Breathtaking New 3D IMAX Theater Film, SHARKS 3D, Presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau, Premieres Today in Texas at the Moody Gardens in Galveston

Breathtaking New 3D IMAX Theater Film, SHARKS 3D, Presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau, Premieres Today in Texas at the Moody Gardens in Galveston

SHARKS 3D Offers an Astonishing, Up-Close Three-Dimensional Encounter With Nature's Ultimate, Yet Endangered Predator While Delivering a Compelling Conservation Message. Put on Your Wetsuit and Get Ready for a Close Encounter With the Lions and Tigers of the Ocean

Ocean Explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau to Address the Media on the Importance of Protecting Sharks During a Special Screening of SHARKS 3D at the Moody Gardens IMAX 3D Theater on March 7, 2005

GALVESTON, Texas, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Jean-Michel Cousteau and 3D Entertainment, in collaboration with UNEP, Reef Check and Project Aware, invite audiences to a stunning, immersive diving experience with SHARKS 3D, the first-ever shark-themed 3D IMAX theatre film, premiering today, February 21, at the Moody Gardens IMAX 3D Theater. Join the expert international team of ocean explorers that brought you OCEAN WONDERLAND 3D on this unique round-the-globe expedition documenting the life of the ultimate predator.

The media are invited to attend a special screening of SHARKS 3D at the Moody Gardens IMAX 3D Theater on March 7, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. Ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau will be available for interviews following the screening.

The Moody Gardens IMAX 3D Theater brings SHARKS 3D to life in grand fashion, offering a unique 3D experience from each of its 400 stadium-style seats with high-definition images projected onto the huge, six story-tall screen and 18,000 watts of pure digital surround sound. Show times this week are 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. To purchase individual tickets, please visit http://www.moodygardens.com/ or call 1-409-744-4673. For group sales, call 1-409-683-4203. The IMAX 3D Theater is located at One Hope Boulevard in Galveston.

"I am very pleased that Houston/Galveston-area residents will now get the chance to share in this truly memorable encounter with the world's great shark species, such as the Great White, Whale Shark and Hammerhead," said Jean-Michel Cousteau. "Watching SHARKS 3D is like pulling on a diving suit and swimming weightlessly with sharks all around. If you've ever wanted to know what it's really like to dive with sharks, this film is certainly a must-see. You can witness them as they truly are in their natural habitat -- not wicked man-eating creatures, as they are far too frequently depicted in modern feature films, but wild, fascinating and highly endangered animals that have been in existence since a million years before the dinosaurs."

"Despite the existence of various international treaties, certain shark species have been reduced by nearly 80% in the past decade alone. Today, the priority is not only to end the steady decline of the shark population, but to rehabilitate its image among the general public," said UNEP's Executive Director, Klaus Toepfer. "We believe that this outstanding IMAX theatre film is an ideal means of reaching a vast audience and changing a great number of people's perception of these animals."

"The film's purpose is to lead people to think differently and positively about sharks. As many fellow conservationists have stated before, we protect only what we love. Therefore, we first need to understand what sharks are really like before there can be a change in public perception. Then perhaps we will begin to protect them," said director Jean-Jacques Mantello.

"We are so pleased to have Mr. Cousteau at Moody Gardens as we launch SHARKS 3D," said Moody Gardens General Manager John Zendt. "He is deeply committed to conservation and shares our desire to help increase awareness about protecting the environment and the marine life that call our oceans home. And this film conveys this message in a very informative and entertaining way."

Principal photography on SHARKS 3D required an extensive nine-month shoot totaling 500 dive hours. The film was shot on location in Guadalupe Island, Socorro Island, Revillagigedos and the Sea of Cortez (Mexico), Malpelo Island (Colombia), the Red Sea (Egypt), Sodwana Bay (South Africa), Inhambane (Mozambique), San Diego (USA) and Rangiroa Atoll (French Polynesia).

In addition to its Galveston engagement, SHARKS 3D will soon be released in Texas at the IMAX theatre at RiverCenter in San Antonio and at the Cinemark IMAX 3D theatre at Cinemark 17 in Dallas. The film is now playing in Vancouver (BC), Universal City (CA), New Orleans (LA), Atlantic City (NJ), Virginia Beach (VA) and Las Vegas (NV). For a full list of IMAX theatres showing SHARKS 3D, please go to http://www.sharks3d.com/.

SHARKS 3D is produced by 3D Entertainment and McKinney Underwater Productions Inc. Directed by Jean-Jacques Mantello, filmed by Gavin McKinney and executive produced by Francois Mantello. SHARKS 3D features an original score composed by Christophe Jacquelin and performed by the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, with an original song, "Still Be Blue," sung by Djazia Satour with lyrics by Claudia Philips.

SHARKS 3D is distributed worldwide by 3D Entertainment in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (http://www.unep.org/) and is endorsed and supported by Ocean Futures Society (http://www.oceanfutures.org/), Reef Check (http://www.reefcheck.org/) and PADI's Project Aware (http://www.projectaware.org/).

SHARKS 3D is recommended for general audiences.

Official website: http://www.sharks3d.com/

About 3D Entertainment: Based in London (UK), 3D Entertainment http://www.sharks3d.com/ specializes in the production and distribution of marine conservation and environmental-themed films for the worldwide network of IMAX theatres. The company's mission is to immerse audiences in films that inspire and educate. Their first film, OCEAN WONDERLAND 3D, released in February 2003 at IMAX 3D theatres around the globe and produced in partnership with McKinney Underwater Productions, continues to enjoy great success with over 3.3 million viewers to date. More information can be found at http://www.sharks3d.com/.

IMAX is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation


Source: 3D Entertainment

CONTACT: Paul Zemitzsch, +1-314-725-5645, paul@sequel-llc.com, or Julien
Bollee, +1-800-819-7753, jbollee@sharks3D.com, both of 3D Entertainment; or
Jerri Hamachek of Moody Gardens, +1-409-683-4249, jhamachek@moodygardens.com

Web site: http://www.projectaware.org/

Web site: http://www.reefcheck.org/

Web site: http://www.oceanfutures.org/

Web site: http://www.unep.org/

Web site: http://www.sharks3d.com/

Web site: http://www.moodygardens.com/


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