with a lightweight, all-weather camera designed for the extreme Himalayan conditions. This 42-pound camera was still the heaviest ever to photograph on the world's tallest mountain. Released in 1998, Everest quickly #toppled all major attendance records in the large-format industry. For the first time, a giant-screen film ranked among the #top ten grossing films on the North American box office charts. Everest is currently the highest-grossing giant screen film of all time. |
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| Film Partnerships |
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For more than 30 years, MacGillivray Freeman Films has established a successful history of partnerships with leading companies, individuals and organizations to bring the power of IMAX Theatre films and their supporting educational outreach programs to worldwide audiences. These partnerships, sponsorships, and co-productions are developed in conjunction with MacGillivray Freeman Films and the MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation.
MacGillivray Freeman Films has eight new film projects in production and development including Grand Canyon Adventure, Return to Everest, Arabia, Humpback Whales, To The Arctic, Native America, Heart of Africa, and Passion of Flight. To contact us for more information about how you or your organization can become a sponsor, investor or promotional partner to support our films or to discuss development of a new project, please contact Patty Collins, Sponsorship and Development Manager, pcollins@macfreefilms.com. |
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| The Team - Production |
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Greg MacGillivray - Producer, Director, Cinematographer
 Greg MacGillivray's film career spans more than 40 years. As a cinematographer, he has shot more 70mm film than anyone in cinema history -- more than two million feet. His Laguna Beach company has been dedicated to the large screen motion picture format since the production of the IMAX® Theatre film, To Fly!, which he co-produced and directed with his partner, the late Jim Freeman in 1976. MacGillivray also worked in Hollywood, directing and photographing for Stanley Kubrick, and filming for the Academy Award® nominee Jonathan Livingston Seagull and the Oscar-winning Sentinels of Silence.
MacGillivray is well-known in the industry for artistic and technical innovation in the giant format. He has initiated the development of three cameras for the IMAX® format -- the high-speed (slow-motion) camera, the industry's first lightweight camera, and the "all-weather" camera used during filming on Mount Everest.
MacGillivray and company have received numerous international film awards and industry accolades. MacGillivray was first nominated for an Academy Award® in 1995 for The Living Sea (Best Documentary Short Subject), and was nominated in the same category for Dolphins in 2000. In 1998, the company's dramatic film about climbing the world's tallest peak, Everest, became the first large-format film ever to reach Variety’s #top 10 box office chart. In 1996, the company's first IMAX® theatre classic, To Fly!, was selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion in America's film archives. The first large format film to receive this honor, To Fly! joined such cinema greats as Gone With the Wind, Star Wars and Citizen Kane as one of the most important films in filmmaking history. In 2001, To Fly! was inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame followed by The Living Sea six years later. In September 2002, the Giant Screen Theatre Association honored MacGillivray as one of five most important contributors to the success of the large format industry. Two months later, MacGillivray accepted the Bradford Washburn Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Museum of Science, Boston, for his contribution to science education. He joins an illustrious group of previous honorees that includes Jacques Cousteau, Walter Cronkite, Sylvia Earle, Jane Goodall and Carl Sagan.
Stephen Judson - Vice President of Film Production and Post Production
 Over the past 25 years, Stephen Judson has made major creative contributions to nearly all of MacGillivray Freeman Film’s giant screen motion pictures. As Vice President of Production and Post Production, he focuses mainly on crafting the films. Steve has directed six of the company’s films including the critically acclaimed films The Alps and Journey Into Amazing Caves. His skill as a producer, director and writer helped shape the company’s smash hit Everest (which he also edited). Steve has lent his screenwriting talents to eight of the company’s giant screen films, including the Academy Award-nominated film Dolphins. He has edited two dozen films for the company, making him the most experienced editor in the giant screen field.
Before joining MacGillivray Freeman Films, Steve worked as a writer/director/editor at a number of production companies in Hollywood, including long stints at ABC and Universal Studios. He is a graduate of Yale University and holds a Master of Arts degree from the USC cinema school. He is a member of the Director's Guild of America, the Writer's Guild of America, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Shaun MacGillivray—Producer
 Shaun MacGillivray has worked in all aspects of film production for more than 10 years, most recently stepping into the role of producer for Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk and the company’s forthcoming film Return to Everest. Shaun has been instrumental in a number of the company’s “Making Of” films, producing and directing Making of The Alps and Making of Hurricane on the Bayou, and producing and editing Making of Coral Reef Adventure and Making of Greece: Secrets of the Past. He also served as a script researcher for the company’s giant screen films Mystery of the Nile and Greece: Secrets of the Past.
Shaun graduated Magna Cum Laude from Emory University with a degree in Economics, then went on to receive a graduate MFA degree in Film Production from the University of Southern California where he specialized in editing, directing and producing documentaries. In addition to his distinguished academic work, Shaun has received hands-on training from his father, Academy Award®-nominated director Greg MacGillivray.
