San Diego, CA—February 5, 2014— Travel deep under the sea starting February 14 when the latest IMAX® adventure Journey to the South Pacific arrives at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s Eugene Heikoff and Marilyn Jacobs Heikoff Giant Dome Theater. The film, narrated by Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, The Lord of the Rings, Blue Jasmine), features stunning underwater photography by Del Mar’s own veteran underwater filmmakers and ocean explorers, Howard and Michele Hall.

Set sail on a breathtaking IMAX trip to the lush tropical islands of remote West Papua, where life flourishes above and below the sea. Join Jawi, a young island boy, as he leads a journey of discovery to this magical place. Home to more than 2,000 species of sea life, this exotic locale features the most diverse marine ecosystem on Earth, including enormous whale sharks, sea turtles and manta rays. An uplifting story of hope and celebration, Journey to the South Pacific highlights the importance of living in balance with the ocean planet we all call home.

An IMAX Entertainment and MacGillivray Freeman Films presentation, Journey to the South Pacific is directed by two-time Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Greg MacGillivray (The Living Sea, Dolphins, Everest) and Stephen Judson (Everest, The Alps), and produced by Shaun MacGillivray (To The Arctic, Grand Canyon Adventure) and Mark Krenzien (Adventures in Wild California, Arabia). Filmed with IMAX 15perf/65mm film cameras, Journey to the South Pacific is written by Stephen Judson (Everest, To The Arctic) with a musical score by Steve Wood.

To tell the story of Jawi and a far‐flung part of the world that few outsiders will ever see,MacGillivray Freeman Films (MFF) brought four IMAX camera teams on a staggering 65‐hour journey from the U.S. to West Papua — with 25,000 pounds of IMAX equipment in tow. One team set off to explore life topside on the islands while two others honed the intricate art of underwater shooting amidst fast‐moving, unpredictable creatures; a fourth aerial team captured the awe‐inspiring perspectives that only come from high above.

Director Greg MacGillivray states, “My goal as a filmmaker is always to tell beautiful, entertaining, expressive stories — but at the same time to get more and more people to understand how fragile our planet is, and how important it is that we each do our part to protect it.”

Journey to the South Pacific is the second IMAX film in MacGillivray Freeman's One World One Ocean Campaign after the success of To The Arctic and follows in the company's long tradition of films known for their artistry and celebration of the natural world. More information about the film can be found at the website .

Journey to the South Pacific opens Friday, February 14, 2014. The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Heikoff Giant Dome Theater is located at 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101. IMAX admission (1 film + access to all exhibit galleries): Adults $17; Children $14; Seniors $15. For information on tickets and showtimes, call (619) 238-1233.

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Celebrate the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s 40th Anniversary Year!

Forty years ago, a spark ignited our imaginations! March 9, 2013, kicked off a year-long celebration of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and its 40 years of success in bringing hands-on science to our San Diego community. In 1973, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center opened its doors and brought interactive exhibits and the world’s first IMAX® Dome Theater to San Diego. Today, the Fleet inspires minds and connects individuals to science and technology through more than 100 “do touch” exhibits for all ages and amazing IMAX films and planetarium shows in the recently renovated Heikoff Giant Dome Theater. Enjoy our year-long celebration, featuring a blockbuster exhibition, incredible events and dynamic educational experiences.

About the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (“the Fleet”) is home to Southern California’s only Giant Dome Theater and 100+ hands-on science exhibits for all ages. Watch immersive giant-screen films in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater, featuring the world’s first NanoSeam™ Dome screen. The Fleet is the first Giant Dome Screen Theater in the country to share a digital planetarium with an IMAX® Dome theater, following the recent installation of a new, state-of-the-art, giant dome screen digital GSX™ system from Global Immersion, which augments the existing IMAX projector in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater with one of the most comprehensive and powerful full-dome experiences available today. Experience eight galleries of fun, interactive exhibits, including major traveling exhibitions. A hurricane simulator thrills visitors with gusts of wind up to 80 miles per hour. Enjoy sandwiches, salads and healthy treats in Galileo’s Café. Find unique educational toys and games, books, IMAX DVDs and more in the North Star Science Store. Located at 1875 El Prado, two blocks south of the San Diego Zoo on Park Blvd., the Fleet Science Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the public understanding and enjoyment of science and technology. For information regarding current admission prices, please call (619) 238-1233 or visit our website at www.rhfleet.org.

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DOWNLOADS FOR MEDIA:

High-resolution photographs are available at www.rhfleet.org/press-room/images.

B-roll of IMAX films, digital shows, and recent production footage of exhibits and galleries, is available on the Fleet Media DropBox! To access: Go to http://www.dropbox.com; Click on sign in; Use the email: reubenfleet@gmail.com; Use the password: pr1973media; Go to the "RHF Public Relations" folder.

If you would like complimentary tickets to see this or any IMAX film or planetarium show or visit the exhibitions, please contact Claire Caraska directly at ccaraska@rhfleet.org / (619) 685-5743, with your preferred date and number of tickets. The tickets will be in your name at will call.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY:

Howard Hall, director of underwater photography, and Michele Hall (underwater photographer) will both be in attendance at the premiere on February 12; they will be available to speak with the media during the afternoon of February 12 and the morning of February 13. Please contact Claire Caraska directly at ccaraska@rhfleet.org / (619) 685-5743 to set up an interview.

HOWARD HALL (Director of Underwater Photography) is a pioneer of underwater IMAX films. In 1994, Howard directed the first underwater IMAX 3D feature, Into the Deep. In 1998, he directed the IMAX feature Island of the Sharks and in 2005, he returned to IMAX 3D films with Deep Sea 3D, which was awarded Best Picture at the Giant Screen Cinema Association Conference and Best Large Format Film at Wildscreen. This was followed in 2009 by Under the Sea 3D, winner of best cinematography at the Giant Screen Cinema Association Conference and Best Documentary at the International 3D Society.

Hall was director of underwater cinematography for other giant-screen films including Lost Worlds, MacGillivray Freeman’s The Living Sea and Hubble. In 2002, he was underwater sequence director for MacGillivray Freeman’s Coral Reef Adventure, a film in which both he and his wife and partner, Michele, are featured on-camera.

A multiple Emmy Award winner, Hall has produced and/or directed many award-winning natural history television films, including a National Geographic Special and three episodes of the PBS series Nature. Howard also directed the award-winning, five-hour series Secrets of the Ocean Realm for PBS.

Howard holds a BS degree in zoology from San Diego State University. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

MICHELE HALL entered the field of documentary filmmaking in 1991, following nearly two decades as a pediatric nurse. While her underwater still photos have been published internationally, the focus of her work has been producing marine wildlife documentary films for both television and theatrical release, including the IMAX features Island of the Sharks, Deep Sea 3D and Under the Sea 3D.

Michele has participated in many other underwater IMAX productions in various capacities, and she and her husband Howard Hall’s underwater production team was featured in the 2003 release of MacGillivray Freeman’s IMAX film Coral Reef Adventure.

Michele strives to make family-friendly films that raise awareness of and increase appreciation for the marine environment, and over the past 23 years, the films she has produced have been seen by thousands of children and adults. She has received accolades by letter, email and in person from many who have said that her films have not only increased their knowledge of the marine environment, but have also been the inspiration to turn their career choices toward marine sciences and/or environmental issues.