Two new movies about the recovery at Mount St. Helens debuted last week at Johnston Ridge Observatory.
The first film is a 6 12-minute introductory film that is shown on overhead monitors in the hallway outside the main theater in the visitor center. “Mount St. Helens: A Living Laboratory” provides a look at some of the scientific discoveries that have taken place in the living laboratory that is Mount St. Helens, said Ken Sandusky, a spokesman for the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
In the newly renovated theater, “Mount St. Helens: Eruption of Life” is a 17-minute, high-definition film. It tells the story of the plant and animal life returning to the volcanic blast zone after the 1980 eruption.
The two films were produced by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest staffers. Monument scientist Peter Frenzen served as executive producer. He hired Jeff Streich of Firstlight Films. Some of Streich’s other clients include National Geographic, Discovery Channel, HBO, PBS and ESPN.
“Streich is an internationally known Portland-based cinematographer/producer/director who helped greatly with image aquisition and production,” Frenzen said.
The cost of the theater remodeling was $500,000, and was funded by the Recovery Act.
“The state-of-the-art animation, HD cinematography and surround zone audio showcase the amazing capabilities of the new projection and sound system in the theater,” Sandusky said.
The project included remastering the existing ‘Message from the Mountain’ film which was shown on three projectors (edge-blended together) to high definition and surround sound for the new theater, Frenzen said.
The new technology allows the films to be shown on two much brighter high-resolution projectors, Frenzen said.
The project cost also included a new audio handset system for audio and visual accessibility in English and translation of films and exhibits into six languages. Simultaneous translations are available in Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Russian.
The new films and theater are just some of the changes made at the center this season. In place when it opened in May, new touch-screen exhibits tell the story of how the volcano and surrounding landscape have recovered since the blast.
The Johnston Ridge Observatory, just 5 12 miles from the volcano, is at the end of state Route 504. Admission to the center and Coldwater Lake is $8 per person. The center is scheduled to be open through Oct. 31 this season.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640
jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.