Local Filmmaker's “The Astronomer” Screening with All “Interstellar” Showings at the Gateway

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Nov. 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Local filmmaker and educator Phil Garrett of Worthington announced his award-winning short documentary film, “The Astronomer,” will be shown before all screenings of the new Christopher Nolan film, “Interstellar,” at the Gateway Film Center in Columbus.

“The Astronomer” (https://www.vimeo.com/philiprgarrett/astronomer) features Professor Tom Burns of Ohio Wesleyan University. Burns is also the Director of Perkins Observatory, http://www.owu.edu/perkins. The film played at the 2013 International Science Film Festival in Athens, Greece and at the 2013 Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival in Brooklyn, NY.

"Is it all chaos or are we a part of something bigger?” astronomer and professor Burns asks as he takes us on a thought-provoking journey toward understanding our place in the grand scheme of the cosmos. It is a journey that is equal parts science, philosophy and spirituality. Along the way, we come face to face with questions about our own existence, humanity's connection to the universe, and the idea that if there is a way for the universe to know itself, it is through us. "The Astronomer" is an experimental documentary that speaks to humanity's connection to the universe.

About Philip R. Garrett Jr.

Phil Garrett is an educator, filmmaker and storyteller with more than 14 years of experience in moving image production, including live action and animation, studio motion pictures, independent films, documentary, visual effects, and commercials. His filmography includes projects at DreamWorks Animation, PDI, and Disney. He’s co-written and produced films for his production company Arbor Avenue Films that have played festivals internationally, garnered awards and received commercial distribution.

Garrett is an assistant professor in of the Cinematic Arts Department at The Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD), where he teaches advanced video production classes, collaborating with professionals and artists across media and disciplines.

Originally from Springfield, Ohio, Garrett graduated from the College of Business at Ohio University, and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre at The Ohio State University. He worked in the software/internet industry for a number of years before entering the film industry. In 2000, Garrett joined PDI/DreamWorks where he worked in visual effects on a number of films, including The Mexican, Evolution and Steven Spielberg’s futuristic epics Artificial Intelligence: A.I. and Minority Report. He continued work in production on Shrek, Shrek 2, and Madagascar.