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Nim's Island -- Behind the Scenes (Blog)
Article Date: August 7, 2008 | Publication: Wild About Movies | Author: Staff
Source: Wild About Movies
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Nim's Island Behind the Scenes
I'm guessing that this incredibly detailed description of the making of Nim's Island, comes from the special features on the dvd. It's got quotes from interviews with Paula Mazur, Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin, Gerard Butler, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin, Katie Brock (animal trainer) Stuart Drysburgh, Barry Robson, and me. Don't think I left anyone out?
Wendy Orr's Blog
About the Production
Dear Alex Rover,
My father �s missing at sea and my island is being invaded.
I need you Alex Rover!
Anything can happen on NIM�S ISLAND, a place where imagination runs wild and adventure rules. Here, a feisty young girl named Nim (ABIGAIL BRESLIN), surrounded by her exotic animal friends and inspired by legends and books, leads an amazing tropical existence that mirrors that of her favorite literary hero: Alex Rover, the world�s greatest adventurer. When her island is threatened she reaches out to her hero for help.
But what Nim doesn�t know is that the acclaimed author of the Rover books is, in fact, Alexandra Rover (JODIE FOSTER), a retiring, fainthearted recluse locked away in a big city apartment. Now, as Alexandra nervously ventures forth into the world and Nim faces the biggest challenge of her exciting young life, they must both draw courage from the fictional gallantry of Alex Rover,and find strength in one another to save Nim�s Island.
An adventure comedy, NIM�S ISLAND is about becoming the hero of your own story -- as a girl who thought she was alone and a grown woman who thought she was scared of the world discover they can be so much more than they ever dreamed. The film features Academy Award� nominee Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) in the spunky title role; Academy Award� winner Jodie Foster in a rare comic turn as Alexandra Rover; and heartthrob Gerard Butler (300, P.S. I Love You) in a dual role as Nim�s real father and valiant fictional idol Alex Rover.
NIM�S ISLAND is directed by husband-and-wife team Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett(Little Manhattan) from their own screenplay written with Paula Mazur and Joseph Kwong, based on the acclaimed novel by Wendy Orr. The producer is Paula Mazur (Corrina, Corrina) and the executive producer is Stephen Jones (Superman Returns).
Shot on location on the sandy beaches of Australia�s Gold Coast and the lush rainforests of Hinchinbrook Island, the behind-the-scenes team who bring Nim�s world of natural and imaginary wonders to life includes Academy Award�-nominated director of photography Stuart Dryburgh (The Piano, Bridget Jones� Diary), production designer Barry Robison (Wedding Crashers), Oscar�-nominated costume designer Jeffrey Kurland (Ocean�s Eleven, Bullets Over Broadway) and editor Stuart Levy (Any Given Sunday).
FINDING NIM�s ISLAND:ABOUT THE STORY
In 2002, author Wendy Orr published Nim�s Island, a tale that brought to life a whimsical, adventure-filled tropical paradise like no other and two irresistible heroines: bold young Nim, who leads a modern-day Swiss Family Robinson lifestyle filled with excitement on a remote isle surrounded by her scientist father, close animal companions; and adventure writer Alexander Rover, who leads a completely opposite life of seclusion and high anxiety in her big city apartment � that is, until her biggest fan reaches out to her for help.
When fate brings Nim and Alexandra together, it appears that no two people could be any more different. Nim craves the thrill of great journeys and true friendships, while Alexandra is a comical bundle of frayed nerves. But the two quickly discover that they share something vital in common � a belief in the power of the imagination, and a love of Alexandra�s fictional creation, Alex Rover, whose boundless courage and derring-do will inspire them to go amazing places and make close connections of which they once only dreamed. Nim ultimately finds herself in the midst of one of the greatest adventures of all: becoming a family.
Says Orr, �Nim�s story is about the idea that we can all be a lot braver than we think. Whether you�re fighting off marauding pirates or leaving your apartment to cross the world, we�re all capable of just so much more than we believe.�
The Los Angeles Times called Orr�s book, �a refreshing fantasy tale . . . with ample doses of suspense and comedy� and noted that �readers will want to believe everything about the likeable Nim and her idyllic isle.�
Fast-forward a few years and film producer Paula Mazur suddenly discovers Nim�s Island in a Santa Monica library bin. Intrigued by the title, she takes the book home to read to her children, and inspiration instantly strikes. �I found it such a beautiful story, so well-written, with such strong characters, with this father, daughter and author who are all destined to find one another, that right away I thought �I�d love to see this movie,�� Mazur recalls. �I especially loved that Nim is such a great role model. She�s a can-do kid who takes on everything that she encounters with enthusiasm and humor.�
Mazur was thrilled to find that the screen rights to the story were available and quickly put a screenplay adaptation into motion, soon after joining forces with Walden Media, who have become renown for their ability to take beloved family novels from page to screen with both integrity and creativity.
As the search began for screenwriters to raise the story to a richer cinematic level, both Mazur and Walden were agreed on the pair they hoped would take on the task: Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, the husband-and-wife team who, among many diverse projects, recently wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Little Manhattan, about two 11 year-olds who fall in love when they literally come face-to-face in a Manhattan karate class. Celebrated as that rare, smart, witty comedy for audiences of all ages, the film demonstrated the duo�s affinity for evoking strong emotions and sophisticated humor within a family film context.
�The tone of Little Manhattan was very real and not sentimental and the script was so clever and beautiful. I just had a gut feeling they were the right people for NIM�S ISLAND,� says Mazur, �and Walden felt the same way.�
New parents themselves, Levin and Flackett and fell very quickly into love with Nim and all the delightfully offbeat characters, both human and animal, Orr brought to life in her novel. Says Levin: �We saw the foundation for a beautiful movie, and we took great inspiration from our daughter in approaching how to write and direct the movie, because we wanted to create something that she would love, and also something that reflected her, because to us she is a lot like Nim.�
Adds Flackett: �We were really excited to try to capture that sense of a child�s love of running and jumping and having adventures. There aren�t many roles like that for girls, and we wanted to give that to our daughter. We�ve also both always loved the kinds of really potent family films that transcend age and time and we definitely saw the potential for that in this story.�
In approaching the adaptation, Mark and Jennifer began with what they saw as the heart of the movie. �The core of it is about people trying to make a connection. It�s about a father who�s trying to get home to his little girl, a girl who�s trying to reach out to her hero in her hour of need, a writer trying to connect with the world and with the person she always wanted to be, and most of all, about a family trying to restore itself. These are the themes of the book, and they are what always drove us in creating the movie, from the screenplay to the set,� Levin summarizes.
While the themes remained the same, the pair explain that as they worked with the screenplay they did outwardly expand some of the events of the novel to create more drama and visual excitement on the screen. �Everything that happens in the movie also happens in the book, but we took the basic events and made them all just a little bit bigger and more cinematic,� notes Flackett.
Having also at one time worked on the acclaimed, hit television show The Wonder Years, Levin and Flackett confess they both love writing from the fresh, and often fearlessly perceptive, angle of a child�s point-of-view. �There�s something about the twelve year-old psyche that is a lot of fun and also very poignant as a point of view, because it�s such a transformative time in everybody�s life,� says Levin. �For us, there was also a lot of joy that came from being able to use so much imagination in all of Nim�s world.�
Levin and Flackett have always found that they prefer to work together, rather than apart, and by the time they were done with the screenplay for NIM�S ISLAND and heading into production, the duo notes that they, just like their characters, had been brought even closer as a family by the process. �For me and Jennifer this is the best possible way to live and create,� sums up Mark. �What�s so exciting about doing this together is that we have the opportunity to let our imaginations wander to the same wild places. It�s a very creative partnership.�
The heroine at the very center of NIM�S ISLAND is, of course, Nim herself, the fiery, feisty, colorful youngster who leads a truly wild life, romping on an awe-inspiring, far-away island with a Sea Lion named Selkie for a best friend.
