| ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
Director, Executive
Producer & Writer Michael Tobias
Dr. Michael Tobias is the President
of the Dancing Star Foundation. He is a global ecologist,
author and filmmaker.
Dr. Tobias did his Ph.D. in
the History of Consciousness at the University of California-Santa
Cruz. Tobias has lectured widely. He was an Assistant Professor
of Environmental Studies & Adjunct Assistant Professor
English and the Humanities at Dartmouth College, an Associate
Professor of Humanities at California State University-Northridge,
the Garrey Carruthers Chair of Honors and Distinguished
Visiting Professor at the University of New Mexico-Albuquerque,
and Regents’ Lecturer, at the University of California-Santa
Barbara.
Dr. Tobias is the author of
30 books (including several edited anthologies, and both
fiction and non-fiction). Some of his better-known works
include: “World War III – Population and the
Biosphere at the End of the Millennium,” Preface by
Jane Goodall, “A Vision of Nature – Traces of
the Original World,” “Nature’s Keepers
– on the Frontlines of the Fight to Save Wildlife
in America,” “A Day in the Life of India,”
“Voices from the Underground – For the Love
of Animals,” “ Environmental Meditation,”
“Life Force – The World of Jainism,” “Voice
of the Planet,” “Kinship With Animals, “
(co-edited), “The Soul of Nature” (co-edited),
and “A Parliament of Science – Science for the
21st Century” (co-edited). In addition Tobias has
written, directed, produced, executive produced or co-executive
produced well over 100 films – TV series, documentaries
and dramas, most pertaining to environmental, cultural,
social or scientific issues. Some of those works include
the 15-part series, “A Parliament of Minds,”
the 28-part series, “A Parliament of Souls,”
the ten-hour dramatic miniseries, “Voice of the Planet,”
and such other works as “Ahimsa –Non-Violence,”
“Black Tide,” “Antarctica: The Last Continent,”
“A Day in the Life of India,” “A Day in
the Life of Ireland, “World War III,” “The
Sky’s On Fire,” “River of Love,”
“America’s Great Parks,” “Element
One,” “The Hydrogen Age,” “The Cost
of Cool,” “Mad Cowboy” and “No Vacancy.”
Tobias’ research has
taken him to some 50 countries where he has specialized
in an interdisciplinary approach to environmental history,
scientific, ethical and philosophical frameworks for policy
research and documentation, demographic analysis, ecological
anthropology, biodiversity conservation, and non-violence
activism. In 1996, Tobias received the "Courage of
Conscience Award" for his commitment to animals.
Producer Jane Gray Morrison
Jane Gray Morrison graduated
Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA in English literature (with additional
focus on Asian Languages). She subsequently took a leave
from a Ph.D. program at UCLA to continue her study of opera
in Europe.
As an ecologist, Ms. Morrison’s
work has taken her to some 30 countries. As a filmmaker,
Ms. Morrison has produced numerous films for such networks
as Discovery, PBS (where she also co-directed “A Day
in the Life of Ireland” for Irish Television and WNET-PBS)
and Turner Broadcasting (where she served as senior producer
for a 10-hour dramatic series based on a hyper-intellectual
dialogue between a scientist and computer perched in a monastery
on the edge of Mt. Everest). She has just completed the
feature documentary films "Mad Cowboy" and "No
Vacancy" and is presently in production on a feature
film on ecologically endangered regions and species on the
planet. In addition, Ms. Morrison has edited numerous works
of fiction and non-fiction and has co-authored two books
coming out in 2005 and 2006.
As an ecologist, Ms. Morrison’s
work has taken her to some 30 countries. As a filmmaker,
Ms. Morrison has produced numerous films for such networks
as Discovery, PBS (where she also co-directed “A Day
in the Life of Ireland” for Irish Television and WNET-PBS)
and Turner Broadcasting (where she served as senior producer
for a 10-hour dramatic series based on a hyper-intellectual
dialogue between a scientist and computer perched in a monastery
on the edge of Mt. Everest). She has just completed the
feature documentary films "Mad Cowboy" and "No
Vacancy" and is presently in production on a feature
film on ecologically endangered regions and species on the
planet. In addition, Ms. Morrison has edited numerous works
of fiction and non-fiction and has co-authored two books
coming out in 2005 and 2006.
For six years she has served
as the Executive Vice President of Dancing Star Foundation.
Ms. Morrison serves as a director on several nonprofit boards.
Producer and
Host Robert Gillespie
Robert Gillespie is the president
of Population Communication. His career began in 1962 with
the Pathfinder fund. He advised the government of Taiwan
to formulate the first national family planning program
in the world to introduce IUDs and oral contraceptives,
served as the Population Council resident representative
in Taiwan, Iran, Bangladesh and Turkey and was regional
consultant to the governments of Indonesia, India, the Philippines,
Thailand, Pakistan and Egypt. He is on numerous boards and
advisory committees. He has obtained the signature of 75
heads of government on the Statement on Population Stabilization
by World Leaders.
Co-Producer
Elizabeth Hughes
Elizabeth Hughes is the
director of international programs for Population Communication.
She is a graduate of USC School of Cinema-TV.
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