Brad Ohlund—Director of Photography
 After attending Brooks Institute of Photography, Brad Ohlund began his large format career with the pioneering film To Fly. He has since contributed to the photographic success of every
MacGillivray Freeman Films production. His varied assignments have included filming an approaching tornado, the coral reefs of the South Pacific and from inside the eye of a hurricane. For Everest he contributed to all phases of photography, spending three months at base camp and later returning to Nepal for a month of aerial shooting. Prior to Everest Ohlund supervised in-flight photography with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels for The Magic of Flight. More recently, he served as Director of Photography for the MacGillivray Freeman Films productions of Coral Reef Adventure, Mystery of the Nile, Greece: Secrets of the Past, Hurricane on the Bayou, and The Alps.
Rob Walker -- Associate Editor and First Camera Assistant
 Rob began his career in large format filmmaking in 1993. Since then he has worked as an Assistant Editor, Associate Editor, Production Assistant and Assistant Cameraman on 17 large format films for MacGillivray Freeman Films. His varied workload has taken him from behind the editing machines to being launched off an aircraft carrier, rappelling into caves, climbing some of the highest peaks in Northern California, mountain biking with Marla Streb, rafting down the Nile River and hiking the rims of volcanoes in Greece.
Matthew Muller - Post-Production Coordinator
 A 15-perf 70mm veteran, Matthew Muller has helped realize all of MacGillivray Freeman's large format films since joining the company in 1981. As Post-production Coordinator, he currently oversees negative handling from developing through negative cutting, answerprinting and the making of protection elements. Muller has designed title and credit layouts for a number of years, and contributed to Eastman Kodak’s 1996 re-design of 65mm negative edge numbering format. He works closely with optical, title, lab and film-finishing facilities to ensure that what the director and editor envision is realized on the giant screen. |
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| The Team - Development and Sponsorship |
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Harrison Smith—General Manager
 After a twenty-year career in international banking in New York City including a five-year stint at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Harrison Smith joined MacGillivray Freeman Films in 1999 as General Manager to oversee and manage the company’s day-to-day operations and all of its business matters, including strategic business development and corporate partnerships, sponsor recruitment, distribution contracts, co-production partnerships, corporate investments and finance. Harrison has been instrumental in developing and managing production deals related to many of the company's films, including Adventures in Wild California, Journey Into Amazing Caves, Coal Reef Adventure, Mystery of the Nile, Greece: Secrets of the Past, The Alps, and Grand Canyon Adventure. In 2000, Harrison was the key architect of the MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 public charity founded by Greg MacGillivray to fund and produce giant screen films and companion educational programming. Harrison is currently a board member of the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, California. He graduated Cum Laude from Claremont McKenna College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.
Mary Jane Dodge – Business Development Manager
 A twenty-five-year veteran of the giant screen industry, Mary Jane Dodge joined MacGillivray Freeman Films in 2006 to develop strategic business partnerships and sponsorship opportunities and to play a key role in the development of new film projects. Mary Jane began her career in the giant screen industry by overseeing the successful launch of numerous IMAX Theatres in such prestigious museums as Boston’s Museum of Science, the Denver Museum of Natural History and the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. She also helped launch the commercial giant screen theatre industry by launching and operating the first commercial IMAX theatre in New York City. The theatres in Boston and New York went on to become two of the most successful and influential theatres in the industry. Throughout her career, Mary Jane has consulted for more than twenty-eight different institutions and giant screen theatres around the world including the Smithsonian Institution, the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and the Museum of Science in Barcelona. Her expertise lies in writing innovative marketing plans to help launch new theatres and developing new strategies for marketing and programming.
Patty Collins - Sponsorship and Development Manager
 Patty Collins began her career with MacGillivray Freeman Films in 2000 following two years of work with IMAX Corporation in Worldwide Marketing. Prior to that she worked in Marketing and Promotions at MGM/UA and Orion Pictures. Ms. Collins joined MFF to develop strategic film sponsorships and promotional partnerships and to participate in the company's publicity, marketing and investment activities. Ms. Collins has developed multiple film and corporate partnerships with companies such as Microsoft, Teva and Kohler. She is currently working on sponsorship and promotion for upcoming films as well as developing new projects. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California Annenberg School.
Lenka Spejchalova – Manager of Corporate Relations
 Lenka started her career in sales and marketing at an international telecom company, DirectNet Telecommunications, where she managed accounts for clients such as AT&T, MCI WorldCom and New Global Telecom. She later served as Director of Development at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California, where she developed a new program for underserved children, raised over $1 million dollars and established new business contacts with companies such as Shell Oil, Ford Motor Company, Smith Barney and AT&T. Lenka joined MacGillivray Freeman Films to develop new partnerships for the company’s projects. She earned a BS in International Business and an MBA from the University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic. She studied English at Georgetown University and at London’s Thames Valley University.