From the minute Nim, her island life and her powerful imagination popped into author Wendy Orr�s head, she knew she was onto something very special. �Nim is fiercely courageous, loyal and resilient. She has her flaws when you�re a writer there are certain characters you create that you love more than others, and Nim is one of those that I really, really fell in love with as I was writing,� confesses Orr.
The filmmakers of Nim�s Island felt precisely the same way about Nim, which led to a dilemma: how would they ever find a young actress who could capture those very special feelings in a complex performance combining comedy, action and moving family moments? The initial plan was to undertake a worldwide search to find an unknown Nim, but then something happened to change the filmmakers� minds � the runaway smash comedy Little Miss Sunshine hit the theatres and introduced the world to the distinctive talents of Abigail Breslin. At the extraordinary age of 10, Breslin garnered an Academy Award� nomination for her richly nuanced role as a would-be pre-adolescent pageant contestant and proved her widespread appeal as a young actress who defies the mold.
�When we saw Abigail�s performance it became very clear that we didn�t need to do a worldwide search at all!� remarks Paula Mazur. �When we met her, we were even more certain she could inhabit Nim beautifully.�
Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett remember indelibly the minute they met her. �We were both like, wow, she is so original and real and emotionally accessible. And her smile is so fantastic,� says Flackett. �She is so much a kid living her life in extraordinary circumstances and that really comes across as Nim.�
On the set, the directors note that Abigail was so creative and collaborative, they entirely stopped thinking of her as a �child actress� at all. �She�s very tapped into her emotions, but not in a cloying way. It�s very genuine and beautiful and you really feel it, especially when Nim is missing her father,� adds Levin. �Everyone involved in the production was blown away by Abigail�s performance.�
Abigail says that what first drew her to the role was Nim�s amazing life of action, adventure and unbridled imagination. �It was something new that I�d never done before,� says Abigail. �I got to do a lot of climbing and running, and flying on the zip-line, which was really fun. And sword fighting! I also did a lot of training for the scenes in the water, I learned how to do duck dives, how to hold my breath under water, and even how to scream under water. It�s not as hard as you think � you just open your mouth and scream right away, so that none of the water goes in.�
Abigail continues: �And then I got to have fun getting to know all of Nim�s friends � the Sea Lions and the Bearded Dragons and the Pelicans -- and it was so cool.�
Like Nim, Abigail found herself constantly challenged by leading this tropical existence far from the usual pre-teen suburbia. Stunt coordinator Glenn Ruehland watched as the role transformed the young actress both physically and mentally. �Abigail went from being this sophisticated girl from New York to a real action girl by the end of production,� remarks Ruehland. �She went through underwater swimming training, zip line training, and was even towed through the water by 400-pound Sea Lions. She got a vast amount of experience in action in this one role and we watched her develop great confidence.�
Abigail loved the physical challenges but she notes that the really big things that happen to Nim start when she joins forces with Alexandra Rover � and they happen under the skin. �What I loved most is that Nim and Alexandra come to see that they both have more strength inside than they ever believed,� she says. �They also see that everyone needs other people, no matter who they are. Everyone has times when they need someone they love just to be there for them.�
When Nim finds herself feeling alone and threatened on her island, she at last decides to try to reach out to the one person she is certain can help her: Alex Rover, the swashbuckling hero of the novels she loves. But Nim is about to find out that Alex is actually Alexandra, a writer with a vast imagination who secretly leads a shockingly narrow existence � so narrow she hasn�t left her San Francisco apartment in months! Fearful of nearly everything, right down to invisible microbes, Alexandra appears to be just a shadow of the intrepid adventurer she has created � but unable to let Nim�s call for help go unanswered, she discovers that she, too, has a hero within.
To play Alexandra, the filmmakers knew they needed an actress who could be at once comically petrified and emotionally true and, once again, set off on a search for this rare combo . . . when a twist of fate changed everything. For, even as they were searching for an actress, an actress was pursuing them: Jodie Foster, the Academy Award�-winning screen star, writer and director who had already fallen in love with NIM�S ISLAND when she received an early draft of the script.
The filmmakers were thrilled and surprised. �You don�t necessarily think of Jodie Foster and comedy in the same vein,� admits Paula Mazur. �But Jodie really wanted this role, and she�s certainly one of the best actresses alive, so we thought that if she believed she could pull it off, she certainly could. And of course she far surpassed anything that we could have imagined. Everyone was excited to have this great opportunity to share Jodie�s incredible talent to appeal to a really broad audience.�
Like Abigail Breslin, Foster started her career at a young age, garnering her first Oscar� nomination at age fourteen for her performance in Martin Scorsese�s Taxi Driver. She went on to become one of the film world�s most sough-after dramatic actresses, as well as an accomplished writer and director, garnering two Academy Awards�, among numerous other accolades, for searing performances in The Accused and Silence of the Lambs. With that pedigree, everyone was intrigued to see what she would do with the humorously unhinged role of Alexandra Rover, adventure writer and agoraphobic extraordinaire.
Says Mark Levin: �Once Jodie took on the role of Alexandra, we simply couldn�t imagine it any other way. Her performance is a lot of fun because Jodie takes that harder, darker image you normally have of her in films and kind of turns that on its ear for this role! The idea of her playing this writer leading an agoraphobic life and discovering her inner child started to seem like the perfect journey for Jodie to take the audience on. The lightness and energy she ultimately brought to the comedy was remarkable.�
Foster says it was the spirit of the tale that captivated her so completely from the start. �It�s a wonderful story that inspires girls � and boys � to take adventures and really experience the world. Nim shows what being the hero of your own life story is all about,� she says, �as opposed to the kind of passivity that we see so much of today. I think people need to remember that at any age.�
Her own adventurous side also was intrigued by the chance to dive into a performance driven by pratfalls, cold sweats and lots of very physical comedy. �It�s rare that I find a comedy that I feel I can really sink my teeth into, but this was certainly it,� Foster says of the screenplay. �I also feel that there is something very touching in Alexandra�s awkwardness and wackiness. I�ve made a lot of dramas about fear and part of the humor of Alexandra is that she is completely plagued by fear. But her fears are simply the spider that�s crawling on her computer, or someone tapping her on the shoulder, or even stepping outside her front door. So that was an interesting twist. And it was fun to explore the kind of inner courage Alexandra needs to find just to go through an airport and eat strange food and leave everything she�s familiar with behind.�
Once Alexandra heads to Nim�s Island, however, her life takes a sharp turn and she finds herself in situation she once only imagined in her head � riding a zip-wire through the tree-tops of the jungle, swimming with giant whales and flying in helicopters, not unlike her fictional adventurer Alex Rover. Although Foster says she�s never really been an extreme outdoors sort of person, stunt coordinator Glenn Reuhland was impressed with how she attacked the role�s many action scenes in the air, on land and underwater. �Jodie�s ability to go into any situation, even in the underwater tank, and be very relaxed and comfortable was just fantastic,� he says. �She�s a very, very fit woman and that shows in her performance.�
As Foster prepared for the role, it got even more personal when she discovered that Nim�s Island was on her elder son�s summer reading list. �We got his summer reading list and I was like, �Oh my gosh, it�s Nim�s Island so we read the book together and then he read it to his little brother, which was just lovely,� she recalls. For author Wendy Orr, the Foster family�s love of the book was especially gratifying. �To hear that the book got Jodie�s son excited about reading was just so special for me and it brought layers of meaning to Jodie being cast as Alexandra,� she says.
