Great Bear Rainforest: A Giant-Screen Adventure in the Land of the Spirit Bear

Photographer/filmmaker and executive director of Pacific Wild, Ian McAllister has created a number of engaging books about the Great Bear Rainforest, many of them for children. A logical next step is to bring the grandeur of this spectacular location to the big screen—the really big screen. This book, with co-author Alex Van Tol, documents the filming of an IMAX production, a project that spanned three years of actual shooting but which was spawned by almost 20 years of thought and desire. It was worth waiting, though, for the development of new digital technology that meant being able to use quieter, more mobile equipment in the field. And the time is right for such a dramatic presentation since this remote but endangered area has captured public awareness for the urgent need to protect its ecological and cultural values. McAllister says, “...as a conservationist, I have always believed that visual storytelling is one of the best ways to inspire people to protect a place.”

After the Introduction’s eloquent description of this rainforest and brief rationale for the filming project, three chapters detail the production activities “In the Water”, “On the Land” and “Filming in the Farthest Corner of the Planet”. Sidebars extend the information with a focus on members of the film crew (Snapshot), quotes about their work (Crew Quip), and facts and definitions (Science Byte, and Did You Know?). The first two chapters showcase the species that make their homes in the particular ecosystem and recount the challenges of capturing their habits on film. Readers will learn about five species of salmon, herring (both of these are considered keystone species), humpback whales, Steller sea lions and sea otters that inhabit the coastal waters, rivers and streams of the rainforest. Meet the sea wolves and bears (grizzly, black and spirit) that roam the land. The final chapter turns the lens on the equipment and the logistical challenges of living and working for months on boats, dealing with weather events from rain and snow to wind and sun while keeping cameras and recording devices working. If a device didn’t quite fit the task, improvisation came to the rescue. Add to this the factors of distance and time: animals don’t always appear on cue. Aerial filming, using drones and helicopters, captured more of the spectacular footage we’ve come to expect with IMAX; however, (in the advance reading copy) the couple of pages detailing this aspect were placed before the third chapter about other technical features.

In “A Final Word”, the writers express their hopes that “the film shows the richness...of the rainforest, and also inspires greater public participation in its protection” because it “matters...the birds and animals who live in it matter...the people who call it home matter too.” The last words go to Saul Brown, Heiltsuk First Nation, who shares his wish that people who experience this place respect that his people have had a deep practical and spiritual connection to it “since time began” and must be consulted about management and decisions that will affect it.

The stories presented here are especially engaging because they shine the spotlight on every member of the crew, including youth leaders of the First Nations, and their diverse skill backgrounds: photographer, conservationist, marine coordinator, diver, sound designer, producer, cinematographer, grizzly-bear technician, deckhand, camera operator, digital imaging technician, cook and all-important coffee-maker. Through well-written and informal accounts, readers are there at all stages of the work. They might be trying to negotiate a kelp forest that persists in entangling equipment, holding their breath so exhaled bubbles won’t spook a school of thousands of herring, staying calm as a grizzly saunters down the trail towards them, or holding an umbrella over a camera in the pouring rain to film bears fishing for salmon. Each encounter brings excitement, adventure, awe...and a deeper understanding of the uniqueness of the place. What better way to inspire people to care about it and its inhabitants? Underlying all of this are frequent references to the fact that, historically, about 26 First Nations have been the stewards of this unceded territory for over 14,000 years. Those people currently living within the Great Bear Rainforest strive to maintain balance in the ecosystem while agreeing to allow access to the sensitive habitat through sustainable, non-invasive tourism instead of resource extraction activities that still threaten much of it.

It feels like the publishers tried to pack as many full-color, action photos as possible into the over-sized pages for an excellent behind-the-scenes look at making the film. Many are full-page or double-spread images, many are up-close-and-personal with the animals and crew, and all are sure to entice a reader to eagerly anticipate the actual movie experience, due out in IMAX theatres in February 2019. With intriguing views of the complex equipment, readers are given insight into how the outstanding shots were captured under challenging conditions. All photos are well-captioned, often with additional details not found in the text.

The authors’ passion for the Great Bear Rainforest, its inhabitants and for shaping attitudes toward protecting its special nature are evident throughout this appealing book. Great Bear Rainforest: A Giant-Screen Adventure in the Land of the Spirit Bear will make a fascinating addition to your coffee table collection, great for browsing before and after viewing the IMAX film.