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National Park Service offers new interpretive/orientation film at Grand Canyon South Rim

Michael Quinn/NPS<br>
The Grand Canyon National Park Visitor Center (South Rim) with photovoltaic solar panels in place. The photovoltaic system, is producing about 30 percent of the power used by the Visitor Center.

Michael Quinn/NPS<br> The Grand Canyon National Park Visitor Center (South Rim) with photovoltaic solar panels in place. The photovoltaic system, is producing about 30 percent of the power used by the Visitor Center.

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - Beginning April 18, the National Park Service began showing an interpretive/orientation film at a newly constructed theater located at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

The film, titled Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder takes visitors on a rim to river and dawn to dusk journey through the park. It introduces visitors to the park's interpretive themes by telling stories about Native American connections to the Canyon, pioneer history, the Colorado River and water, geology of the Grand Canyon, the Canyon as a place of inspiration, and the efforts to preserve and protect the Grand Canyon as a sanctuary for plants, animals, and humans.

The film was produced and directed by Joshua Colover of Aperture Films, Ltd., located in Newport Beach, Calif. Work began on the project in the spring of 2008 with initial filming in the spring of 2009 and continuing through four seasons. The film, narrated by actor Peter Coyote, was written by Robert Goldberg of Chatham, N.J., and includes an original score composed by Hillary Thomas of Los Angeles, Calif.

"Our goal with the film was to take people on a journey into the Grand Canyon... to not just watch the film, but experience it," said Colover. "We worked very hard to put the camera in places that capture one-of-a-kind images, especially in places most visitors would not venture."

The film will be shown at the newly completed orientation theater attached to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Work on the theater began in June. The theater was constructed through a partnership between Civil Design and Engineering and Loven Construction, both located in Flagstaff. The theater addition was designed to blend into the existing visitor center and landscape, and includes both photovoltaic cells and a water harvesting system, which demonstrate the park's commitment to the use of renewable energy and water conservation.

"Over the past 10 years, the park has received numerous visitor comments about our lack of an orientation program like those offered in most national parks, so it is very exciting that we are now able to provide them with this experience," said Judy Hellmich-Bryan, chief of interpretation at Grand Canyon National Park.

Both the film and theater projects were funded through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act at a cost of $3.1 million. The film will be distributed by Grand Canyon Association (www.grandcanyon.org) and will be available for purchase at sales outlets throughout the park and on line beginning in May.

For more information on the film and theater, contact Hellmich-Bryan at (928) 638-7760 or judy_hellmich-bryan@nps.gov. Additional information on Grand Canyon National Park can be found at www.nps.gov/grca or by calling (928) 638-7888.


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