Once on the set, Foster hit it off right away with Abigail Breslin. �Abigail�s a wonderful little actress,� Foster says. �There are parts of her that remind me of when I was a kid, especially since she�s already been doing this for a long time. She has very natural instincts about how to be real and just doesn�t stress out about it at all.�
She also got a big kick out of Gerard Butler in the role of Alexandra�s creation and alter ego, Alex Rover, with whom she maintains a constant back-and-forth banter as she faces one fear after another. �I love Alex because he�s just a great character,� she says. �He has this amazing life where he does things like escape out of a pit of spiders but now he has to spend his time with this neurotic, eccentric middle-aged woman. And Gerard brings such a great sense of humor to that. He was wonderful to work with.�
Butler was equally thrilled to work with Foster, noting that they had to navigate a less-than-conventional divide between fiction and reality in her scenes with Alex Rover, the worldly character who sprang out of her sheltered imagination. �We had such a great time together, sometimes I had to pinch myself,� he confesses. �We had great fun experimenting and discovering new ideas and I think her character is hilarious. Alexandra and Alex have a dynamic that is very unexpected.�
The natural charm and humor of Foster�s performance put everyone involved in the production at ease. �Jodie brought something wonderful to the story which was a sense of reality,� sums up Jennifer Flackett. �You know, Alexandra is always crashing into trees and falling down and is engaged in all this physical comedy, but Jodie, who is so sharp, brought a very authentic quality to all that that made it not only very, very funny but believable, too.�
In a story that is in part about the power of the imagination to shape who you want to be, Gerard Butler gets to play roles on both sides of the reality-fantasy divide: starring as both Nim�s brilliant, inventive scientist father who finds himself far from home and the dashing, lionhearted fictional adventurer Alex Rover, whom Nim hopes can help save them.
Although the filmmakers had originally thought of casting two separate actors in the roles, Butler, who recently came to the fore as a steely warrior in 300 and then did a romantic turn with Hilary Swank in P.S. I Love You, convinced them to take a more daring approach. �Gerry really inspired us to cast him in both roles,� explains Mark Levin, �because with him as both Jack and Alex it seemed so right and appropriate. He has the range and the charisma to be able to do justice to both characters, to show how they�re really two sides of the same coin, and that really enhances the story-book quality of the movie. We also loved that there�s a strong tradition of this in classic stories; for example, in Peter Pan, one actor often plays both Wendy�s father and Captain Hook.�
Butler reacted with great enthusiasm to the script. �I found it hard to resist,� he admits. �I thought it was so very charming and fun and adventurous. And I was very excited by the challenge of playing two characters at once.�
Each of his characters has his own unique journey. �Jack is a marine biologist with a young daughter and a broken heart,� Butler explains. �He�s a quirky character who�s mostly passionate about plankton, but he goes through something very difficult and emotional trying to get back to his daughter. And then there�s Alex, who�s the classical definition of an action hero, an Indiana Jones type. He�s bigger-than-life and full of energy and passion. But he�s also a man who essentially only lives in others� imaginations, so there�s a lot of humor to him, and the trick is also that he is really the alter ego of Jodie Foster�s character, Alexandra. He�s the one who has to push her to the more courageous side of life.�
The filmmakers� excitement increased when they began to see the natural chemistry between Butler and Jodie Foster working its magic. �The scenes when Alex gets Alexandra out of her apartment are just a tour de force. They are both so funny and alive and have this great opposite energy that sets off sparks,� observes Paula Mazur.
Butler found that he held great affection for both characters, but says that, in the end, his favorite of the pair was actually the more down-to-earth Jack rather than the invincible Alex Rover. �I really enjoyed Jack because he has such a beautiful, tender relationship with his daughter. Alex was tremendous fun to play, but Jack I felt more in my heart,� he comments.
In playing Jack, Butler especially enjoyed working so closely with Abigail Breslin. �That was the best,� he muses. �She�s smart, she�s funny, she�s humble and, of course, so very talented. The only problem for me was that she had a �swear jar,� and with my being a Scotsman � well, it cost me about half my salary! No matter where I was, she always heard me.� Later, in a gesture Nim herself would no doubt admire, the �swear jar� proceeds were donated by Abigail to the ASPCA.
Until Alexandra Rover comes into her life, Nim�s primary friends are of the animal sort. Indeed, her closest companions on her island include Selkie the Sea Lion, Fred the Bearded Dragon and Galileo the Pelican � which meant that the film would have to find ways to bring these most unusual yet essential characters to life. That formidable task fell to the film�s animal trainers, John Medlin and Katie Brock, the latter of whose credits includes working with the menagerie of the acclaimed Babe: Pig in the City.
Selkie the Sea Lion was an especially key role to cast, because this giant sea mammal is as dear and loyal to Nim as any family Golden Retriever, despite the fact that it weights 400 pounds and lives in the ocean. To find a suitable Selkie, Brock and the filmmakers turned for help to Sea World Australia, near where they were shooting on Queensland�s Gold Coast. The aquarium suggested two of their most highly trained adult male Sea Lions � Spud and Friday -- who were used to performing in local shows and already knew how to do such unusual Sea Lion things such as salute, kiss and hug.
Spud and Friday turned out to be especially affable cast mates. Though their sheer size and strength can make them formidable, Australian Sea lions are known as wonderfully curious animals, very adaptable to new situations and brimming with spirited energy. �Sea Lions have big personalities and make great characters,� notes Brock.
Brock worked with both Spud and Friday so that the production would always have a double or stand-in if one Sea Lion wasn�t �in the mood� for a certain behavior. While the Sea Lions were already highly trained, they did have to learn a few new movie tricks. �The hardest thing for Spud and Friday was that they are used to working one-on-one very closely with their trainers but now they had to learn to work at a distance while on camera, which wasn�t easy,� Brock explains. Adds Medlin: �They also had to get used to working with all the cameras and lights and a crew surrounding them, something Sea Lions aren�t exactly used to!�
Perhaps the most important thing Spud and Friday had to learn to do was get along famously with Abigail Breslin. �We started building their rapport from the very beginning,� says Brock. �We had her feeding them and petting them every day before production even began.�
Abigail admits she was a bit taken aback when she saw how incredibly out-sized she was by her glossy-coated marine mammal co-stars. �They were much bigger than I thought they�d be!� she says. �But I wasn�t really scared because they�re so cute and I had a lot of fun with them. Learning to do all the tricks with them was amazing. The only thing I didn�t like was the smell of the fish I fed them as their reward!�
The Sea Lions responded in kind to Abigail�s affection. �Whenever Abigail would walk in the room, the Sea Lions would just run up and give her a kiss,� recalls Levin. �They developed a beautiful relationship with Abigail and we were able to capture that in the movie.�
Producer Paula Mazur says that the Sea Lions brought more to the table than she had ever thought possible. �At first weren�t sure how much they could do, but when Katie showed us what they were capable of, we went back to the script and started injecting even more interaction with Selkie,� she explains. �They, and of course their trainers, were just brilliant, and so much easier to work with than we ever imagined. They also really took to Abigail, and she to them, which was wonderful.�
Another, even more unusual animal joined the cast to play Fred, Nim�s Bearded Dragon, a type of exotic lizard named for the expandable pouch under its jaw that resembles a hanging beard. Despite their mythic-sounding name, Bearded Dragons are reptiles that are known for being quite docile and for enjoying human contact, which made them a great choice for the film. Ultimately, John Medlin cast five Bearded Dragons � Goblet, Steve, Crusher, Calico and Alice � who all shared the role.
�We used Steve most of the time because he would do anything,� explains Abigail Breslin. �But if he started to get a bit too active we�d bring in Goblet, then Calico, then Alice, then Crusher. That was our plan.�
Goblet actually gave birth to about a dozen or more eggs during filming. The first one that hatched was called �Nim� and the second �Abigail.�
Still it wasn�t always easy working with such primitive creatures for whom filmmaking is a mystery. �Lizards are real straight men. They don�t give you a lot in terms of acting range!� laughs Jennifer Flackett.
