‘ESCAPE FROM EXTINCTION’
Local’s documentary, narrated by Helen Mirren, opening nationwide
Adocumentary about people at zoos and aquariums who rescue endangered animals, which was directed by Madison native MatthewR. Brady, will open in theaters nationwide on Oct. 16.
“Escape from Extinction” is narrated by Helen Mirren. It is about the sixth mass extinction, an ongoing event occurring now.
“The first five extinctions all happened during the dinosaur age. There are 7 million species on the Earth and 1 million are on the verge of extinction. That’s such a frightening number,” said Brady. “Everything is connected. One species goes and then another goes right after that. If we don’t step in and do something, we won’t have an ecosystem left of or we will have a very different one.”
Brady, a 1995 graduate of Hand High School, worked with American Humane on this film. He worked with that organization before, whenhewas producing the Hero Dog Awards.
Brady wanted to showcase the works being done at zoos and aquariums. “The job of a modern zoo is to save species from extinction. Going to the zoo and learning about animals
with children is the smallest part of what they are doing. They are developing programs and science to help these animals,” he said.
Healso wanted to debunk misinformation about zoos, especially the belief that zoos are always bad for animals.
“We’ve all been to a facility where there’s a tiger in a cage and it’s so sad because there is nothing to stimulate it. That is different what happening in world-class facilities whose jobs are to save species from extinction,” Brady said.
Among the zoos and aquariums
featured in the film is Mystic Aquarium, where Brady went frequently as a child. As a boy, he became fascinated by sea life.
“I loved the manatees. I wrote a book report on manatees,” he said.
The movie will open in theaters across the country on Oct. 16, including Mystic Luxury Cinemas and Cinepolis West Hartford. After the theatrical run, it will be available on streaming, with the platform TBD.