The 40th Anniversary of 2001: A Space Odyssey
http://www.oscars.org/events-exhibitions/events/2008/2001.html
Written by Dennis Gonzales.
Photography by Richard Harbaugh / © A.M.P.A.S.
Permission to use for this article.

2001 in 2008: A Cinematic Odyssey, Part Two (Continued)

I had the opportunity to attend the second 2001 tribute program presented by The Academy's Science and Technology Council on May 21, 2008 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills. The event featured space-exploration enthusiast Tom Hanks and 2001 Visual Effects Supervisor, Douglas Trumbull. This was the theatre's second event in honor of the 40th anniversary of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The first event took place on April 25th and featured a special screening of the movie presented in 70mm 6-track stereo, as it was in the original release. Guests included Tom Hanks, Douglas Trumbull, Daniel Richter, Gary Lockwood, Kier Dullea, 2001 Special Effects Artist Bruce Logan, and Apollo 11 astronaut, Buzz Aldrin and a special video link from station astronaut Garrett Reisman with a special message from space commemorating the anniversary screening of 2001.


From the orbiting complex, NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman recorded a message that was played during the 40th anniversary screening of film on April 25 at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif. To read more about NASA honoring 2001, go to 1968 Science Fiction is Todayís Reality.


Filmmaker Lionel Friedberg, a member of 2001:Exhibit's social network, ning.com attended the screening at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre and wrote about his experience on the website. Friedberg contacted me on ning.com because he planned to attend the second 2001 event, "2001 in 2008: A Cinematic Odyssey" and wanted to invite me along. He offered to buy me a ticket and let me stay over at his home in LA, an opportunity I couldn't pass up.



Souvenir ticket.


I arrived at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank on Wednesday afternoon and was met by Friedberg. We stopped at his house long enough to drop off my bag and greet his gracious wife--filmmaker Diane Friedberg--and then headed out for a late lunch of Chinese food at the Lotus Inn in the Woodland Hills. We were supposed to join 2001 star Gary Lockwood for dinner but didn't have enough time to do that and get a good spot in line outside the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre. We opted to get in line early and get good seats, so after lunch, we returned to the Friedbergs' home to meet up with a friend and then hit the Santa Monica freeway, beginning the slow commute to Beverly Hills.

When we arrived at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre, windy weather was ripping through downtown, and a small line was already forming on Wilshire Blvd. Even after 8 years, the time since our meeting at The Tech Museum in San Jose, I immediately recognized 2001 fan Matt Ventimiglia, a long time supporter of my website, 2001:Exhibit, and of my 2001 exhibit campaign. He was sharing many of his 2001-themed printed materials with others in line. After short introductions with the Friedbergs, another ning member joined our little entourage, designer Daren Dochterman. (We saw Daniel Richter, ning member and long time supporter of the 2001 campaign, as he passed by.)

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