Pandas, Butterflies And Dinosaurs, Oh My

Perot Museum partners with National Geographic for wild new fun

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science has announced a partnership with National Geographic, one that positions the museum to bring in a host of elements that will enhance its already acclaimed status.

The partnership, initially set at five years, is one of only a few Nat Geo has with museums in the United States. It is the only one in Texas.

The partnership has already yielded one significant change: The Hoglund Foundation Theater, the state-of-the-art 3-D theater at the Perot, has been rebranded as "a National Geographic Experience." The name change comes complete with a sign bearing Nat Geo's signature bright yellow at the entrance.

Starting May 24, the theater will be showing Pandas: The Journey Home, a 40-minute original National Geographic documentary that tracks the efforts of Chinese scientists to boost the number of pandas in the wild.

More aspects of the partnership include other regional movie premieres, special access to Nat Geo's film library, a speakers series, visits from Nat Geo experts and special traveling exhibits created by Nat Geo. In addition there will be photography workshops, travel opportunities, and special benefits and discounts for Perot Museum members.

The museum also will be showing two non-Nat Geo films this summer. The first is Flight of the Butterflies 3D, which follows the annual migration of monarch butterflies. Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia, is a look back at when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, which has been at the museum since early April.

That second film is a nice combo with the Perot's current traveling exhibit, "The World's Largest Dinosaurs," both of which will be at the museum through September 1. Anyone wanting to see both can save a little money by bundling the tickets together, with tickets ranging from $19-$25, including museum admission.

Tickets for Pandas are $6 for members and $8 for non-members, while the other two shorter films are $5 for both members and non-members. Admission to the museum is not necessary to view the films; tickets can always be purchased separately.

Pandas: The Journey Home is the first of many benefits the Perot Museum gets from its new partnership with National Geographic.

Pandas: The Journey Home by National Geographic

Photo by Yang Dan

Pandas: The Journey Home is the first of many benefits the Perot Museum gets from its new partnership with National Geographic.

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Rivers wild

Ethan Hawke narrates new documentary that deep-dives into Texas rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The Rio Grande is one of the stunning subjects of Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.

One Texas film icon passes the torch to another for a deep dive on Texas' river ecosystems in the upcoming documentary Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers. Matthew McConaughey narrated the original 2022 film, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story. Now Ethan Hawke narrates the follow-up, which will be in theaters September 25.

Deep in the Heart 2 is directed by Ben Masters, a nature-obsessed Texan who was born and raised in Amarillo and has followed wildlife around the state and beyond. Working with his crew at Fin & Fur Films, Masters explores the Rio Grande, the Sabine River, and the Neches River, a press release says, coming across otters, turkeys, alligator snapping turtles, and more.

This underwater shot was taken in San Marcos.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The original Deep in the Heart took a broad view of Texas — both its landscapes and their inhabitants — while the "sequel," as the release calls it, specifically highlights water. Conservation is an important angle, and viewers will get a chance to consider how they could connect with and protect the ecosystems on their screens.

"Most of my favorite memories are on Texas Rivers," said Masters in the release. "I grew up on the Canadian, fell in love on the Brazos, got married on the Guadalupe, found adventure on the Rio Grande, and am raising my kids on the Colorado."

The filmmaker says that spending three years filming his natural subjects gave him "a newfound appreciation" for rivers and how distinct they are from one another.

Amazing cinematography was a hallmark of the original film, and the sequel offers more beautiful shots.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

"We spent months filming mountain lions on the Pecos, snapping turtles on the Neches, otters on the Sabine, fatmuckets on the Llano, and whooping cranes in the Guadalupe's Estuary," Masters said. "Editing the majesty of Texas Rivers into 80 minutes was a huge challenge, and I'm just incredibly grateful to work with such a talented team of cinematographers, editors, producers, and musicians."

Hawke, born in Austin and raised in Fort Worth, is known for acting in the Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, the Richard Linklater films Boyhood and Blue Moon, and more. He has taken up causes in environmental advocacy for years and appeared in other ecology-focused films, including the intense fictional First Reformed (2018) and a goofy anti-littering PSA with TxDOT (2023).

Some unexpected guests in the Rio Grande.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The film was made in association with H-E-B, a regular supporter of ecological documentaries and initiatives, and conservation organization Texan by Nature. Other collaborators include producer Josh Winkler, editor Sam Klatt, assistant editor Chet Stefan, and composer Noah Sorota. The musical score is performed by Dallas Chamber Symphony.

animals documentaries ecology ethan hawke film matthew mcconaughey movies nature texas wildlife