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| Press Releases PULSE: A STOMP ODYSSEY TO OPEN FOR EXTENDED WORLD PREMIERE ENGAGEMENT ON OCTOBER 19 ON IMAX (R) SCREEN AT AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- (NEW YORK, September 27, 2002) -- The premiere of Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey -- the much-anticipated large format film from Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, the creators of the international stage sensation STOMP -- will be held in the recently renovated Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Theater at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on October 19, 2002. Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey is a celebration of the global beat, an exploration of the sights and sounds of continents and cultures, guided by the internationally acclaimed performers of the sensational stage show STOMP. Audiences will travel a world brought brilliantly alive on the large-format screen and will discover the universal language of rhythm. The film is a unique and extraordinary large-format film experience — a visual and auditory celebration of diversity and culture, rhythm and humanity. It introduces audiences to percussion groups from locales and backgrounds as disparate as Timbalada of Brazil to the Kodo drummers of Japan, from the American Indian Dance Theater to the Jackie Robinson Steppers of New York. While providing stunning large-format visuals and unparalleled sound recorded live on location, the film chronicles a world without boundaries or prejudices and provides a striking example of the global spirit that is a common thread within all of us. Its message and energy serve as an outstanding, and of course timely, reminder about a fundamental harmony that can exist across time, space, and society. “We started out making a film about rhythm and it evolved into a film about humanity,” McNicholas said. “Every culture has music, but the root of every form of music is rhythm, and rhythm is common to everyone.” The film is not simply inspired by STOMP. Rather, the film features many of the rhythms and cultures that served as the inspiration for STOMP in the first place. One of the most successful and highly acclaimed shows in the history of the New York stage, STOMP has toured throughout North America and the world to rave reviews and sold-out performances. Since beginning its New York run in 1991, the show has performed in more than 350 cities in 36 countries worldwide. In making Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey, Cresswell and McNicholas felt it important that the film not replicate the stage show, but rather take advantage of the large-format medium to take audiences on a journey to experience the richness and diversity of the world’s rhythm, music, dance and cultural events. Their goal was to not only get children and adults to listen to the world differently -- as STOMP itself has done -- but also to see the world as one. “The IMAX format gave us the opportunity to really make a spectacle, not only because of the film’s large format, but also because of its high quality sound system,” Cresswell said. “IMAX gives the audience the same viewpoint we had when we were physically there on location. It’s much more of a theatrical medium than regular film, so for this project it works incredibly well.” Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey features large-format film footage of the world’s most unique and exciting performances shot on location in Asia, Brazil, England, India, South Africa, Spain, and the United States. Featured performers include STOMP, Les Percussions de Guinee, Kodo, Eva Yerbabuena, Panchavadyam, Timbalada, and many more. “The whole journey is done through rhythm alone, just like in STOMP,” adds McNicholas. “Everyone has a heartbeat…fundamentally, there is a rhythm that binds everything and everyone together. If we can take an audience from Manhattan to Brazil to Africa to India and just do it through rhythm and movement and colors, I think that can send a strong message. It is not just crossing rhythms, it is crossing cultures.” Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey is a production of Giant Screen Films, Stern Productions and Leve Productions, in association with Walden Media and Yes/No Productions. It is presented by Honda (American Honda Motor Company) and is distributed worldwide by Giant Screen Films. Giant Screen Films (GSF), founded by brothers Don Kempf and Steve Kempf, specializes in the production and distribution of large-format films. Based in Evanston, Illinois, the company’s mission is to create and distribute films that portray fascinating subjects and events in a manner that inspires children and adults around the world. GSF also produced and distributed the large-format film Michael Jordan to the Max, which has grossed nearly $25 million since its release in May 2000, making it the highest-grossing sports documentary of all time. James D. Stern (Stern Productions), an original producer of the stage show STOMP, is a producer of Mel Brooks’ Broadway sensation The Producers, which recently collected a record 12 Tony Awards. Stern also directed and produced the large-format film Michael Jordan to the Max with Giant Screen Films and the feature film It’s the Rage. Additionally, Stern has produced Tony-nominated shows including Sound of Music, Swing, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Weir, and many others. Harriet N. Leve (Leve Productions), also an original producer of the stage show STOMP, currently produces the award-winning New York and National tour productions of STOMP. Additional producing credits include Tony-nominated Broadway and off-Broadway productions such as The Crucible, Hedda Gabler, The Diary of Anne Frank, Twilight: Los Angeles, Kat and the Kings, and Communicating Doors. Founded by Cary Granat, former president of Miramax Films' Dimension label, and educator Micheal Flaherty, Walden Media (www.walden.com) produces films, television shows, live theatre, books and interactive media that strive to inspire, engage, enlighten and entertain. Walden believes that quality entertainment is inherently educational and can capture the audience's imagination, rekindle curiosity and demonstrate the rewards of learning. Walden Media is a subsidiary of The Anschutz Company. American Honda began operations in North America in 1959, with the first establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda’s first overseas subsidiary. Today, more than 19,000 associates in the United States are employed by Honda in the areas of design, development, engineering, assembly and sales of Honda and Acura products. Honda operates 10 manufacturing facilities in North America that produce automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, power equipment, transmissions and engines, using domestic and globally-sourced parts. Yes/No Productions was founded in 1991 to facilitate the percussion show STOMP and directors Steve McNicholas and Luke Cresswell. Yes/No has presented STOMP in London and Paris and oversees its worldwide companies. Film credits include Brooms, STOMP Out Loud and Vacuums. # # # Media Contact: Eileen Campion / Dera & Associates, Inc. 212-966-4600 / eileen@derapr.com Download PDF of full press release Download Word document of full press release Back to Press Releases |
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