Dear David Frankel & Red Hour Films,
Hey, I hear you are making a movie of the book The Big Year, a fun read about three guys who competed to see the most bird species in North America in a calendar year. News is leaking that you have lined up Jack Black and Owen Wilson and quite possibly Steve Martin to star as the three leads–kudos! I like all three actors and can’t wait to see what you do with it.
But I’m writing this to ask you a huge favor. Can you please try to be accurate with the birds in picture. I’m not asking for much maybe just don’t play a red-tailed hawk call for all the bald eagles and the vultures (perhaps that is too much). Don’t make up bird names and at least get in the ball park of what a species looks like. I’ll understand on somethings, like if you get your gulls mixed up (happens to all of us) or if you make all the empidonax flycatchers look the same (cause let’s face it, they kinda do) but if they boys are supposed to be looking a red-cockaded woodpecker, please don’t show a pileated woodpecker instead–we’ll know the difference. According to US Fish & Wildlife, one in five of us Americans are watching birds, we’ll know. You might hire a consultant to double check your birds. I’m not saying you need to hire Kenn Kaufman or David Sibley (awesome choices though), but maybe you could find a local birder where you are filming to help you out? Maybe check with the good folks at Cornell Lab of Ornithology–they could probably help you with some stock footage of birds and their sounds!
Also, it would really mean a lot if all of the birders in the film didn’t look like Jane Hathaway and if you could refrain from having Owen Wilson wear a Tilley Hat (no one looks good in those).
We birders want to support this movie, we’re really pulling for you. It’s awesome to see birding in the mainstream. Good luck to you and don’t forget some of us bird bloggers when you do your promotions!
Sincerely,
Sharon Stiteler, Birdchick
Oh darn, I thought I looked GOOD in my Tilley!
If they’re hiring Jack Black, Owen Wilson, and Steve Martin, I don’t expect that ornithological accuracy is going to be high on the list…
No Tilley hat? Okay, that is a bridge too far.
I’ll be the first to suggest that they hire you as a consultant. Maybe even a cameo…
YEESSS! What she said, exactly!
Amen!
Very well said, Sharon!
Alas, with that cast I have no hope. I just finished reading the book after a long wait for it from the library. I suspect your mention of it made it popular.
i like my tilley hat! and you soooooooo need to be in that movie!!
Yes, very well said Sharon and I hope they take your letter for what it’s worth!
Neil’s got contacts in Hollywood, right? Take this a step further and get this message in the producer or director’s hands. Offer them your services, if not as consultant, let them know you can get them a local birder on any location within a couple days. We can use the listservs for that. Make it easy for them to do the right thing.
Hi Sharon, can’t help feeling this film will not show birders in the best light despite your best efforts. Surely the clue is in the cast? Across the pond we are also suffering from dumbed-down nonsense on TV.
Check this out:http://tv.sky.com/bill-bailey-bird-watching
and what some folks think of it:
http://leicesterllama.blogspot.com/2010/01/bill-baileys-big-bag-of.html
I am all for attracting new birders and we all enjoy our birding in different ways but this kind of nonsense is not the way to get new folks involved in my opinion and I fear the ‘big day’ film will not do our cause any favours either?
Btw, looking forward to some great birding stateside next month!
Br, Mike
Oh Mike no! I followed that link and read the review of Bill Bailey’s show. I had such high hopes for it cause I think he’s hilarious–QI, Black Books, Spaced. Sigh. Well, I guess I can stop my campaign of trying to convince Mr. Neil that he and I need to be a team on that show. NBB did point out that if we actually made it, I would get a ton of hate mail from Mr. Neil’s fans for shooshing him as digiscoped birds.
I’m just finishing up “A Supremely Bad Idea”….good, funny and might make an even better movie? Just a thought.