John Muir - Coming Home
John Muir - Coming Home is a short film directed by Michael Coleman a Martinez, California native inspired by the writings of naturalist, author and early advocate of wilderness preservation John Muir.
Many of the locations featured in the film are authentic to Muir's life including his home in Martinez, California, northeast of Oakland and Muir Woods National Monument just north of San Francisco, California. Muir's original writings and books were shot at his home including the windmill that accompanies the 2,600-acre fruit orchard that surrounded his families property and John Muir's desk in the "Scribble Den".
Muir was perhaps this country's most famous and influential naturalist. If it weren't for John Muir and his writings, we probably would not have Yosemite National Park as we know it today. He was also involved in the creation of the Grand Canyon, Kings Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Mt. Rainier National Parks. Additionally, his writings about Alaska led to further preservation of the landscape over time. Because of his influential writings and role in the creation of multiple parks, he is often called "The Father of Our National Park System."
John Muir was born on April 21, 1838 and Earth Day is celebrated around the world on April 22nd.
More information: www.nps.gov/jomu/index.htm
About the filmmaker:
Michael Coleman is an accomplished Director whose behind-the-scenes work has been featured in such films as Director Brett Morgen’s, The Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane, Director Cameron Crowe's, Pearl Jam Twenty, Director Nimrod Antal’s, Metallica: Through the Never and Aerosmith’s multi platinum film, You Gotta Move. Michael is also the creator of the SoundWorks Collection video series which profiles the talent behind audio post-production and original soundtrack compositions.
More information: www.colemanfilm.com
John Muir - Coming Home
Text by John Muir
I am losing precious days. I am degenerating into a machine for making money. I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news. (Alaska Days with John Muir)
Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity. (Our National Parks)
Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail. (Our National Parks)
The sun shines not on us but in us. The rivers flow not past, but through us. Thrilling, tingling, vibrating every fiber and cell of the substance of our bodies, making them glide and sing. The trees wave and the flowers bloom in our bodies as well as our souls, and every bird song, wind song, and tremendous storm song of the rocks in the heart of the mountains is our song, our very own, and sings our love. (Mountain Thoughts)
