READING RAINBOW: OPT: AN ILLUSIONARY TALE {EIGHTH SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of educational children's programs that encourages children to read, hosted by LeVar Burton. This episode is about optical illusions and focuses on the book, "Opt: An Illusionary Tale," by Arline and Joseph Baum. As the program begins, Burton appears to be mountain climbing in a blizzard, but the host is actually on a film set, where he examines such special-effects equipment as snow machines and "blue walls" that create movie illusions. Next, Burton introduces "Opt: An Illusionary Tale," a book about optical illusions and tricks, set in an imaginary kingdom. In this segment, special effects allow Burton to appear to walk through the landscape of the book as he points out its illusions. Later, the host visits with a "trompe l'oeil" artist, Christian Thee, who demonstrates some drawing techniques and offers examples of optical illusions in his work. Burton also narrates a film clip about the camouflage abilities of certain insects and underwater creatures. Finally, children present their reviews of books about optical illusions.
Acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: September 23, 1991 5:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:28:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:23552
- GENRE: Children's
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Insects; Optical illusions; Films - Special effects
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1983-2006
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Twila C. Liggett … Executive Producer
- Tony Buttino … Executive Producer
- Cecily Truett … Supervising Producer
- Larry Lancit … Supervising Producer
- Orly Berger … Supervising Producer
- Ronnie Krauss … Producer, Writer
- Stacey Raider … Associate Producer
- Kathy Kinsner … Associate Producer
- Cynthia Mayer Benfield … Associate Producer, For "Book Reviews"
- Mark Mannucci … Director
- Jill Gluckson … Production (Misc.), Segment Producer
- LeVar Burton … Production (Misc.), Contributing Producer, Host
- Steve Horelick … Music by, Music Director
- Daniel Shklair … Music by
- Janet Weir … Music (Misc. Credits), "Reading Rainbow" lyrics by
- Dennis Kleinman … Music (Misc. Credits), "Reading Rainbow" lyrics by
- Tina Fabrik … Performer, "Reading Rainbow" vocal by
- Christian Thee
- For "Opt: An Illusionary Tale":
- Arline Baum … Writer, Book by
- Joseph Baum … Writer, Book by
- Oscar Rojas … Adapted by, Illustrations adapted by
- Janet Rojas … Adapted by, Illustrations adapted by