Sometimes, good things happen, like filmmakers David Vassar and Sally Kaplan wanting to premiere and screen their new movie, California Forever as a benefit for CCSPA at the Hearst Castle IMAX theatre.
California Forever is about the history and legacy of California State Parks.
This will be a full-fledged party starting with a 6 pm wine and hors d'oeuvres reception in the theatre lobby featuring noted wildlife artist Robert Reynolds. The film will be shown on the huge IMAX screen at 7 pm, and the filmmakers will be on hand to answer questions after the movie. There may be Hollywood A List-ers attending . . . stay tuned to our website at CCSPA.info.
"The film isn't focused on the park closures. It's not advocacy against closures. It's a celebration of the California State Parks legacy," says David Vassar, Oscar nominated director. "People need to be reminded of the sacrifice people made to create these parks and why they were set aside - to preserve the heritage of our culture and the natural heritage come hell or high water for generations and generations. We have a responsibility." Vassar said he was inspired to make the film by a debate in Southern California centered on building a six-land toll road through San Onofre State Beach in Orange County.
After securing funding from Destination Cinema – operator of the Giant Screen Theater at Hearst Castle, Vassar and his partner Sally Kaplan, began filming in March 2009. "The hardest part was to narrow down, out of 278 parks, which ones we were going to focus on," Kaplan said. This echoes California State Park Director, Ruth Coleman who says, “If you have seen one California State Park – you've seen one California State Park."
Vassar and Kaplan decided to focus on parks that represent the turning points in the history of California State Parks: Yosemite, coast, deserts and the Sierra Nevada. After a year of scouting and writing, 61 days of shooting in 47 different parks and countless hours of work, the first 75 minute film was born. "In the scouting, filming, and editing, we found that there was an embarrassment of riches," Kaplan said. "What happened was we, along with our advisory team, got very attached to parts of the story, and felt we could not make this only one hour." Episode Two explores the challenges California State Parks now face – challenges that will soon be common in parks across the country.
Tickets include the reception, movie, and Q &A. Hearst Castle buses will be available from the Museum of Natural History at Morro Bay at 5 pm. For tickets and bus reservations, please go to ccspa.info. You may also call Mary Golden, 772.2694, extension 102 if you have questions.