Rounding out the main animal cast were several Pelicans, the large water birds famous for their enormous bills, who took on the role of Nim�s message-carrying friend Galileo. The film�s Pelicans also hailed from Sea World, where they were already trained to fly on command. Surprisingly, Pelicans are quite responsive to training, loving both praise and fish treats. �A little bit of praise goes a long way with Pelicans,� says Brock. �They�ll work for a bit of loving which really helps.�
Still, as Paula Mazur notes, �Pelicans are just quite odd. The casting session for the Pelicans was the strangest I�ve ever had in my life. We all stood in a big circle and out marched all these Pelicans and we stood there saying things like �I like the way that one cocks it�s head�!�
While most of the animals seen in Nim�s world are real, a special few are animatronic, including the Sea Turtles, a wonderful ancient species too endangered and fragile to participate in film production. Animatronic supervisor John Cox explains that he became a mini expert in turtle biology as he created the amphibians for the film. �We visited some real Sea Turtles at Sea World and took lots of photographs and measurements, and explored all the details of their scales and shells and movement to build ours,� Cox says.
Cox also created a stand-in animatronic Sea Lion for the few scenes which weren�t safe for Spud and Friday to perform. �The animatronic Sea Lion was modelled directly after Friday,� he explains. �Luckily, Friday didn�t mind being measured and came right up to us! But the hard thing about sea lions is that they are like a big bag of jelly and constantly changing shape so sculpting that stand-in was one of our biggest challenges.� The fake Friday was finished off with specially constructed fur and a coating of oil to keep him looking as wet and glossy as the real thing.
One of the biggest fans of the film�s animals turned out to be author Wendy Orr. Recalls Brock: �When Wendy came to the set and met the Sea lions, she just started crying. She said, �I can�t believe you�ve actually brought these animal characters life; I never dreamed that Sea Lions could really do what I wrote in the book!� So we were very proud of them.�
NIM�S ISLAND takes place largely on a remote sea island alive with both natural enchantment and a youngster�s unlimited imagination. To find locations that would capture the charm, beauty and dangers of Nim�s life in the middle of the ocean, the production journeyed all the way to the other side of the world -- to Australia, itself a giant island nation lined with lush rainforests, golden beaches and stunning underwater reefs.
�We needed a true tropical environment, as well as a place that had a really strong film infrastructure. We also needed to find a place the looked like �the most beautiful island in the world�! We found all of that and more in Australia,� says Paula Mazur.
Ultimately the production would shoot on Queensland�s Gold Coast, renowned for its sun-splashed beaches, on soundstages (where the Sea Lions could safely romp in water tanks and through the specially constructed treehouse where Jack and Nim live) and on Hinchinbrook Island � once home to Aborigines and now an Australian National Park filled with luxuriant forests, sweeping sandy beaches and mangrove-fringed shores � a wild paradise worthy of Nim.
In designing the look of the film, Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett teamed up with a trio of artisans: cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh, who won an Oscar� nomination for his lyrical and evocative work on Jane Campion�s New Zealand-set epic The Piano; production designer Barry Robison, whose designs have spanned from the comedy hit Wedding Crashers to the forthcoming X Men: Wolverine; and costume designer Jeffrey Kurland, who was Academy Award� nominated for Woody Allen�s period drama Bullets Over Broadway.
Dryburgh says he was attracted to the film because it was a chance to delve a bit into magical realism, a style with which he�s always been fascinated. �The idea with NIM was to hit a lovely balance between the real world and a more fantastical world of imagination,� he explains. �Nim�s Island definitely feels like a real-world place, but we wanted to make it just a little bit more special.�
One of the challenges for Dryburgh was finding ways to visually match scenes that were shot on soundstages, especially the treehouse set, with those shot in real rainforests. Comments Dryburgh: �That�s where lighting comes in. Another thing we did to give our theatrical rainforest a more natural look was to put in an atmosphere of water vapour, so there was constantly a sense of mistiness and dampness to all the vegetation. We placed a very complex rig onto the roof, sort of like the kind of thing you would use inside a huge greenhouse to mist tropical plants. It was extremely effective.�
As for Dryburgh�s favorite shot, he demurs that he has several, but notes: �Every once in awhile you catch things that really stand out and one of those for me is when Nim is standing at the front of her father�s boat when they�re going out to the supply ship. You�ve got the ship sailing, Jack driving, the beautiful islands behind, the sun shining and it�s just a really uplifting, magical moment.�
Production designer Barry Robison worked closely with Dryburgh to maintain that sense of what he calls �reality but a dreamy reality� in the look and style of the film�s major sets. Robison began with extensive conversations with Levin and Flackett about how to create and contrast Nim�s thrilling treehouse on the island with Alexandra�s isolated house in the middle of San Francisco. �I�ve never worked with two directors with such strong design sensibilities,� he says. �So right away, it was a fun process.�
At the center of that fun would be building Jack and Nim�s fanciful treehouse-style home and laboratory from scratch. This unusual household had to work on a practical level yet also evoke unusual childhood dreams. �I think nearly everyone has dreamt of living in a treehouse like Nim,� says Levin. �It�s a really fun and magical place because of that.�
Robison had at first hoped to construct the treehouse on the limbs of an actual tree inside a real rainforest on Hinchinbrook Island, where the production would shoot much of the outdoors footage of Nim�s Island -- but his plans were toppled by . . . animals. When Robison learned that Nim�s Sea Lions friends would need to be on a soundstage to assure their safety, he tapped into his theatrical background to create a slice of outdoor wildness with an elaborate indoor set. �Building that set on a stage was very brave of everybody,� says Robison. �And working with Stuart Dryburgh really made the difference. He�s a fantastic Director of Photography who was able to make the treehouse feel a part of the island.�
When it came to the blueprints for the eccentric abode, Robison worked closely with art directors Jacinta Leong, Deborah Riley and Supervising Art Director Colin Gibson as well as a group of young architectural students from local colleges in Brisbane, in a feat of intense engineering. �We had to first construct the tree, which was based on the complex structure a real fig tree with an incredible root system, and then the main house of top of that and then Jack�s lab,� he explains. �I really wanted to bring a very young, fresh, spontaneous feeling to it, so it was great to work with so many young people who think outside the box.�
The piece de resistance of the treehouse was Nim�s bedroom, a second-story hideaway reached by an elaborate staircase and featuring an inspirational peaked roof with a crow�s nest lookout over a panoramic view. Befitting Jack and Nim�s love of nature, the treehouse also featured a lot of modern �green� innovations, including solar and wind power generation, a roof designed to catch rainwater and even composting areas. Robison used sustainable bamboo wood and biodegradable plastics throughout.
