Magnificent Desolation Nets OWU Alumnus Writing, Producing Credit

September 19, 2005

DELAWARE, OHIO -- Christopher G. Cowen, a 1994 Ohio Wesleyan graduate, will have his first large-format feature-film writing and producing credit when Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D opens on Sept. 23. The film, presented by Tom Hanks, will make its Central Ohio debut at the IMAX theatre at Easton's AMC Theatre 30 (275 Easton Towne Center, Columbus).

Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D is a 40-minute IMAX film, sponsored by NASA and Lockheed Martin, that explores the past, present, and future of space travel. Narrator/ Producer/Co-Writer Tom Hanks explains in the movie's press packet, "What we saw and what we found in our missions to the Moon was more diverse, more complicated and really more beautiful than what Neil Armstrong expressed in his magnificent quote. What has been lost—or maybe what wasn't represented in the first place—is the importance and the inspiration of all 12 journeys, all 12 men's stories."

Cowen's association with Tom Hanks has been a long-time coming as he joined Hanks' Playtone Company in 1998 and worked in various roles on Playtone productions The Polar Express, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Band of Brothers.

He began his career in entertainment with a production assistant position on the multiple Oscar nominated Apollo 13. Continuing his association with producer Brian Grazer, Imagine Entertainment and Universal Pictures, Cowen next worked in production on the feature films Sgt. Bilko, The Chamber and Dante's Peak. Cowen then segued to cable television, working as assistant editor on the Discovery Channel series The Eco-Challenge and then as assistant to the directors on HBO's award-winning film anthology series From the Earth to the Moon—one of those directors being Tom Hanks.

He recently joined Herzog Cowen Entertainment as director of special projects and said via e-mail, "I'm already working on lots of other exciting projects including another space documentary, an educational children's DVD, and a couple of feature film projects."

For more information:

• Magnificent Desolation Web site: http://www.imax.com/magnificentdesolation/
• AMC Theatre 30 Web site: http://www.amctheatres.com/
• Herzog Cowen Entertainment Web site: http://www.herzogcowen.com