Filmmakers Behind IMAX Pandas

David Douglas and Drew Fellman, the filmmakers behind “Born to be Wild” and “Island of Lemurs: Madagascar,” directed the new IMAX film Pandas, which Fellman wrote and produced, with Douglas as director of photography.

One of the scientists featured in the documentary is Dr. Jake Owens a conservation biologist who moved from the United States to the Chengdu Research Base For Giant Panda Breeding in China to work with the pandas to help prepare captive-born cubs for release in the wild. He spent four years there and developed a deep relationship with Qian Qian — the panda the IMAX film follows.

We talked with the filmmakers about working with pandas, the cross-cultural connection and even what they needed to do in case danger was present. Check out the full interview!

Pandas opens Friday, April 6.

(l to r) Jake Owens, Ph.D., Conservation Biologist, and Co-Directors Drew Fellman and David Douglas.