�Barry thought a lot about what it means to be living off the grid on an island in the 21st century, growing your own food, and living a self-sustaining way,� explains Flackett. �All the green touches bring a very modern and real aesthetic to Nim and Jack.�
The details were important, but it was the overall picture that excited Robison. �In the end the most important thing is that the treehouse had a very light, fun feeling � it had the essence of Nim,� Robison summarizes, �and when you were in that space, it really felt magical.�
The directors, too, were thrilled with what Robison and his team achieved. �The treehouse truly felt like home, like the kind of place we�d really like to live. And that�s what we wanted to get across � it�s a very special place that�s not like anywhere else.�
Robison was equally challenged by another key set: Alexandra Rover�s Victorian-style San Francisco apartment, where the author of the world�s most popular adventure novels hides away from a world that secretly seems all too big and scary to her. He had to come up with a way to make her place feel like an oasis right in the middle of a claustrophic, chaotic city. �This was a very complicated set that took all of my theatrical training,� notes the production designer, �When you see Alex open the front door, and you see the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco beyond, it�s all forced perspective, which was a real challenge to pull off.�
Inside Alexandra�s home, the design team filled the space with an eclectic array of objects from every corner of the planet. �You get the sense of a woman who has tried to live a very worldly life without ever leaving her home,� notes Mazur. �This feeling was really important to Jodie.�
Although Robison had a blast with both the apartment and the treehouse, his favorite design in the film is even more whimsical: he adores the film�s eye-catching opening sequence of a ship riding through paper cut-out waves as Nim recounts the rocky story of her life so far. Inspired by the clever, artsy fun of pop-up books and a child�s-eye view of memory, Robison convinced the directors to allow him to design the 3-dimensional imagery with miniatures, models and paper puppets rather than using the more conventional CG. �Sometimes the simplest tricks are the most magical because kids have imaginations that love to run wild,� he says of his approach. �I believe you don�t have to be told everything, and that sequence turned out to be pure and simple enchantment.�
That sense of enchantment was felt throughout the production for Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, both in the performances and in every aspect of the film�s design. Sums up Levin: �Everyone worked together to create this beautiful place and this wonderful story and to really reflect the worldview of Wendy Orr�s book. NIM�S ISLAND becomes a place where you can escape into imagination and I think people will find that it�s not quite like anywhere else they�ve been � it�s an original experience.�
Category: Nim's Island News
Posted by: DaisyMay
Recommended by Wendy Orr's Blog:


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Tiger football wins state title
Sun, 11/10/2013 - 1:35pm Anonymous
The Middlebury Union High School football team defeated South Burlington at the Divsion I state championship game in Rutland on Saturday evening. The undefeated Tigers, who beat South Burlington earlier this season, fell behind early, 6-0, but rallied to carry a 13-6 lead into halftime. MUHS scored twice in the second half and won 26-6.
See a full account of the game and photos in Monday's Addison Independent — online and on your newsstand.

subset: commoncrawl


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Los Banos gang member gets 40 to life for murder
Kimberly Brewer stood before a crowded courtroom Friday morning and said she would never forgive the gang member who opened fire into a crowded garage last year in Los Banos and killed her 18-year-old son, Shane Moore.
Brewer described convicted killer Albert Hernandez as a "cold, calculated monster."
"We do not forgive him for killing Shane," Brewer told the judge. "True justice would be for the court to turn him over to us."
Hernandez, 18, was sentenced Friday to serve 40 years to life in prison for killing Moore on March 4, 2013. A jury convicted him of second-degree murder and gang participation in February after a three-week trial before Judge Ronald W. Hansen. Hernandez was 17 at the time of the attack, but he was charged as an adult.
The Merced County District Attorney's Office said Hernandez intended to attack rival gang members but killed Moore, who was not involved in gangs, and injured three others. Hernandez fired at least 10 rounds from a Ruger P89 pistol with an extended magazine into a crowd of about a dozen people, according to trial testimony.
An appeal is planned.
Co-defendant Christopher Aguayo pleaded guilty on Oct. 2, 2013, to being an accessory in the killing and was sentenced to seven years in the state Division of Juvenile Justice. Aguayo, 16, also was charged as an adult.
Prosecutors sought a first-degree murder conviction, but the jury found Hernandez innocent of that charge.
Defense attorney Chris Loethen said jurors believed Hernandez shot into a crowd of people but did not intend to kill anyone. Loethen also noted the three other victims were all shot below the waist, which he said was further evidence Hernandez did not intend to kill.
Moore's family rejected the argument and said the jury should have convicted Hernandez of first-degree murder.
"The intent (to kill) was there," Brewer said outside the courtroom Friday. "It doesn't matter whether you're a good marksman or not."
In his ruling Friday, the judge considered Hernandez's youth, maturity, and high school records when determining parole eligibility. Hansen said Hernandez's high school grades showed "some hope," but were "inconsistent" and noted a history of suspensions.
"I cannot overlook the lifestyle he chose. I can't ignore the fact he killed an innocent person, a person he did not know, a person who did not know him," Hansen said. "Mr. Hernandez, you have a steep price to pay."
Hansen said Hernandez would not be eligible for his first parole hearing for 25 years, the maximum time allowed for a juvenile by law.
Loethen said he respectfully disagreed with the characterization of Hernandez made by both the judge and the victim's mother. He said he empathized with Brewer's grief, but said the realities of the case were more complex than labeling his client as "a monster."
"He's not a monster," Loethen said. "He was himself victimized (by gangs) and he tried to avoid killing anyone. That's not a monster. There are reasons why he ended up in that situation."
He described Hernandez as a "shy kid," with a "warm, nice personality" who got involved with street gangs for protection after he was assaulted by a gang member in San Jose. Loethen described Moore's death as "a terrible tragedy" for the victim's family, as well as Hernandez's family.
During the trial, Loethen criticized tactics used by Los Banos police investigators during their interview with Hernandez. Loethen said police exploited Hernandez's youth and his ignorance of the law and crime scene investigation methods to convince him that he would never see his family again unless he confessed to killing Moore.
Prosecutors countered the argument saying detectives used legal, commonly practiced methods of interrogation in their interview and that falsely confessing to a murder "made no sense."


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- Home
- Folding Tables
- Rectangular Folding Tables
- Correll CF3060P 5-ft Folding Table
Product Description
Correll CF3060P 5-ft Folding Table
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Units Packed per Carton = 1 Height: 30 inches Length of table top: 60 inches Width of table top: 30 inches Weight: 57 lbs.
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While investors kept a close watch on budget negotiations, a slew of better-than-expected economic reports and upbeat commentary from China's new leader helped stocks claw their way out of negative territory. The Institute for Supply Management's non-manufacturing purchasing index rose in the month of November, exceeding analyst's expectations for a drop in service sector activity. Factory orders also rose, though the Automatic Data Processing's and Moody's Analystics' reading on November hiring came in lower than expected. On the corporate front, Apple dominated the headlines, as the stock tumbled more than 6%, the worse single day decline since 2008, after the company announced that it will be raising its margin requirements [see also 101 ETF Lessons Every Financial Advisor Should Learn].
Global Market Overview: Blue Chips Rally While Apple Tumbles
The majority of U.S. equities finally managed to snap their loosing streak to post modest gains on the day. Tech-heavy Nasdaq ( QQQ), however, logged in a 0.77% loss following Apple's steep drop. The S&P 500 ( SPY) inched 0.16% higher, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( DIA) came out on top with its 0.64% gain. In Europe, markets were mostly higher, with the Stoxx Europe 600 rising 0.2%. Asian equities closed in positive territory after China's new leader, Xi Jinping, made promising comments about the economy. China's Shanghai Composite rallied 2.9%, while Japan's Nikkei Stock Average inched 0.4% higher.
Bond ETF Roundup
Lack of progress in Washington pushed U.S. Treasury prices higher once again today; yields on 5 and 10-year notes declined 2 basis points, while yields on 30-year bonds fell 1 basis point to 2.78%.
Commodity ETF Roundup
Commodities were mostly higher today, with gold, copper, wheat, soybeans, and corn posting modest gains. Brent, however, ticked lower after mixed data from the U.S. and eurozone raised demand fears and an inventory report showed higher levels of supplies. Natural gas also made headlines, as the fossil fuel rallied 4.5% [see also Jim Rogers: There's Too Much Speculation In Gold].
ETF Chart Of The Day #1: IYW
The iShares Dow Jones U.S. Technology Index Fund (IYW, A) was one of the worst performers today, shedding a dismal 1.29% during the session. Apple shares ( AAPL), which receive a hefty 23.37% weighting in IYW, tumbled 6% today, forcing this ETF to gap significantly lower at the open. IYW took a steep plunge during late morning hours, only to trade sideways for the remainder of the day. The fund eventually settled near its low of $69.46 a share [see also High Tech ETFdb Portfolio].
