Seasons in the Smokies, the second in the Smoky Mountain Explorer Series from Great Smoky Mountains Association, will make its first appearance on the big screen during a premiere showing of the film Thursday, July 17.
Gary Wilson, GSMA's award-winning filmmaker, will discuss what it took to make this project during an hour-long exclusive premiere event at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, beginning at 4:30 p.m. on July 17.
Wilson spent countless hours hiking in Great Smoky Mountain National Park's backcountry, filming, editing and writing to produce a film that takes viewers effortlessly through the calendar from a frigid winter high atop Mt. Le Conte to a balmy summer day in Cades Cove to the stunning fall landscape seen everywhere in the Smokies each October.
Great Smoky Mountains Association cinematographer Gary Wilson hikes to Mt. Le Conte during a winter storm to capture footage of the area rarely seen by others/GSMA.
'Gary's willingness to carry his substantial equipment six or seven miles up a steep mountain trail and climb out of his sleeping bag at 3:30 a.m. to shoot time lapses of sunrise sets his images apart,' said Steve Kemp, GSMA's interpretive products and services director.
Wilson has visited some 33 different national parks and spent thousands of hours filming and photographing the backcountry. His first full-length film project for GSMA's Explorer Series, An Island in the Sky, took first-place honors at the most recent Association of Partners for Public Lands media competition. Since its release last summer, the DVD/BluRay has raised thousands of dollars to support park projects.
'Having visited national parks in the west like Yosemite, Mount Rainier and Glacier, I know firsthand that they are renowned for open fields of wildflowers with iconic mountain views,' said Wilson. 'Yet, the Great Smoky Mountains have their own iconic views with flowering plants on heath balds that hug some of the park's most rugged terrain. That's just a small part of what I wanted to show with this film.'
The Thursday, July 17, viewing of Seasons of the Smokies is open to the public free of charge. Following his talk, Wilson will be available to autograph copies of both his Smoky Mountain Explorer films.
Since its inception in 1953, Great Smoky Mountains Association has supported the preservation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and by promoting greater public understanding and appreciation through education, interpretation and research. A non-profit organization, GSMA has provided more than $32 million to the park during its 60-year history. Funds generated through sales of Seasons of the Smokies support the national park.
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Comments
I really hope that you appreciate what Kurt is doing for you here, Gary Wilson. Perhaps it may make you consider contributing to this site.
Gary Wilson, thank you for your efforts and Traveler for posting this article.
Maybe we should appreciate what Gary is doing for all of us and others who may not have the chance to see the Smokies in person.
Gary, you obviously make a positive impact on the national park system. Unfortunately, your personal attacks on those people that disagree with you takes away from the positives. You might be better suited to stay neutral in the future when trying to sell a product to those that love the GSMNP as much as you do.
Thanks guys. There was a lot of work put into both films. It's part of a series that will be either 6 to 8 films, and document many aspects about the park.
Smoky0325, first, please use your real name instead of hiding behind a pseudonym. I'm actually a pretty easy going guy, and i'm not afraid of an opinion, or what people think about me. While there is a group of 4 to 5 people that might not like me, i've had my share of supporters over the years and have had quite a lot of great conversations about the park. And staying neutral, and kowtowing to certain small groups that drum up a lot of misinformation, and mindless attacks on forums that I like to read isn't exactly going to inspire me to just tow the line to appease them. I was raised to defend myself, and it's part of who I am. Many other artists, and ecologically minded conservationists have had opinions through the years too on issues relating to National Parks.
He is so used to attacking those with opposing views, he doesn't even realize he is doing it. Fine example of the extreme left...
Beach, it's evident, you could care less about ecology in our National Parks. Some of us do WANT to see piping plovers and sea turtles, and flora exist in a wild state on National Park lands. Maybe what needs to happen on Hatteras, is that some group needs to document via video to show the effects and actions of ATVs on beach habitat. I bet you wouldn't like the results even when the evidence is documented and in front of you.
misinformation being drummed up....are you finally speaking about the GSMNP administration that has either retired or now moved on to other parks...after they pushed this backpacking fee through?