StarDance Pictures and MacGillivray-Freeman Films to Produce Unprecedented New IMAX Theatre Feature

StarDance Pictures and MacGillivray-Freeman Films to Produce Unprecedented New IMAX Theatre Feature

The Passion of Flight Will Present Unparalleled Visual History of Aviation Utilizing Revolutionary SnakeHead Camera by SpaceCamSystems

LOS ANGELES and PARIS, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- StarDance Pictures Corp and MacGillivray Freeman Films (MFF), the world leader in large format film distribution, today jointly announced that after a year of research and development the production companies are moving forward with plans to produce a revolutionary IMAX(R) Theatre picture feature film on the history of aviation.

The Passion of Flight will be directed by IMAX veteran Eric Magnan, with production scheduled for next spring and a winter 2008 release. This 70 mm 15P film will have total access to aircraft through the participation of the U.S. Air Force and Navy and French Air Force. The film also has the full support of the Smithsonian Institute, which will feature it at both National Air and Space Museums in Washington, DC. It will replace To Fly, another MFF film that has aired for the last 31 years.

"The Passion of Flight will utilize unique and exclusive technology for aviation cinematography through SpaceCam Systems(R) to bring never-before-seen screen quality," said Marie-Christine de Montbrial, president of StarDance Pictures and international film producer. "This large format film is unique in that it will combine pure entertainment with pure education."

Academy Award winning cinematographer and design engineer Ron Goodman, president of SpaceCam Systems and vice president of StarDance Pictures, will serve as film producer, cinematographer and script-writer. Recognized as the industry leader in high-end gyro-stabilized cinematography, SpaceCam recently unveiled the revolutionary SnakeHead(R) periscope system, which represents a new level of capability in aviation cinematography.

SnakeHead is a horizontally oriented, fully articulated, computer-controlled, gyroscopically stabilized periscope that protrudes from the nose and tail cone of aircraft to provide unparalleled visual clarity. SnakeHead will be the first fully stabilized optical system utilizing solid state flight attitude sensors and a digital signal processor. This capability will enable the camera aircraft to perform maneuvers up to its structural limits when following or pursuing the aircraft being filmed. The Passion of Flight will be the first IMAX film showing such images.

"We are thrilled to produce and distribute this exciting new film, which we anticipate will cause incredible industry and consumer buzz for years to come," added Greg MacGillivray, president of MacGillivray-Freeman Films.

"This film will take audiences on an exciting and educational journey through the history of aviation and will be of great interest to both the National Air and Space Museum's Lockheed Martin IMAX Theatre and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center's IMAX Theatre since our customers have a very strong interest in flight films, especially in the forthcoming The Passion of Flight," continued Toby Mensforth, Smithsonian Museum Vice President of Theatres and Concessions. "The topic and the title are directly in line with their interest, and both the treatment and the reputation of the filmmaking team guarantee that this film will meet, if not exceed, my expectations for a quality 'mission' film."

About StarDance Pictures

StarDance Pictures Corp is a new film production company that was established to create a series of special feature films in both standard and Large Format. With over 50 years of international experience in the motion picture industry, StarDance Pictures brings extensive aviation cinematography and production expertise through its principal partners and a long list of awards in this field. For more information, visit http://www.stardancepictures.com/ or http://www.passionofflight.com/.

About MacGillivray-Freeman Films

MacGillivray Freeman Films (MFF) is the world leader in the development, production and distribution of Large Format Films. MFF specializes in creating enriching, family-friendly entertainment that appeals to broad audiences of all ages. For more than 40 years, MFF has produced and distributed over 30 films in Large Format 70 mm 15P. MFF has made some of the most successful large format films ever produced, including The Living Sea and Dolphins, both nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary / Short Subjects, as well as Everest, Coral Reef, To Fly! and Mystery of the Nile. To Fly alone has been seen by over 100 million people since it premiered and in 2001 was inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame. In 1998, Everest, became the fastest grossing giant screen documentary ever produced and the first to reach Variety's Top 10 box office chart. For more information, visit http://www.macfreefilms.com/.

   Media Contact:   Mark Benhard   818-919-9993  

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Source: StarDance Pictures Corp

CONTACT: Mark Benhard of MBB Communications, +1-818-919-9993, for
StarDance Pictures Corp

Web site: http://www.stardancepictures.com/
http://www.macfreefilms.com/
http://www.passionofflight.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment