Tag Archives: Steve Martin

Two Years After The Big Year Movie

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Two years ago last month (October) the movie, The Big Year, was released. I personally have seen the movie 24 times since then. Of course I really liked the movie. I am biased though. I got to proofread the script and I got to be on the movie set as a Bird Consultant. What a surreal experience! It still seems like a dream. Like it never truly happened. A Hollywood movie with A-List stars (Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson) was the last thing I would have expected from my Big Year in 1998. So many things had to happen to make this a reality. I often wondered “Why me?” Most folks reserve that for bad experiences. But I soon realized it really wasn't about me. It was waaay bigger! What is it? There is a new wave of popularity in birding. And I am privileged to be riding along with this one! And I can't help believing that we are only beginning to scratch the surface of what is about to be! I am full of hope for our future!

Recently someone asked me how many times I've spoken. Great question. I was curious myself. My friend, Erica Rusk, compiled a list of all the places I've been in the last two years. She has been keeping my calendar for me these last two years. Thank you, Erica! Here is a map I put together with Erica's list and a website called Batchgeo.

Thank you everyone! It has been wonderful traveling all over America (and Canada, too) talking about a contest I didn't win and signing books I didn't write!

 

View After The Big Year Movie in a full screen map

 

The Big Year GIVEAWAY!

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So the DVD (and blu-ray) of the movie, The Big Year, is going to be released on January 31st–very soon.  But before that, wouldn’t it be cool if Greg Miller Birding blog readers had a chance to *WIN* a DVD?

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

The Big Year DVD

Pretty doggone cool, eh?  You betcha!  But wait!  Don’t stop there!  What if we included a pair of Big Year binoculars?

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT??!!?!?

The Big Year binoculars!

This is pure AWESOMENESS!!!  Your personal coolness factor would go through the roof with all this!

So my friends, here are the rules:

  1. Write an email to gregmillerbirding@gmail.com
  2. Use the following as the subject line: The Big Year Giveaway
  3. In the body of the email, you must give the answer to the following The Big Year movie question: What is the species of bird that Brad Harris (Jack Black) and his dad (Brian Dennehy) go to see in a Virginia forest in the snow?

You must live in the US or Canada to receive this giveaway.  (I apologize to my friends afield!)  This gift is made possible by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and the marketing folks at Thinkjam.

TWO winners will be chosen (both of you will get the DVD [not the blu-ray] and the Big Year binoculars) randomly from all the email submissions with the correct answer to #3.  Watch for the announcement of the TWO winners listed on this blog on January 30, 2012!

I’m challenging you to make 2012 your Biggest Year.  If you haven’t made any resolutions, here’s a little something to help you out:

The Big Year checklist

Less Than A Week To Go!

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Holy Smokes!  I cannot believe this is really happening!  It just doesn’t seem real that some personal birding adventure from 13 years ago has been a part of what inspired a Hollywood movie.  Simply jaw-dropping.  Miller Luck in more than just birding?  ahaha!  How cool is that??!!?!  A lot is happening now with interviews with the stars on TV and HBO carrying a First Look at The Big Year (which I hear is quite good–I haven’t seen it yet myself).  So if you haven’t had time to catch up with what all is going on, I’ll add a few links here to help you out.

New Articles:

Variety magazine article on partnership between the movie & Audubon organization

ENews Park Forest article on The Big Year & Audubon

‘The Big Year’: To kill by mocking the birds – Chicago Sun-Times

Orlando Sentinel interview with all 3 stars (Black/Martin/Wilson)

Some pictures:

‘The Big Year’ stills

Videos:

Rashida Jones interview on “The Big Year”

Black/Martin/Wilson interview with Access Hollywood

(the whole show–about 40 minutes)
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno – Oct 6, 2011 (includes full interview with Black/Martin/Leno)

Or just watch clips of the interview on Tonight Show with Jay Leno:
Black/Martin/Wilson – preview clip on Hulu

Black/Martin/Wilson – Tonight Show with Jay Leno – part 1

Black/Martin/Wilson – Tonight Show with Jay Leno – part 2

Black/Martin/Wilson – Tonight Show with Jay Leno – part 3

And Columbus fans of The Big Year can watch for an article in this Sunday’s Columbus Dispatch.  Local fans (near Millersburg, OH) can be listening for a brief interview with me on WJER.  NPR listeners can tune in sometime in the near future (as the movie release gets closer) for another interview with me with Mark Urycki of WKSU.  I will be attending an advanced screening of the movie on Monday night in Richmond Heights, OH, thanks to tickets from the Akron Beacon Journal.  Speaking of Monday, The Big Year trio (Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson) will be on TV with Ellen DeGeneres.  And check out the Events tab on this website to see all the upcoming fun!

See you all at the movie!

The Big Year Movie Trailer…Second Try

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(I think this is the WORST buffering for a video…EVER!  <heavy sigh>)


THE BIG YEAR trailer HD by myfilm-gr

It’s finally here.  How’s it feel?  Umm.  Mixed bag of pretty amazing emotions.  Thrilling?  Heck YEAH!  Scary?  Kinda.  I’m not sure what to expect.  It’s like surfing.  You see a wave coming.  You size it up and make a gamble.  But once you’re committed, you’re in it.  And it might be a lot bigger and scarier than you imagined.  Or it might be a fizzle.  At any rate, I’m incredibly lucky to be at this point in my life.  It’s a big wave with uncertain characteristics.  And I’m gonna ride this one and have fun. Continue reading →