Film Release – The Western Flyer with Nick Offerman

Emmy-Award Winning Actor Nick Offerman Partners with the Western Flyer Foundation on a Short Film

Monterey, CA. Emmy-award-winning actor and comedian Nick Offerman has teamed up with the nonprofit Western Flyer Foundation to produce a short film about the restored 1930s fishing boat, the Western Flyer, made famous by John Steinbeck in the classic book The Log from the Sea of Cortez (1951).

The nine-minute, lighthearted yet moving film follows the Flyer on a decades-long journey, from Steinbeck’s adventures in the Sea of Cortez to dark days at the bottom of a slough to a triumphant Monterey homecoming last fall. It was released today in honor of John Steinbeck’s 122^nd birthday.

“We were thrilled that Nick Offerman wanted to help create this film and share the Western Flyer’s story,” said Sherry Flumerfelt, Executive Director of the Western Flyer Foundation. “Not only is Nick a hilarious and much-loved celebrity, but he also happens to be an incredible writer, a woodworker, and even a boat builder! He’s the perfect fit for this project, and we had so much fun making this film with him and the talented storytellers at Soulcraft Allstars.

Well known for his award-winning portrayal of Ron Swanson in the sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009-2015), Nick Offerman recently took home an Emmy for his powerful work in The Last of Us (2023).

The nonprofit Western Flyer Foundation worked with shipwrights and experts in Port Townsend and Seattle, Washington, to restore the Western Flyer before it returned to Monterey Bay last fall, where it now serves as a platform for research and education. The organization has produced this short film to share the Western Flyer’s inspirational story with a broader audience. The film can be viewed at westernflyer.org/nick-offerman-film.

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About the Western Flyer Foundation:

From the coast to the deep sea and from the tide pool to the stars, the nonprofit Western Flyer Foundation stirs curiosity using a blend of science and art inspired by John Steinbeck, Ed Ricketts, and their 1940 journey on the Western Flyer. Learn more about the vessel’s history, adventures, and exciting future of marine science and education at http://www.westernflyer.org.