MacGillivray Freeman Films

MacGillivray Freeman Films is an American film studio based in Laguna Beach, California and founded in the mid-1960s by Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman. It produces documentaries, feature films, and IMAX films.

MacGillivray Freeman Films
IndustryFilm
Founded1963 in Laguna Beach, California, USA
FoundersGreg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman
Headquarters
Laguna Beach, CA
,
USA
Areas served
Worldwide
Key people
Greg MacGillivray (Chair, Founder, Director)

Shaun MacGillivray (President, Producer)

Brad Ohlund (Director of Photography)

Steve Judson (Writer and Editor)
ProductsMotion Pictures
Websitehttps://macgillivrayfreeman.com

History

MacGillivray Freeman Films was established in 1963 in Laguna Beach, California by Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman.[1] Greg MacGillivray began making films when he was 13 and later partnered with best friend Jim Freeman to form MacGillivray Freeman Films. In 1966, at the age of 19, the two dropped out of college to make movies full time starting with a film in South America after the success of one of their first surfing documentaries, Free and Easy, which recouped its production costs after only 10 screenings.[2][3]

In the ensuing years, MacGillivray and Freeman produced a series of documentaries about surfing and skateboarding, pioneering a cinematic perspective for the genre by putting the viewer in the middle of the action via board-mounted cameras.

MacGillivray has produced and directed more than 50 films, over 35 of which are IMAX,[2] and has developed three IMAX cameras: a high-speed (slow-motion) model, a lightweight model and the “all-weather” camera he used while filming on Mt. Everest.[3]

Freeman died in a helicopter crash in 1976, two days before the release of To Fly![4]

Films

Documentaries and other films

Prior to producing IMAX films, the company produced surfing documentaries, TV commercials and filming for Hollywood feature films.

In 1976, it produced Magic Rolling Board, a 10-minute documentary about skateboarding. The company has directed and photographed for Warner Brothers, Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount and Stanley Kubrick. Cinematographer Jonathan Livingston Seagull was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Photography in 1974.[5]The Towering Inferno received the Academy Award for Best Photography in 1975.[6]

IMAX films

Most well known for its IMAX films, the studio has produced and distributed 35 IMAX films since 1974. Its first IMAX film To Fly!, produced for the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum, was later selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the National Film Registry.

Two of its films, Dolphins (2000) and The Living Sea (1995), were nominated for Academy Awards. Its film Everest (1998) appeared Variety's Top 10 Box Office chart for North America.

The company's films have been received nominations and won awards from the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA).[7][8][9][10]

Filmography

Below is a list of films and television commercials produced and/or distributed MacGillivray Freeman Films.

Title Release Date Runtime Format Notes
Let There Be Surf 1963 n/a Filmed in 16mm Jim Freeman's first commercial film.
Outside the Third Dimension 1964 n/a Filmed in 16mm Produced and directed by Jim Freeman.

A film about Hawaiian surfing photographed and released in 3D.

A Cool Wave of Summer 1964 n/a Filmed in 16mm Greg MacGillivray's first commercial film.

An avant-garde film about surfing in California.

The Glass Wall 1965 n/a Filmed in 16mm Produced and distributed by Jim Freeman.
The Performers 1965 n/a Filmed in 35mm Produced and directed by Greg MacGillivray.

A study of three Californians who find surf and adventure in Hawaii, Mexico and Florida.

Moods of Surfing 1968 15 minutes Filmed in 35mm Short Film for Theatrical Release by United Artists.
Television Commercials 1969 n/a n/a
  • LTV Corporation
  • Global Van Lines
  • Oldsmobile
Catch the Joy 1969 15 minutes Filmed in 35mm An aesthetic look at the sport of Dune Buggy-ing by United Artists.
Waves of Change 1969 n/a Filmed in 35mm
Television Commercials 1970 n/a n/a
  • Holiday Inns of America
  • Frosty Root Beer
  • Carnation
Sentinels of Silence 1970 28 minutes Filmed in 35mm Narrated by Orson Welles.

Photographed by Jim Freeman.

Ski Movie One 1970 n/a n/a Produced with Summit Films
Five Summer Stories 1972 n/a n/a
To Fly! 1976 27 minutes Filmed in 70mm The premiere film for the Theater of the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
The Living Sea 1995 40 minutes Filmed in 70mm
Dolphins 2000 39 minutes Filmed in 70mm
To The Arctic[11] 2012 40 minutes Filmed in 70mm A close up look at Arctic wildlife
Journey to the South Pacific 2013 40 minutes Filmed in 70mm A film about marine conservation in Indonesia
Humpback Whales[12] 2015 40 minutes Filmed in 70mm A film about the resurgence of Humpback whales
National Parks Adventure[13] 2016 43 minutes Filmed in 70mm A celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the US National Park Service
Dream Big: Engineering Our World[14] 2017 42 minutes Filmed in 70mm Pioneers of engineering and man-made wonders
We, The Marines[15] 2017 37 minutes Filmed in 70mm Large format documentary made for permanent exhibit at the National Museum of the Marine Corps
America's Musical Journey[16] 2018 40 minutes Filmed in 70mm Exploring the roots of America's music
Out Where The West Begins[17] 2021 40 minutes Filmed in 70mm Four-episode documentary series explaining the history of the Western United States

Conservation

MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation

In 2004, Greg MacGillivray and his wife Barbara founded the non-profit MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation to contribute to the conservation of the world's natural and cultural heritage through giant screen films and companion educational programming.

One World One Ocean Campaign

MacGillivray Freeman established the One World One Ocean campaign,[18] which along with other organizations, was featured in Laguna Beach Eco Heroes, a 30-minute documentary by The My Hero Project. The efforts of the Crystal Cove Alliance, ECO Warrior, Laguna Bluebelt, Laguna Canyon Foundation, Nancy Caruso, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Wyland, and Zero Trash Laguna were also highlighted in the documentary.[19]

References
  1. "About Us | MacGillivray Freeman". macgillivrayfreeman.com. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  2. "Our Story | MacGillivray Freeman". macgillivrayfreeman.com. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  3. "Maximum Exposure | FLYP". 2010-12-25. Archived from the original on 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  4. "Surf-film pioneer MacGillivray to be honored at Newport Film Festival". ocregister.com. 2014-04-25. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  5. "The 46th Academy Awards | 1974". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  6. "The 47th Academy Awards | 1975". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  7. "2015 Award Winners". giantscreencinema.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  8. "2014 Award Winners". giantscreencinema.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  9. "2013 Award Winners". giantscreencinema.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  10. "2012 Award Winners". giantscreencinema.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  11. "To the Arctic: Film Review". hollywoodreporter.com. 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  12. "'Humpback Whales': Film Review". hollywoodreporter.com/. 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  13. "Film Review: 'National Parks Adventure'". variety.com. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  14. "Film Review: 'Dream Big: Engineering Our World'". variety.com. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  15. "To the Arctic: Film Review". military.com. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  16. "Latest IMAX Film Studies History of American Music". smithsonianmag.com. 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  17. "Out Where the West Begins Season 1 - episodes streaming online". JustWatch. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  18. "Our Story". One World One Ocean. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  19. Laguna Beach Indy Staff (August 6, 2015). "Roundabout Comes to Town". Laguna Beach Indy. Retrieved December 5, 2016. Documentary is posted at 2015 Eco Heroes, My Hero {{cite news}}: External link in |quote= (help)
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