The Fleet Science Center is excited to announce the opening of MacGillivray Freeman’s Ancient Caves on Saturday, March 25 in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater at the Fleet Science Center.  

The film takes moviegoers on an immersive journey with paleoclimatologist Dr. Gina Moseley and her team to explore vast underground worlds. Moviegoers travel with the team to some of the world’s most remote caves, both above and below water, in the Bahamas, France, Iceland, Mexico and the United States.  

To better understand Earth’s climate history, the team collects stalagmite samples left behind by dripping water. These geologic footprints give scientists a more reliable way to study climate changes as long ago as a million years. The stalagmite samples are created by the slow accumulation of calcite. Each one has a unique pattern, similar to a tree ring, which gives scientists information to accurately date the age of the formation. Moviegoers see how quickly Earth’s climate can change and how these changes continue to affect civilization. 

The challenge, even for experienced cave divers, lies in collecting these samples because they are found deep within caves, sometimes submerged hundreds of feet below water.  

“Audiences can expect to see things they’ve never seen before,” says director Jonathan Bird. “Deep underwater caves with formations that look like something straight out of a sci-fi film and even a cave nicknamed the ‘Fangorn Forest,’ made famous by J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.” 

Narrated by Emmy Award®-winning actor Bryan Cranston, the film features music composed and arranged by Emmy Award®-winning composer Bruce Zimmerman and the prestigious City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Ancient Caves is a family-friendly film and runs for 40 minutes.  

The public is invited to a public opening party on March 25 to celebrate this new documentary. Special giveaways and promotions will be available. POP activities and the documentary are included with admission to the Fleet. Tickets are available online and at the ticket counter. 

The film is produced by Oceanic Research Group Films with support from the Giant Dome Theater Consortium and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films. 

Additional links 

Tickets and showtimes 

Ancient Caves at the Fleet Science Center  

Electronic Press Kit 

Official Ancient Caves Site 

Jonathan Bird 

About Jonathan Bird 

Bird is an Emmy Award®-winning underwater cinematographer who has specialized in documentary and underwater film production for more than 30 years. He is the host and producer of Jonathan Bird’s Blue World, a family-friendly underwater adventure series airing on public television and YouTube. Jonathan has shot and directed over 50 films for broadcast and education. His films have appeared all over the world, on networks such as National Geographic Channel, PBS, ABC, USA Network, Discovery and even the SciFi Channel. He also is president and founder of Oceanic Research Group Inc.  

About Oceanic Research Group 

Oceanic Research Group, Inc. is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to the conservation of the oceans through education. It primarily produces educational content aimed at students and teachers. Founded in 1990 with a series of marine science films specifically for use in the classroom, the company has expanded into teacher education, scholarships and the Emmy Award®-winning marine science program Jonathan Bird’s Blue World, which began on public television and transitioned to YouTube in 2012. Ancient Caves is Bird’s first film for exhibition in IMAX® and giant screen theaters.  www.oceanicresearch.org   www.blueworldTV.com 

About Giant Dome Theater Consortium 

The Giant Dome Theater Consortium is an alliance of seven U.S. science museums all operating giant dome theaters like the IMAX Laser Dome Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The consortium supports the production of educational films for exhibition in IMAX® and giant screen theaters.  Its members are the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Saint Louis Science Center, the Cincinnati Museum Center, Boston Museum of Science, the Fleet Science Center in San Diego, Discovery Place in Charlotte, and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The consortium has participated in the production of six giant screen films including National Parks Adventure released in conjunction with the Centennial Celebration of the National Park Service. 

About MacGillivray Freeman Films 

MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world’s foremost independent producer and distributor of giant-screen 70mm films with 45 films for IMAX® and giant screen theaters to its credit. Throughout the company’s 50-year history, its films have won numerous international awards including two Academy Award® nominations and three films inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame. MacGillivray Freeman’s films are known for their artistry and celebration of science and the natural world. It is the first documentary film company to reach the one-billion-dollar benchmark for worldwide ticket sales. www.macgillivrayfreemanfilms.com