Click To Enlarge
ETF Chart Of The Day #2: PEK
The Van Eck Market Vectors China ETF (PEK, C) was one of the best performers of the day, gaining a whopping 3.78% during the session. Following China's new leader Xi Jinping's encouraging commentary about the state of the nation's economy, this ETF gapped significantly higher at the open. PEK traded sideways for the rest of the day, eventually settling near its high of $32.62 a share [see also Get Rid Of Your Emerging Market ETF Volatility Problem Once And For All].
Click To Enlarge
ETF Fun Fact Of The Day
The best performing regional strategy from the trailing 1-year period is our Global Titans ETFdb Portfolio; this strategy is up 14.18%.
[For more ETF analysis, make sure to sign up for our free ETF newsletter or try a free seven day trial to ETFdb Pro]
Disclosure: No positions at time of writing.
Click here to read the original article on ETFdb.com.
Read more posts on ETF Database »


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ACUSON X300 Ultrasound System, premium edition
Performance meets accessibility.
Advanced technology. Confident diagnosis.
Advanced technologies provide superior image quality, application versatility and confident diagnosis.
- Dynamic TCE™ Tissue Contrast Enhancement technology: This advanced, proprietary, real-time processing algorithm enhances tissue contrast resolution and reduces speckle. Low contrast lesions can appear sharper and more conspicuous.
- Plus Option: Beamforming hardware option improves image quality, penetration and sensitivity for high-density transducers on the ACUSON X300 PE
- syngo® Auto OB measurements: Knowledge-based workflow recognizes features and patterns within an ultrasound image, streamlining quantification
- Advanced fourSight™ technology: Provides a complete 3D/4D solution, delivering streamlined intuitive workflow and advanced acquisition, data rendering, and post-processing functionality on all examinations in 2D
- syngo® fourSight™ TEE view: Facilitates analysis of complex anatomy in 3D display of cardiac structure and function
- syngo® Mitral Valve Assessment: Renders precise 3D anatomical mapping of mitral valve structure, spatial relationships and blood flow
- syngo® Auto Left Heart technology: Uses progressive pattern recognition technology based on a comprehensive database providing expert-like measurements of ejection fraction, end diastole volume and end systole volumes of the left ventricle and left atrium
- syngo® Velocity Vector Imaging™ technology: Advanced 2D quantitative tool for assessment of global and regional myocardial muscle and motion mechanics
- Cardiac imaging package: Includes a comprehensive set of imaging modes, features and reporting packages to address the requirements of advanced cardiac exams
- syngo® Arterial Health Package* (AHP): Features a semi-automated measurement for Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT), a reliable, noninvasive method for quickly evaluating cardiovascular risk
- Adult transesophageal imaging: Utilizes the Siemens V5Ms transducer, providing a cost-effective transducer solution across the Siemens ultrasound system portfolio
- Anatomical M-mode: Angle corrected M-mode measurements are available during live, cineloop, and DIMAQ image review
- Quad-Beam formation technology: Enables parallel signal processing providing high frame rates for exceptional temporal resolution in B-mode, color Doppler and mixed modes
- Hanafy lens transducer technology: Enhances uniformity throughout the field of view, for superior contrast resolution in abdominal imaging to a depth of 30 cm
- Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) imaging: Enables procedure visualization and device placement monitoring with a fully functional 8F or 10F intracardiac transducer
- CartoSound™ communications: Integration of ultrasound with Carto 3 System technology providing an electroanatomical map of the heart combined with Soundstar™ 3D catheter imaging
- Cadence™ contrast agent imaging technology:** Provides excellent detection of the responses from contrast agent microbubbles, coupled with a high resolution display
- Live dual Bi-Plane: Provides live simultaneous bi-plane visualization of prostate anatomy and pathology for enhanced efficiency and diagnostic confidence with the BP9-4 transducer. Live dual Bi-Plane biopsy mode supported with dual needle paths.
- P4-2 Litho transducer & LITHOSKOP interface SW: A complete set of options and a specialized transducer to combine with the Siemens LITHOSKOP® lithotripter, for accurate in-line ultrasound localization
* This feature should be utilized according to the ASE Consensus Statement "Use of Carotid Ultrasound to Identify Subclinical Vascular Disease and Evaluate Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Consensus Statement from the American Society of Echocardiography Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Task Force, Endorsed by the Society for Vascular Medicine."
**At the time of publication, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared ultrasound contrast agents only for use in LVO. Check current regulations for the country in which you are using this system for contrast agent clearance.


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PBS tracks Cao's brief House stint
Congress's freshman class can learn from PBS's new one-hour documentary, "Mr. Cao Goes to Washington," which tracks the single-term congressional tenure of Louisiana Republican Joseph Cao.
Lesson one?
Story Continued Below
"Politics is quite brutal," Cao said in the film as he gave his post-game analysis of his brief stint in Washington. "It's not about making the right decisions. It's not about following one's duty. But it's more about political payback. It's more about party loyalty, more than to do things simply because it's the right thing to do."
The film, which premiered Thursday night, will broadcast on PBS affiliates nationwide over the next week.
In 2008, Cao beat scandal-plagued Rep. William Jefferson, becoming the first Republican in more than a century who won the seat representing most of New Orleans. He also became the first Vietnamese American to serve in Congress. Hence his nickname: The Accidental Congressman. Two years later, after a tenure that put Cao in the spotlight for issues such as health care and the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, voters overwhelmingly sent him packing and sent a Democrat — Cedric Richmond — to Washington.
Filmmaker S. Leo Chiang, whose documentaries include "A Village Called Versailles," a look at the Vietnamese-American community's role in rebuilding post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, followed Cao throughout his term.
Cao left a Jesuit seminary to enter the world of politics thinking he could make a bigger difference in Washington.
"I thought an easier way to get it done was to become a politician," said Cao, who couldn't suppress a chuckle at his thought. "I really did." Later, Cao added that "the reality of politics is very different than I had hoped." In fact, on the Election Day when he was defeated, Cao said, "I'm looking forward for it to be over, whether we win or lose. It's like waiting to see your dentist before you're about to get your teeth pulled."


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Icom IC-2710 Rec Right side
Forum dedicated to discussion on Icom Amateur Radio products
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Icom IC-2710 Rec Right side
I have an Icom IC-2710 Dual Band , The left side on VHF or UHF works fine on receive but when i switch over and use the right side VHF or UHF the receive signals are very weak like the 10db atten is on, when it not, one night the radio started working fine on the right side until i tapped on the front panel and the receive is weak again. what I am thinking it might be a cold solder joint somewhere and as small as that board is and finding it will be a job, does anyone have any input on this?
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Hello mummies
It sounds like you are all putting your babies in grow bags what little chunks they are. They are all doing so well.
Vita, you are doing fantasticly. I can't even imagine what it would be like having three! Like Zoe says, one day something will just click and they will start sleeping through. I too am still waiting. Ellie still feeds every 3/4 hours.
I would love to see a photo of them. My address is firstname.lastname@example.com
Ellie is doing great. She's just over 5 months now and yesterday weighed in at a massive 11lb! She's finally out of newborn clothes and into 0-3. She's chuckling too which is lovely. She's still oxygen dependant and will be for a little while and is suffering with her reflux but all things considered she's a little star!
She has breakfast and dinner and loves being cuddled which I'm happy to oblige! I'm really enjoying her.
