Laguna Beach-based Imax pioneer Greg MacGillivray specializes in adventurous films—“Everest,” “The Living Sea,” “To Fly”—but none quite like his latest, “Arabia.” It’s a visually spectacular celebration of Arab history and culture that goes light on the politics. But the gentle message—“It’s only through understanding each other … that we can make any progress towards greater world peace,” MacGillivray says—still can raise hackles in a post-9/11 world. MacGillivray Freeman Films spokeswoman Lori Rick says there have been “a few isolated cases where people have e-mailed museums questioning why they are showing the film, which frankly we were expecting.” The documentary has the backing of Saudi-American businessmen and the Royal Geographical Society of London. Rick says the documentary “is doing steady business.” It’s playing on big-screens and in 3-D in 11 U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Denver and Detroit, and soon will open in Kuwait, Spain and Germany. No deal yet with the Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, which prefers Hollywood special-effects blockbusters …
George Kalogridis is settling in as president of Disneyland Resort. He recently opened the Toy Story Lot—2,700 more parking spaces, with shuttles from the downsized OC Transportation Authority. So far, 20 idle buses have been leased, 15 laid-off drivers hired. Kalogridis is honorary chair of Pacific Symphony’s annual gala at the resort on April 25. On May 12, he addresses an OC Biz Council breakfast at the Center Club in Costa Mesa …
Cousins Bill Taylor and Ray Malzo are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their Orange County Harley-Davidson dealership (first in Santa Ana, now in Irvine.) Taylor says business the last two years “was the worst in a decade.” They closed their San Juan Capistrano outlet. But lately there have been “signs of life” …
After a year out of baseball, Shady Canyon resident Jim Edmonds has made the Milwaukee Brewers’ opening day roster … Peter Ueberroth keynotes a Harvard Business School Association of OC event Thursday at the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano …
The OC High School of the Arts gala at the Hyatt Regency Irvine showcased the usual terrific student talent, drew 500 and netted a half million dollars …
Poll-trailing U.S. Senate candidate Chuck DeVore had polite encounters with each of his GOP primary rivals last Tuesday. The Irvine Assemblyman joined Carly Fiorina under the former Air Force One at the Nixon Library for a “Hannity” show taping, then met up with Tom Campbell for a debate at Chapman University’s Brandman U in Irvine. (Fiorina declined the Brandman invite. Campbell said he couldn’t do Hannity because he was teaching his Chapman U law class.) Best impromptu moment was when Campbell and DeVore discovered that they both carry pocket versions of the U.S. Constitution. Noting that Campbell’s copy was more worn, DeVore quipped, “Tom Campbell has run for office more times than Carly Fiorina has voted.”
