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Disneynature Penguins In Theaters Now – My Interview with the Filmmakers

Disneynature Penguins is in theaters now.  I had the opportunity to attend a filmmaker roundtable with the directors, producer and a member of the Global Penguin Society to learn more about the behind-the-scenes with this film.

In attendance were:

  • Alastair Fothergill (Director)
  • Jeff Wilson (Director)
  • Roy Conli (Producer)
  • Popi Borboroglu (Global Penguin Society)

Woman and four men standing in front of Disneynature Penguins poster.

While at the Filmmakers Roundtable, there was a sense of Disney magic in the air. You can tell that the directors, producers and conservationists are all passionate about Disneynature and this new film about the Adélie penguins. Producer Roy Conli shared that Disneynature exemplifies true life adventures in spirit of Walt Disney’s vision.

Director Alastair Fothergill shared that “the story is everything. This time the story is a of the Adélie penguin, Steve. Male penguins have a big role of bringing up children and we get to see this firsthand in the film.
Fothergill wrote a script with a strong seasonal story that takes places over between the coming and going of ice.  It was filmed over three seasons. He shared that “Nature has the best stories and as the director, our job is to craft it.”  While watching the film, you will feel how the story of nature and Steve come together into an comedy filled with emotion.

Penguin standing in snow.

My Question to the Disneynature Penguins Roundtable – Why Steve?

Director Jeff Wilson jumped in and answered, “Watching the penguins building nests, there was a single penguin picking out of stones, kind of murmuring to himself.  He really wasn’t very good at what he did. He was a character in himself, a plucky little penguin making mistakes.”  In my head, I was thinking, Yes!  This is Steve. In the 1,000s of penguins there, Steve was found!
Penguin with chick at its feet.
Roy Conli shared that the movie has a theme of dad.  “You don’t start off as a good father you become a good father.”  This definitely is potrayed in this film as we watch Steve’s journey.

Weather Conditions During the Filming of Disneynature Penguins

At the end of the movie, we are given a glimpse of behind the scenes filming.  I asked what the weather conditions were really like and they all had a lot to say. During the storms, winds were around 150 miles an hour.  They had to try and get the best footage while not being in danger. While the humans desperately struggled, all the penguins had to do was lay down. Fothergill shared that with nature, “As a human being, you feel very small” in these extreme conditions.

Cameraman filming penguins.

With all Disneynature films, conservation is key.  Also in attendance was Popi Borboroglu, founder of the Global Penguin Society.  His conservation work looks to protect the world’s penguin species. Borboroglu shared that the selection of the species was important with conservation.  “The science is accurate and the film translates it into emotion for people.  The film entertains you and educates you too. Steve is the face of the species and conservation.”

Group of penguins jumping into the water.

Visit the Disneynature Penguins site for an activity packet and educator’s guide.
For each ticket sold to see Disneynature’s PENGUINS during opening week (April 17, 2019 –April 23, 2019) in the U.S. and Canada, Disneynature will contribute $.20 per ticket to the Wildlife Conservation Network through the Disney Conservation Fund to support penguin conservation.

Disneynature Penguins poster.

Disneynature’s all-new feature film “Penguins” is a coming-of-age story about an Adélie penguin named Steve who joins millions of fellow males in the icy Antarctic spring on a quest to build a suitable nest, find a life partner and start a family. None of it comes easily for him, especially considering he’s targeted by everything from killer whales to leopard seals, who unapologetically threaten his happily ever after. From the filmmaking team behind “Bears” and “Chimpanzee,” Disneynature’s “Penguins” opens in theaters nationwide in time for Earth Day 2019.

Disneynature’s PENGUINS is now in theaters.

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Comments

  1. We just LOVE the disneynature films and try to get to theatres each year as an Earth day (week) tradition. My youngest son just loves penguins and can not wait to go see this year’s film but we’re waiting until all the local schools are back in session first.

  2. Our family loves Penguins and we are looking forward to seeing this movies soon.

  6. Penguins are our favorite critter! It looks like it must have been fun to put this together!

  8. What a great opportunity for you! I can’t wait to see the movie. I love Penguins.

  14. Love the review and I love the penguins can’t wait to see this movie. It’s always great learning about nature.

  17. I think it’s amazing that you got to sit down with the creators of this film. I found their responses an interesting peek behind-the-scenes.

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