Jorja Fox has seen a lot of drama in her career as Sara on "CSI," one of contemporary television’s most popular and long-running series, but nothing as gripping as her involvement in the documentary "Lion Ark."
The film, screening today as part of the 33rd Hawaii International Film Festival, depicts the rescue of 25 African lions from Bolivian circuses in the wake of a 2010 law prohibiting the use of animals in traveling shows.
Fox is in Hawaii to promote "Lion Ark," along with filmmakers Tim Phillips and Jan Creamer, founders of Animal Defenders International.
Their quest brought the pair into remote parts of Bolivia, and often circuses were not cooperative. In the film’s opening scenes, a circus operator, waving a knife, slashes their tires to try to prevent a rescue.
It also has a happy ending: All of the lions at risk were airlifted out of Bolivia, finding a home at a sprawling 80-acre sanctuary in Colorado.
HIFF PICKS
Here are some choice picks from among today’s HIFF screenings. For a full schedule and ticket information, visit www.hiff.org.
“Mr. Go”: After the Great Sichuan Earthquake kills her grandfather, young circus ringmaster Wei Wei has only her bat-swinging gorilla Ling Ling to depend on. She also has an insurmountable debt to deal with and a loan shark who wants to sell Ling Ling and the circus. Wei Wei has no other choice but to allow Ling Ling to be scouted by the Korean Baseball League. Directed by Yong-Hwa Kim. In Korean with English subtitles.
U.S. premiere; noon today at Dole Cannery Stadium 18
“Instant Mommy”: Bechayda (Eugene Domingo) is a pregnant wardrobe assistant for a TV commercial production afraid of losing her Japanese love (Yuki Matsuzaki). She dreams of a better life and sets in motion a plan she thinks will help her achieve that. Directed by Leo Abaya. In Tagalog with English subtitles.
U.S. premiere; 5:30 p.m. today at Dole Cannery Stadium 18
“Puamana”: A 1991 documentary, produced by Meleanna Aluli Meyer and directed by the late Les Blank, with interviews, songs and performances by Irmgard Farden Aluli, one of Hawaii’s most loved and influential composers. A panel discussion will follow the screening.
6 p.m. today at Dole Cannery Stadium 18
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"I like to think of it as an action-adventure-dramedy," Fox said. "There are some funny moments in it, but there is epic drama. To get to be a part of it was fantastic."
Fox was there as the lions were being taken to the shelter in Colorado, as seen in the film.
"To be surrounded by 25 roaring lions — that real, raw power was an experience I’ll never forget," she said.
Fox has worked with Phillips and Creamer for more than seven years, beginning with a collaboration on the documentary short "How I Became an Elephant." Fox served as producer for that film, which exposes the treatment of elephants in traveling shows and in movies.
Fox was involved with "Lion Ark" from the beginning, consulting with the filmmakers and stepping in front of the camera during scenes when the lions arrive in Colorado. She’s also supporting the film at HIFF, and was scheduled to be part of a panel at Saturday’s screening.
The actor seems to have a knack for connecting with popular television dramas. In addition to "CSI" on CBS, she has had prominent roles on "ER" and "The West Wing."
"CSI" is about to reach a huge milestone: the airing of its 300th episode.
"It’s going to be amazing, that’s all I can say," she said. "We didn’t really think it was that big a deal until we started shooting it, and then we started realizing that it’s pretty rare. … We tried to enjoy every minute of filming," she said.
Special care was taken in writing the scenes, and some pieces of the episode pay tribute to the series’ long history, including "faux-back" segments that re-create characters’ story lines reaching back to the show’s first year. Original cast member Marg Helgenberger is also back for the 300th show.
Fox said it is up to viewers to decide how much longer the crack "CSI" forensics team will continue solving crimes in Las Vegas.
"I hope my favorite episode is yet to come," she said. "It’s lasted far longer than I ever anticipated. … Now I think I’ll do it as long as the fans want us to do it.
"I can’t even imagine leaving at this point. It would seem foolish."
In the meantime Fox is hoping for big audiences and international impact with "Lion Ark." The film was just awarded the Audience Award at the San Diego Film Festival. Screenings sold out at London’s Raindance Film Festival, an offshoot of the Sundance Film Festival in Colorado.
Asked what she learned from working on "Lion Ark," Fox said, "Anything is possible. If you put your heart and soul to it, you can move mountains."
"Lion Ark" screens at 11 a.m. today at Consolidated Koko Marina 8, 8 p.m. Oct. 25 at Palace Theater, Hilo, and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at St. Regis Hotel, Kauai. Find more coverage of the Hawaii International Film Festival at honolulupulse.com.