I had the fright of my life last night. Emma and Jodie were playing outside in the garden, I heard some shouting and thought they were aruging so just ignored them. I was feeding Ellie in the front room. Then the noise outside got louder, I looked out the window and they were screaming clinging on to the side of the pool! We have an 18ft inflatable pool and they thought they could walk across the cover! I've never been so scared in my life. Last weekend they cut each other's hair off this weekend they nearly drowned!
Best go and little chunk is calling
Take care


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Roof Replacement Services near Yadkinville, NC
The team of Skywalker Roofing are proud to offer roof replacement services near Yadkinville, NC and surrounding areas for: Residential Roofing, Commercial Roofing, Flat Roofing, Condominium Roofing, Townhouse Roofing, Apartment Roofing, Warehouse Roofing, Industrial Roofing, Free Roof Estimates, Roof Repairs, Roof Replacements, Roof Leak Service and Roof Maintenance.
Why Choose Skywalker Roofing for your next Roof Replacement or Roof Repair Job?
- - we clearly describe what you need, why you need it, and what you can expect from us as your preferred roofing contractors.
- – Our promises made are promises that will be kept.
- – Our prices charged are fair and reflect installation standards we would use even for our own home. We are not the cheapest, but pride to offer your roof the long-lasting protection that it needs.
- – Skywalker guarantees that all protections are in place for the benefit of you, including adequate insurance and compliance with codes.
Roof Repair Services in Yadkinville, NC
Our roofing services in the Triad, NC area include Shingle Roofing, Flat Roofing, Slate & Tile Roofing, Cedar Shake Roofing, Gutters, Windows, Hail Damage Repairs, and Hail Storm Damage Restoration.
Shingle Roofing
Most people think that a new roof is nothing more than just banging up some shingles. However, our platinum awarded contractors know better. Our system offers you the best protection against a variety of all-too-common roofing problems. Skywalker Roofing will install and repair all types of shingle roofing.
Metal Roofing
We make your home the best in the neighborhood and a great place to live. Our metal roofing installation, leak repair, and inspection services can help you keep your home in top-notch condition which in turn increases the value of your property.
Flat Roofing
We have experience working with multiple types of flat roofing systems such as built-up roofs (BUR), modified bitumen, roof coatings, foam, thermoplastic single-ply membranes and EPDM. We can install, maintain, and repair any of these flat roofs and we pride in our skill and attention to details.
Tile Roofing
One of the most popular roofing styles across the world, tile roofing lasts longer offering your extended protection for your roof, can sustain high winds, is economical, and can maintain its color. Skywalker Roofing will install and repair all types of Tile roofing.
Slate Roofing
Manufactured from natural stone and used among the most beautiful buildings across the country, Slate roofing is known to last for centuries and take the ravages of mother nature. Skywalker Roofing will install and repair all types of slate roofing.
Wood Shake Roofing
We have installed hundreds of wood shakes enhancing the appearance of our customers' homes. Wood shakes and wood shingles are manufactured from western red cedar, cypress, pine and redwood trees. Shakes are split from logs and reshaped by manufacturers for commercial use. They are thicker at the butt end than shingles; generally, one or both surfaces are split to obtain a textured effect. Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are also available pressure treated with fire retardants and chemical preservatives for increased fire resistance and to prevent premature rot and decay.
Sheet Metal
Skywalker is a specialist in historic building restorations. In addition to historical restorations we are experts at metal roofing and siding using such materials as copper, zinc, slate, historical roofing materials and more. We have experience working on a diverse collection of institutional and commercial projects including Churches, Historical Buildings, Educational Institutions, Apartment Buildings, high-end residential projects, just to mention a few.
Roof Types and Manufacturers
Skywalker Roofing is an installer of all roof types including shingle roofing, flat roofing, tile roofing, and siding from our main manufacturer Owens Corning.
Please feel free to call us at +1 (336) 338-8620 or email to email@example.com
Skywalker Roofing Reviews
- Our story with Skywalker began when I surfed the web for a roofing company that included metal roofing in its services. Skywalker was the second company I reviewed and after reading everything on their website I just got a really good feeling that they were the people we wanted to come into our home and give us a quote for the job. The salesperson (Wyatt Brown) arrived on time, a smile on his face, a good firm handshake and revved up to give us his presentation. He was an impressive guy with a great personality and very down to earth. He physically climbed on our roof and took a video of what was going on up there and showed it to us. We were astonished at how 24 years of NC weather had managed to really play havoc on our roof. He continued with his presentation, we picked our color and signed the contract. We knew we had the right company who had the right people to service our needs. Well, the installation day arrived on one of the hottest days in NC history and the crew arrived with all their equipment and started ripping off old shingles. The crew supervisor (Quinton) was very customer oriented as he would come to the door and let us know exactly what they were doing in case we had questions. They were all hard workers, neat, tidy, focused and two and a half days later we had a gorgeous Mansard Brown Standing Seam Metal Roof on our house. It is beautiful and has really enhanced the look of our country cottage home so much. The crew did a cleanup before they left and that included checking for any nails that might have landed in the yard. They blew off the debris on the front porch and deck and they were spotless. We were so satisfied with Skywalker because from the beginning to the end we were treated as friends of the family. By the way, Skywalker is a family run business and that says a lot.
- Skywalker Roofing staff did an excellent job for our flat roof replacement. We have reached out to multiple roofers, but Skywalker roofing was the only one that seemed reasonable. The team was easy to work with and patiently answered all our queries about the company, the material they used, the time they fix. Highly recommended whenever you're looking for the best roofing services.
- Skywalker Roofing company is awesome! When most of the roofers in Greensboro were busy, Skywalker Roofing team answered and handled all my requirements, and next day Wyatt Brown came to my house and took an in-depth inspection of my damaged roof. The same day they fixed my roof corner and the hole near a gutter. I am very thankful to Skywalker team.
- Skywalker Roofing is one of the rare companies that communicate as much as a customer would like. I was updated daily from my initial request for an estimate all the way through the day after my project was complete. I am extremely happy with our new roof, and the crew that came out was fantastic. I would recommend Skywalker Roofing to anyone who is looking for roofers in Greensboro area.
- "The whole process from the initial phone call, into the office, and to the financing process was flawless, seamless, and effortless. Everyone there knew what they were doing and walked us through step by step, so we knew what to expect during each step. They really made the whole process so easy."


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Custom toy builder Sillof has made quite a name for himself in the past few years turning random action figures into themed, fantasy sets of Star Wars pieces.
His previous efforts, like Second World War and Steampunk Star Wars, were great, but this latest one might be the best of all, if only for the amount of thought that needed to be put into it to make it work.
The characters are based on the prequel trilogy, a fitting mix since those movies were so heavily inspired by Roman imagery and politics. So stop looking for Luke Sky walker and Han Solo, and start looking for Captain Rex and General Grievous instead.
Sillof's Workshop [Site, via Toycutter]


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Anti-Bullying Policy
The above policy has been approved by the governing body of the school and will be reviewed on a regular basis. Click on the title of the policy next to the pdf logo to open the pdf file.
In the unlikely event that your computer or device cannot view pdf doduments, contact your manufacturer or operating system provider to find out what free software you need to download (such as Adobe Reader for Windows, ibooks for iOS or Acrobat for Android).
To view a list of all of our published policies, please click here.


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War on Terror
Due to Popular Demand, Navy HHG Increases 2017 Move Webinars
By Suzanna Brugler,
Naval Supply Systems Command Global Logistics Support, Deputy
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command Global Logistics Support (NAVSUP GLS) Household Goods (HHG) added 15 more webinars to its series of live, interactive webinars that assist Sailors and their families in facilitating military moves, March 10.
The total number of webinars offered since Jan. 10 is 65, up from the original 50 scheduled early this year.
"Due to popular demand, we made the strategic decision to increase the number of live webinars we are offering in order to better accommodate our Sailors and their families' schedules," said Deborah McGlennon, NAVSUP GLS HHG program manager.
