Scientist, Filmmaker, Author Randy Olson to Visit UMaine Sept. 21-23
Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571
Series of events to include retrospective on memorable Maine-based film.
ORONO — What would make a couple of notoriously reclusive brothers from a Maine lobstering family sit down in front of a camera and open themselves up for a night of storytelling? Scientist-turned-filmmaker Randy Olson still ponders that question, nearly twenty years after Maine Public Broadcasting aired his intimate portrait of Stonington’s Brian and Stevie Robbins. “It’s still my favorite of all my films,” Olson says about the hour long film which will be the centerpiece for his Tuesday Sept. 21-Thursday Sept. 23 visit to the University of Maine. In fact, he feels so passionate about the film he’s arranged for the two brothers and a whole crowd of their friends and family to attend the Wednesday, Sept. 22 showing which will be followed by a discussion between Olson and the Robbins brothers.
At the time of the film’s production Olson was still a professor of marine biology at the University of New Hampshire. That was before he moved to Hollywood, attended the University of Southern California Cinema School, made a series of award winning films that have premiered at film festivals from Tribeca to Telluride, then encapsulated the entire experience last year in his book, “Don’t Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style,” published by Island Press.
In the four years since his feature documentary, “Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus,” aired on Showtime he’s conducted over 100 university and museum visits to screen that and his other feature, “Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy.” But this is the first time he’s organized a major screening of the film featuring the Robbins brothers and their late father. “And that’s why I’m so excited about this visit,” Olson says.
UMaine’s Collins Center for the Arts will host several of Olson’s presentations during his visit, including a Tuesday, Sept. 21 screening of “Flock of Dodos,” scheduled for 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and followed by a question-and-answer session. Later that day, from 4-5 p.m. at the same location, he will give a talk based on “Don’t Be Such a Scientist.” A question-and-answer session and a book signing will follow.
Wednesday’s highlight, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Collins Center, will be a 20th anniversary screening of “Salt of the Earth,” with Olson and the Robbins brothers scheduled to engage in a post-film discussion about the film and the lobstering industry. This is the only event on Olson’s itinerary that requires a ticket purchase.
Olson’s visit will conclude on Thursday Sept. 23 with the Maine premiere screening of “Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy” at 4 p.m. in the Collins Center. UMaine professors George Jacobson, Dan Sandweiss and Laura Lindenfeld will join Olson for a panel discussion following the film, to share their perspectives on the issues addressed in the film and on communicating about science. A reception will follow.
For ticket information for the Wednesday evening showing of “Salt of the Earth,” visit www.collinscenterforthearts.com or call (207) 581-1755 or 800-MCA-TIXX.
More information about Olson’s work is online at http://www.randyolsonproductions.com.