The National Park Service and Aperture Films, Ltd., a southern California film company, produced the new high-definition film that contains stunning IMAX-quality aerials and 3-D animations. Filming took place over a two-year period covering all four seasons on the ground, in the air, and underwater.
The film is narrated by actor Kevin Costner, an avid Channel Islands enthusiast and diver. Costner describes his connection to the Channel Islands saying, “I grew up fishing at the islands and later in life really began to enjoy them while diving with my kids. Providing this narration was a way that I could give back to the islands for all the great experiences I’ve had. I hope this film helps others to appreciate this national treasure.”
The filming process was comprehensive and challenging. Over 50 hours of footage was compiled, including aerial footage filmed using a high-end gyroscopic aerial camera system mounted to the nose of a helicopter. With limited transportation available on the islands, crews had to hand-carry heavy gear such as cameras, cranes, batteries, and dollies to each shooting location on the remote islands.
Watch this wonderful new film at the Channel Islands Visitors Center or on the Channel Islands National Park website. See what makes Channel Islands kayaking and camping such an amazing experience.
About the Filmmakers
The film’s producer and director is Aperture Films President Joshua Colover. Colover graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University where he received the Martin Scorsese Scholarship and the Wasserman Award for his directing efforts. In 2003, Colover produced the feature documentary Farther Than the Eye Can See, an epic and inspirational story of a blind man’s quest to climb Mt. Everest. It received Emmy nominations for Best Documentary and Best Cinematography and has been recognized as one of the 20 best adventure films ever produced.