Benjamin Mee & Matt Damon (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
We thought it would be fun to look back on We Bought A Zoo through the eyes of Benjamin Mee. Ben took the time to provide some detailed and thoughtful answers on how the film came together from his perspective. Here’s the last part, enjoy!
What did you think about the film? Despite it being a fictional account, did it still hit home in a variety of ways?
Milo and Ella Mee
We thought it would be fun to look back on We Bought A Zoo through the eyes of Benjamin Mee. Ben took the time to provide some detailed and thoughtful answers on how the film came together from his perspective. Here’s Part 2:
I’m sure you don’t have a ton of time to watch films, but do you get a chance to take your children Milo and Ella to the theaters from time to time? If so, what are your favorite films or favorite type of films?
Benjamin Mee and Cameron Crowe
We thought it would be fun to look back on We Bought A Zoo through the eyes of Benjamin Mee. Ben took the time to provide some detailed and thoughtful answers on how the film came together from his perspective. We will share a different question and answer over the next few days…
What was your reaction when you found out Cameron would be directing the film? Had you seen any of his previous films?
Benjamin Mee & Matt Damon (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
As we inch closer to the UK release of We Bought A Zoo on March 16th, here’s a recent interview with the real Benjamin Mee. He discusses with the Express UK his decision to purchase the Dartmoor Zoo back in 2006, his beloved wife Katherine’s death, the book and the movie. The Dartmoor Zoo still needs your help, so you can visit the zoo if you are in the area or pledge your support in other ways by becoming a member, adopting an animal and much more. Visit the official Dartmoor Zoo website for all the details.
Benjamin Mee and Cameron (Backstage at the Anderson Cooper show)
We have a lot of pictures to share with you from this past week as Cameron and company debuted We Bought A Zoo in New York. In addition to the world premiere on Monday, there were many media interviews as well. Cameron stopped by both the Covino & Rich Show and the Ron and Fez show. Look out for the cast + Benjamin Mee on Anderson Cooper (12/21) and Cameron and Matt Damon on Charlie Rose (12/21 – tentative) next week.
Ron and Fez Show
All these pictures are courtesy of a couple of the Zoo crew, Michelle Panek (Associate Producer) and Jeff Harlacker (Associate Producer & Post-Production Supervisor). We really appreciate you sharing these candid pictures with us!
You’re following Cameron on Twitter or Facebook, right? He’s been sharing some pretty cool pics of late from the set of We Bought A Zoo (including a visit from the real Benjamin Mee) and his scoring sessions with Jonsi. Here’s just a few to whet your appetite in case you aren’t yet . . .
Welcome to another edition of Inquire Within… Through your submissions, Cameron will answer your questions in his own words. The goal is to have a new question and answer posting every few weeks leading up to the releases of Pearl Jam Twenty and We Bought a Zoo this fall and The Union early next year.
The Uncool: Why did you decide to rework the location in We Bought A Zoo from England to Southern California?
Cameron: The story was set in Boston when I first read Aline’s script, and she really made it sing as a universal story. I watched Benjamin Mee’s BBC documentary, and read his great book a few times and knew that Ben’s story (while very much set in the UK) was largely a personal one. I also knew a ton of places in “inner” California that felt like my “Dartmoor”… places that felt far removed and would support a struggling zoo. Then we found the Greenfield Ranch location, outside Westlake Village, and we all fell in love with the property. Plus, I wanted to work with Matt Damon, and I think he gets things done pretty well with his natural accent… so we started casting American actors, reading with them, setting the story here in California… and the real Benjamin Mee gave us a thumbs up… and that’s a mighty thumbs up. We filmed in “out of the way” California, places that don’t normally turn up in the movies. (Though Jamie Foxx had a place in the hills across the way and the rumor was he was tracking our movie through binoculars. Hey Jamie!)
Please send in your Pearl Jam Twenty questions for Cameron and maybe yours will be part of a future installment of Inquire Within…
There’s a nice article over at Express UK that chronicles Benjamin Mee’s story and his book, We Bought a Zoo which begins filming later this month.
Ben had this to say about the exposure he hopes the film will bring to the Dartmoor Zoological Park:
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that every American tourist who comes to the UK after the film is out will want to visit us and meet the real animals.”
