Jane Goodall Talks 2012 ‘Chimpanzee’ Movie [Video]
Jane Goodall is the leading expert on Champanzees. She’s been studying with them since the 1960s and has now teamed up with Disney to create a new film, “Chimpanzee.”
Tribute reports that Goodall wasn’t directly involved with the creation of the movie but she’s teamed up with Disney to promote the film in order to raise money to protect the chimpanzee population. During the movie’s opening weekend, Disney will donate a portion of ticket sales to the “See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees” program. The money will go to the Jane Goodall Institute through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.
Goodall didn’t have a creative say in the movie but it’s obviously on a topic that she loves. Goodall said that the filmmakers focused on a tribe of chimpanzees and were going to focus on a new born chimp. Goodall said:
“When they first began this film they were delighted because a mother had a baby and they called him Oscar and the whole plan for the film was built around watching Oscar develop and watching his relationship with the rest of the community and through that, getting to know the community members.”
While filming, however, the focus of the story took a dramatic turn when Oscar’s mother was killed. Goodall said:
“The mother of Oscar was killed by a leopard and they thought, ‘The whole film is destroyed, what are we going to do?’ Then amazingly, the top ranking male who was a crusty kind of guy chimp adopted this baby and his whole personality changed and he became very gentle, he became much less involved with his position as leader.”
Goodall has retired from studying with chimps at Gombe and now spends her time fighting for the protection of chimps.
Goodall said:
“This film, hopefully will really raise a banner — not about the dangers facing the chimps — it’s about how amazing they are and how like us they are. And yes, we should be protecting them—so please help JGI to protect them.” She adds with a laugh, “It doesn’t say it in the film but I’m saying it.” ~Alexandra Heilbron
Here’s a trailer for the 2012 “Chimpanzee” movie.
