Violet is Blue: A Tale of Gibbons and Guardians Description
The following was taken from the film’s website, which can be found HERE.
This award winning, heartwarming, sometimes heart-wrenching 40 minute cinematic documentary will draw you into a world you’ve never seen before. A fascinating society of Gibbons and their Guardians in a remote Conservation Center. Adversity will test the Center’s resolve, yet the fun and joys of these singing apes — especially Violet — will capture your soul.
The film shows the leadership and sacrifices of a few women who, at the time of crisis and despite the personal cost, rose to face major challenges to save the Conservation Center. The film also highlights the plight of the gibbons in the wild and the sacrifices of people who love and care for them.
Filmmakers
ALEX M. AZMI, DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Alex Azmi is an Emmy-Award winner filmmaker. He is based in Los Angeles, CA and is interested in documentaries and narrative films that deal with social and human issues. Alex is dedicated to producing high quality films in collaboration with talented artists in the US and around the world.
MICHAEL THAU, PRODUCER, WRITER, AND EDITOR
Son of storied MGM executive Benny Thau, Michael has worked on many celebrated features and television shows. Eventually Director/Producer Richard Donner promoted him, putting him to work on a variety of projects including The Goonies, The Lost Boys, and The Lethal Weapon series. Michael restored Superman – The Movie, directing and producing acclaimed documentaries about the groundbreaking film. Recently Michael produced and edited Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, reinstating the majority of the director’s “lost” material, including the never-seen-before last screen appearance of Marlon Brando. The film won the prestigious Saturn Award. Michaels’ film career also includes directing various projects including HBO’s Tales of the Crypt, the short A call for Help, and second-unit direction for Lethal Weapon 2 and Scrooged.
GABI SKOLLAR, DIRECTOR, GIBBON CONSERVATION CENTER
Gabriella Skollar has been working for the Gibbon Conservation Center (GCC) since 2005. She graduated in 2004 with a Master’s degree in Biology at the University of Szeged, in Hungary. She first became involved with gibbons when her University adviser asked her to record Kaszat, a northern white-cheeked gibbon in the Szeged Zoo. After many hours of early morning recording and observation, it became her passion to study gibbon vocalization. Gabriella moved to the U.S. in 2005 to work as a volunteer caregiver and researcher at the GCC, initially supported by the Rosztoczy Scholarship. In 2007, she became a full-time Primate Caregiver and Research Assistant. In November 2011, after the passing of Alan Mootnick, the Founder of the GCC, Gabriella became responsible for the day-to- day care and health of the gibbons, and the supervision of other caregivers, maintenance staff and volunteers.
In 2014, January Gabriella became the Director of the GCC. Gabriella is an active participant in the gibbon zoological, conservation, and scientific communities worldwide. As the SSA Zoo Liaison at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Primate Specialist Group, she is responsible for representing the SSA within the Zoo community, and improving links between in-situ and ex-situ conservation. She is also a husbandry advisor for the gibbon SSP in the USA, as well as a member of the gibbon hand-rearing and surrogate team. Gabriella gives educational lectures and tours at the GCC, focusing on gibbon conservation and behavior. She has presented at international conferences on gibbon husbandry, cognition, and social behavior. Currently, her studies focus on gibbon vocalization with the goal that her studies will support gibbon conservation efforts.
