Celebrating Earth Day, The Prospector Theater Presents “A Birder’s Guide to Everything” featuring a live Q&A with director Rob Meyer & producer Dan Lindau

This “coming of age” film is the story of four friends who have formed a high school bird-watching club, who – inspired by spotting what they believe is an allegedly extinct “Labrador Duck” – take off on a journey to photograph and document this intriguing discovery.  Thrown into the mix is a jealous bird-watcher played by the Oscar winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley, and the mixed emotions surrounding the upcoming wedding of the main character’s widowed father.  “A Birder’s Guide to Everything” won second place in the Audience Award competition of the Tribeca Film Festival as well as recognition from the Sundance Film Festival.  Stephen Holden, a film critic for The New York Times, called the film a “smart, likable coming-of age movie” and says the film offers viewers “the reminder that all around us exists a fascinating realm of almost infinite variety.”  A USA Today review by Terry Byrne praised the film and called it reminiscent of the 1986 classic “Stand By Me.”

“A Birder’s Guide to Everything” is the first feature film by Rob Meyer, who says he dreamed as a kid of being a naturalist before turning to filmmaking to express his vision.  Moviegoers who come to enjoy Meyer’s film at The Prospector may welcome the challenge of seeing if they can spot which scenes were shot in various nearby locations including Chappaqua, Somers, Ossining and Armonk.  Following the 7:30pm screening on April 22, moviegoers are invited to stay for a live question-and-answer session with director Rob Meyer and the film’s producer (and Chappaqua resident) Dan Lindau.

This Earth Day, Ridgefield’s Prospector Theater will serve as an ideal showcase for this adventurous exploration of the world of nature – and the various emotions and challenges of what it means to be human.  Since the theater’s gala opening in November of last year, the realization of a long-held dream by founder Valerie Jensen, The Prospector has provided jobs for more than 80 individuals, more than half of whom have disabilities.  Known as “Prospects,” in acknowledgement of the fact that their work at the theater is designed to be a stepping stone on a journey of fulfilling lifelong employment, these staff members also benefit from coaching and training in a variety of fields ranging from food service to graphic design.  In recognition of its role as a model for the benefits that come from hiring dedicated, capable and enthusiastic workers regardless of so-called “disabilities,” The Prospector was recently featured on The NBC Nightly News – a story that drew an enthusiastic response from thousands of viewers in all 50 states.

For more information about The Prospector Theater, visit: http://www.prospectortheater.org

To see the NBC Nightly News story about The Prospector Theater, click here.