Big Time

When Mark Obmascik left the Denver Post in 2002 to write a true tale about three slightly insane birdwatchers, he had no idea that the book, The Big Year, would be turned into a movie starring Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin, or that his sons would find that aspect much cooler than the fact that their dad is a successful published author.

But Obmascik’s not complaining. The Pulitzer Prize-winning former environmental reporter gets to see his work (or a Hollywood facsimile of it) on the big screen today when the movie of the same name opens nationwide. Oddly, it will be the first time he’s seen it. “That’s just how it works, I guess,” he says about the movie-making process. “But I know some people who have seen it, and they said it was good.”

And there will be no premiere, either. “I gather they wanted to spend their money having the actors make joint appearances.” Black, Wilson and Martin will be all over the morning and late-night shows this week, Obmascik says. Other stars in the film include Angelina Jolie, Rashida Jones, Dianne Wiest, Anjelica Huston and Corbin Bernsen.

The Big Year covers a year in the life of three men who compete against one another to spot the most bird species in 365 days. The book was published in 2004.

For more information on Obmascik, go to www.markobmascik.com. For a full list of when and where the movie is playing, check the movie listings at westword.com.

Oct. 14-20, 2011