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| The Team - Distribution and Marketing |
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Mike Lutz—Director of Distribution
 A twenty-year veteran of providing entertainment and educational programs to theatres worldwide, Mike manages MacGillivray Freeman Films Distribution Company (MFFDC) and represents the company to giant screen theatres. After joining MFFDC in 1997, Mike developed the company’s DVD and website initiatives. Prior to joining MFFDC, Mike served as Vice President of Theater Operations at Laser Fantasy International (Redmond, Washington) and worked for Double Tee/ProMedia, an advertising agency specializing in concert and music promotion (Portland, Oregon). In 1985, Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Lewis and Clark College (Portland, Oregon).
Bob Harman—Distribution Sales Representative
 Bob began his career at MFF in 1997 following 8 years as President of Lee and Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in Irvine, California. Prior to that he was the Western Regional Sales Manager for Xerox Medical Systems in Pasadena, California. He has a Bachelors degree in Business from the University of Oregon and a Masters degree in Finance from California State University Long Beach. He served for 3 years as a Finance Officer in the US Army.
Alice Casbara-Leek -- Director of Marketing
 Over the past 18 years at MacGillivray Freeman Films, Alice has played a key role in marketing the company’s 21 large-format film releases. She is responsible for creating the company’s marketing and advertising campaigns as well as managing the educational outreach programs for each film. Her role has included supplementing theatre exhibitor’s local efforts with value added programs, such as activating national and local campaigns with film sponsors and promotional partners, including Porsche, The Weather Channel, Kodak, Switzerland Tourism, Polartec, Teva and Ex Officio as well as providing grassroots partnerships and film talent availability. Alice earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach. |
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| The Team - Public Relations |
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Lori Rick – Director of Public Relations
 Lori Rick began her career at MacGillivray Freeman Films in 1998 following an 8-year PR career at St. Martin’s Press and other publishing companies in New York and Los Angeles. Lori is responsible for all aspects of the company’s public relations and communications, including corporate media relations, national film publicity, world premiere events, company publications, speaker tours, companion exhibits and other special projects. Lori is also responsible for managing the company’s book publishing program and has worked with publishers such as National Geographic Books, Simon & Schuster and Putnam for the publication of nine film companion titles. Lori graduated Cum Laude with a degree in English at the University of California, Riverside, and a graduate Master of Arts degree in English from New York University. |
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| The Team - Finance |
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Jeff Horst--Director of Finance
 Jeff Horst’s career in accounting and finance spans more than 25 years. He began his career with a national photofinishing firm where he served various corporate accounting roles, both in Southern California and Tampa, Florida. He later moved to the Silicon Valley and served as Plant Controller for two photofinishing facilities in the Northwest. Upon his return to Southern California, he continued his financial career with stints in the computer manufacturing, apparel and healthcare/medical device industries and most recently worked for eight years as Operations Accounting and Financial Reporting Manager for Advanced Sterilization Products, a Johnson & Johnson company. Jeff joined MacGillivray Freeman Films in January 2005. Born and raised in Costa Mesa, Jeff earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from California State University at Fullerton. He is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants. |
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| The Team - MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation [website] |
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Chris Palmer—President, MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation
 As President of the MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation, Chris Palmer oversees all aspects of the Foundation’s programming and development. Prior to joining MacGillivray Freeman Films, Chris spent more than 20 years producing more than 300 hours of original programming for television and the giant screen film industry. His films were broadcast on the Disney Channel, TBS Superstation, Animal Planet, Home and Garden Television, PBS, The Travel Channel, and Outdoor Life Network. His IMAX Theatre films include Whales, Wolves, Dolphins, Bears, India: Kingdom of the Tiger and Coral Reef Adventure.
In 1983, Chris founded the non-profit organization National Audubon Society Productions and served as President and CEO for 11 years. In 1994, he founded the non-profit National Wildlife Productions (part of the National Wildlife Federation) and served as President and CEO for ten years. In 2004, Chris joined American University where he founded the Center for Environmental Filmmaking at the School of Communication. In addition to being a professor on the AU faculty, Chris produces films and gives speeches and workshops all over the country. He is writing a book called Adventures in Wildlife Filmmaking and another one on how to father daughters effectively.
Janna Emmel—Director of Development and Programming
Janna Emmel has worked with MacGillivray Freeman Films for more than 18 years in various capacities, including promotion, production, client relations, research and development. With her degree in Social Work and Sociology, and her experience in non-profit and community organizations, she was pleased to help establish and launch the MFF Educational Foundation. Janna is a member of the Lifelong Learning Committee for the Giant Screen Cinema Association, and helps to plan industry-wide events that center on the giant screen format’s dedication to its educational roots. She splits her time between the Foundation’s programs, fundraising and new film projects. |
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