In addition to the HHG webinar schedule, NAVSUP GLS is offering customized webinars for individual commands which have a mass of 20 or more Sailors moving within the same three to six month window through the rest of the calendar year.
"We are very customer service-oriented; if there is a need and a demand, we'll develop customized webinars for individual commands who are interested in receiving them," said McGlennon.
The webinars, part of an ongoing effort to help educate Sailors and their families of the HHG process in order to make moves go smoothly, cover moves which are part of a permanent change of station (PCS), a retirement, or separation orders.
The webinars, available via personal phone, tablet, and computer -- including government computers -- are scheduled from now through June, during peak HHG season.
"This is a terrific initiative for our members, families, and partner organizations," said Paul Brown, director of warfighter and family readiness for NAVSUP GLS.
"It provides our customers with valuable knowledge and support -- each person can attend at a time and location convenient for them," said Brown. "This service is interactive, tailored and flexible, and is well designed for the needs of our members and today's environment."
Below follows the schedule and a short description for each type of move covered in the webinars. Times given are in Pacific Daylight Time:
- First-time movers (basic terminology, what can be shipped, your responsibilities, moving company responsibilities, etc.): March 14 and April 11 at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, May 9 at 7 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, June 13 at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. PDT.
- Retirees (final move preparation, storage, etc.): March 21 and April 18 at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, May 16 at 7 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, June 20 at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. PDT.
- Moving overseas (what can and cannot be shipped, shipping or storing a vehicle, storage, etc.): March 15 and April 19 at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, May 17 at 7 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, June 21 at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. PDT.
- Separating from the military (final move entitlement, storage, etc.): March 28 and April 25 at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, May 23 at 7 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, June 27 at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. PDT.
- Moving question and answer (opportunity to ask any move question): March 23 and April 27 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, May 25 at 7 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, June 29 at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. PDT.
The live webinars will be hosted by the online video conferencing service, GoToMeeting. To access the webinars, follow the guidelines provided below:
- For personal phone or tablet users: Download the online GoToMeeting web application, launch the application and use session id number 166349037.
- For personal computer users: The URL is https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/166349037.
- Government computer users: Google Chrome is the recommended browser; the URL is https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/166349037.
For more helpful guidance, go to the HHG website at: https://www.navsup.navy.mil. Once ready to create your application(s), visit http://www.move.mil.
NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 6,300 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide, providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.


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Nothing has changed....
We gave Amar'e all the money he was entitled to($100mil) when the Phx Suns only wanted to give him 4yrs of guaranteed money at $73mil or thereabouts. Phx Suns probably has the best medical staff in all of sports. They of all teams would know the state of Amar'e going forward and they were right on the money.
We gave Felton a raise after he had a tumultuous yr in Portland where he ballooned to Michellin levels, while also trading rights to recently drafted prospects and letting Lin go for nothing.
We gave Marcus Camby a multi-yr deal at essentially the same money he was making previous season, after he finished the season with Rockets playing not at 100%.
We gave J.R. Smith all the money he was entitled to this off-season after knowing he would need knee surgery after shredding his knee during the playoffs or shortly prior to. This after he had one of the most disastrous post-seasons on and off the court essentially costing us a series.
Would have paid Lin had he not pissed Dolan off and he had a similar injury to J.R. Smith.
We're looking at extending Melo near $25mil/per season for the next 4yrs when he recently admitted he played end of the yr and post-season with torn rotator cuff and torn labrum...opting not to have surgery letting those injuries heal on their own. Nevermind the fact his FGA output increased tremendously at season's end chasing a scoring title and increased overall during the playoffs.
Fans want to applaud him for playing as a martyr during the playoffs battered and injured although refusing to pass and want to applaud him for passing during the first game of a meaningless preseason game.(rolling eyes...can't have it both ways)
I wonder what will happen if he re-aggravates it or if we struggle during the season.... what he decides to do at season's end after he gets his money?
I want anyone, whether you're an extreme die hard or simply a casual fan.... show me what franchise operates this way.


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Trani charms you - Week end in Trani
Taking a stroll in Puglia Imperiale
Discovering the mysterious population of the hypogea
Itinerary of flavours on the Roads of Wine and Oil
A land of great Battles: Hannibal and the Imperial Rome
See treasures and underwater archaeology in the Puglia Imperiale area
The prehistoric archaeology of the landscape
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The Murge
In the valley of Ofanto: the archaeology train
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> A land of great Battles: Hannibal and the Imperial Rome
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Archaeological Excursion
A land of great Battles: Hannibal and the Imperial Rome
Sometimes extraordinary events can make a little site a place destined to remain impressed in the collective memory. This is the case of the little hill of Canne in the area of Barletta that took the name of Canne della Battaglia after the struggle between the Romans and the Carthaginias (216 B.C), led by the mythical hero Hannibal. Canne, the natural theathre of this bloody battle, overlooks the whole horizon , as far as the Gargano. Its Antiquary contains findings from civilisations ranging from the 6th millennium B.C to the 13th century. Let's stop now in the area of the San Mercurio Excavations where it is possible to visit the remains of an imposing Roman Domus dating back to the Imperial Age. Then let's visit the Menhir referring to the myth of Diomede. According to the legend this homeric hero founded Canosa.
The artistic heritage of this city consists in aristocratic Hypogea, extraordinary ceramic findings dating back to the Daunians, Roman ruins, mosaics and Basilicas. Canosa is linked to Canne by the Barletta/Spinazzola Railway running through the most striking archaeological treasures in Apulia, as a sort of travelling museum .Still intact, along the Trajan's Way in the Canosa area stand monuments dating back to the Imperial Age such as The Arco Onorario, the necropolis of Ponte della Lama and The Ofanto Bridge, an important link for the Transhumance crossed by one of the most ancient sheep-track in this area. Before getting again on our train we do not have to miss the archaeological area of San Pietro, uncovered after excavations lasted 5 years. Tomba Varrese is also very important. Its funeral equipment consisting in polychromic pots, golden pottery, alabaster artifacts and a magnificent anatomically designed bronze cuirass, is preserved in the 19th-century Sinisi Palace.
Leaving Canosa our journey continues through a landscape of olive trees and vineyards down to the Murgian step on which the picturesque Minervino stands. In this place where every stone can be considered a monument and the air is fragrant with the scent of the pastures the traveller can stop off in one of the many trattorie and then leave again in the direction of Spinazzola. But before leaving let's visit the Archaeological museum and its permanent exhibition "The once amber Ofanto river".
One of the richest and most precious section of this museum boasts the funeral equipment of a daunian warrior dating back to the end of the 4th cent. B.C. and the reconstruction on a scale of his grave.
The Archaeology Train leaves now in the direction of Spinazzola: the birthplace of the Roman Church Pope: Innocent XII. This city was founded in the 3rd cent. next to the Roman Statio "ad Oinum" along the Appian Way , and shared much of his story with the neighbouring cities. According to the history Manfredi , the son of Frederick II went to Spinazzola in order to present Helen of Epirus with the wedding dress
1 Day
What to visit on this excursion:
Canne della Battaglia Archaeological Park
Antiquarium of Canne della Battaglia
Hypogei Lagrasta
Canosa di Puglia
Palazzo Sinesi
Canosa di Puglia
The Archaeological Museum
Minervino Murge
The Roman Bridge
Canosa di Puglia
Towns to visit:
Canosa di Puglia
Minervino Murge
Agenzia per l'Occupazione e lo Sviluppo dell'area Nord Barese Ofantina - s.c.a r.l.
Partita Iva 05215080721
Puglia Imperiale – Sede: Corso Cavour, 23 - Corato (BA) Italy
Tel. 080.4031933 - Fax 080.4032430
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