Matt Downey

We tried a number of main-stream theatrical distributors, all of whom loved it but couldn’t work out how to market it under their brand name. Then a wonderful thing happened … just this month we exhibited our film at the convention of IMAX and Giant Screen theatres in Sacramento. The theatre owners loved THE EARTH WINS and we ended up with many who would like to exhibit it and use it as a means of inspiring the young people who visit their venues…. but there is a catch.

As you may know these screens are enormous, many storeys high, and are often associated with science centres and museums in major cities around the world. Giant screens are about 10 times bigger than standard cinema screens and span to the very edges of the theatre to create a totally immersive experience – just imagine standing next to a screen up to 8 storeys tall!

But not all Giant Theatres are in the same format, there are flat digital screens, domed digital screens, flat film screens in 15/70 format (the largest film format in the world) and huge domed film screens also in 15/70. We are therefore faced with the very high cost of simultaneously reformatting our film to at least four versions.

Also, although an IMAX movie is traditionally 40 minutes long there are many science centres with slightly smaller screens who like to show films to their visitors for free, but only if they are no more than 25 minutes long. So there is more expense involved in a re-edit there.

A kick-start would allow us to reach out with our message, for many years to come, to an entire generation of young adults who are about to inherit the Earth.

What happens if we meet or exceed our goal?

If we meet our goal of $175,500 we will have covered the cost of generating and distributing our film in the Giant Screen digital formats just for flat screens.

From the revenue generated over the next year or two we will then be able to gradually accumulate enough to fund the formatting and distribution in digital domes, in flat 1570 film (around $350,000) and then in domed 1570 film (around another $350,000). If we exceed our goal then this process can begin immediately. With each additional IMAX theatre around the globe that we are able to supply, we can introduce another 1,000 or more people daily to the subjects we raise and the questions we pose in THE EARTH WINS.

Can I watch the film now?

Yes, we would love you to, and we’d also like you to contribute to our forum (even if we don’t ultimately reach our financial goal). Once you’ve chosen one of the pledge levels in the boxes to the right we’ll send you a URL and a password. We would also love it if you then feel able to think of a couple of other people who might enjoy the film. You don’t need to tell us who they are, just send them a link to this page and encourage them to visit our pozible site.

What’s the relevance of the music?

We’ve taken full advantage of the awesome surround sound in an IMAX theatre by deliberately selecting tracks of music whose lyrics not only give a strong message and complement the visuals, but whose beat and orchestration draw you further into the film. We have enlisted the very best work from Cold Play, New Order, The Temper Trap, Yothu Yindi and The Who, along with some very original work by Art of Fusion and Sean van Doornum.

Now that our film is finished in video we are having fun showing it to all the bands. Just this week Bernard Sumner of New Order wrote saying;

 “WOW! fantastic I'm blown away, what great footage, it's amazing”.

Who are the makers of THE EARTH WINS?

Take a look at www.theearthwins.com and www.helifilms.com to learn more about …

Jerry Grayson - Writer/Director

Jerry's eight years flying in the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm culminated in him being awarded the Air Force Cross by Her Majesty the Queen for outstanding gallantry in Search and Rescue.

In 1980 he left the Navy, channelling his flying into film work and rapidly earned the accolade of being one of the world's leading helicopter film pilots, designing the aerial action sequences on "James Bond" movies such as "View to a Kill". He flew and directed aerial sequences for over 300 TVCs, 60 factual documentaries and many feature films, leading eventually to the director's role in 1989 with the formation of Helifilms.

His experience directing live-action, "special format" films is second to none, and he still loves flying the helicopter on all Helifilms' aerial productions. Jerry wrote all the scripts for Helifilms’ many productions; such as The Space Academy and Space Cadet School for Valencia’s City of Arts and Science, Zero G Space Lab for the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, and films for Action Stations in Plymouth and the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, UK.

He has completed scripts for 2 further IMAX films, which are currently in development, a feature film and his first book.

Sara Hine - Producer

Sara started her career in London in 1981 assessing new programme potential with Richard Price Television Associates. She then spent two years representing portrait photographer Terry O'Neill as well as his actress wife, Faye Dunaway on the film “Barfly” and the theatre production, “Circe and Bravo”.

Prior to forming Helifilms in 1989, she worked at Chatsworth Television on a number of successful international television series, such as Channel 4's long-running "Treasure Hunt".

Sara has produced all of Helifilms productions from major live sports events such as Athens Olympics, Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Doha Asian Games and Soccer World Cup in South Africa, where Helifilms supplied the entire television broadcast aerial unit, to TVCs, music videos and special format films and Museum exhibitions.

Sara is a founding officer and former Vice President of the European Division of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) which is an international trade association for all suppliers to museums, theme parks, visitor centres and planetaria, with over 600 member companies worldwide.

Matt Downey - Co-Producer

Matt has established himself in the film industry working across feature films, live sport broadcasting, television drama/documentaries, short films and music videos. In 2008 he co-produced on the short film JERRYCAN, which won the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize and in the same year premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Subsequently, in 2009, JERRYCAN received a Special Mention at Berlin Film Festival, an Honourable Mention at Sundance Film Festival and won an Australian Film Institute award for Best Short Fiction Film.

As Co-ordinating Producer at Helifilms, he has produced the aerial unit for numerous clients including the BBC, ESPN, Red Bull, Australian broadcasters Foxtel, Channel 9 and aerial co-ordinated for the live broadcast of the FIFA 2010 Football World Cup. Most recently he was the Aerial Producer for the Australian SBS TV Documentary, “History of Mining” and Producer for Missy Higgins’ music video “Hello Hello” and the short film “Fun City”.

Our Company – Helifilms

Our work on feature films ranges from Black Hawk Down and the James Bond franchise, to District 9, Domino, Déjà Vu, The Island, We Are Marshall, Waist Deep and Transformers.

Our work in IMAX film-making can be seen in the most successful IMAX concert film about the Rolling Stones; “THE STONES AT THE MAX”.

On behalf of the Earth, thank you for watching, reading, and hopefully contributing to our aims.