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FTT Talks Presents: Randy Olson, Filmmaker

Presented by University of Notre Dame-Film, Television, Theatre at DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

May 3, 2007

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Flock of Dodos is the first feature documentary (85 mins.) to present both sides of the evolution vs. intelligent design controversy that recently appeared on the covers of Time and Newsweek. Filmmaker and evolutionary biologist Randy Olson chronicles the ongoing brouhaha between condescending scientists and extremist intelligent designers, a movement that evolutionists refer to as "creationism in a cheap tuxedo." Along the way, Olson finds time to poke fun at both sides of the debate, and at the same time delve head first into the seriousness of the issue that is at the heart of our country's current political division. Randy Olson lived the life of a marine biologist earning his PhD from Harvard in 1984 and a tenured professorship at the University of New Hampshire. Frustrated with what he saw as the growing disconnect between science and the general public, Olson changed course and, in 1994, entered film school at the University of Southern California. There his student film, a 20-minute musical comedy, "You Ruined My Career," was selected for the Filmmakers of Tomorrow showcase at the Telluride Film Festival and chosen as one of the Top 100 Student Films in the history of USC Cinema School. Since then, he has founded the acclaimed Shifting Baselines Ocean Media Project (www.shiftingbaselines.org) and last year wrote and directed the documentary feature film, "Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus," which draws on both his evolutionary background and his Kansas upbringing as he visits the controversy raging over evolution in his home state. The film is scheduled to air nationally on Showtime in May. There will be a panel discussion after the 7:00 p.m. screening, and a Q&A after the 9:30 p.m. screening. To see the trailer for the film, visit the Flock of Dodos website at www.flockofdodos.com.