Ten years old, a boy in Montreal was determined to go to Yale University when his drama director said that it had the best drama program. He applies only to Yale, without ever visiting or reading about its programs. He gets accepted. He arrives at Yale for the first time, and asks his parents which of the buildings is the college. They reply by saying that it is all Yale. Thus begins the most frightening few months of his life, which transforms into some of his best years.

The other transformation of a frightening situation into a wonderful experience was when he, as a Hollywood director and producer, was asked to direct “Night at the Museum.”

Shawn Levy is the name of this man. Director of “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “The Pink Panther,” and all three movies of “Night at the Museum,” Levy visited Yale for the first time in twenty years to be present for the movie premiere of “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” on December 10 in New Haven, CT. This event was an exclusive opportunity for members of the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History to see a film before it was released nationwide and to attend a reception at the museum afterward for a conversation with the director.

Levy provides the perfect example for the moral to always challenge yourself. Twice in his life, he encountered a frightening situation. Upon visiting Yale for the first time as a college freshman, he was intimidated by such a large and prestigious school. Many recent high school graduates can sympathize with this 18-year-old version of Levy, but they might wonder why he was frightened to direct a movie about museum statues coming to life at night.

As he explained at the reception after the movie, he turned down the offer to direct the first film six times. It was too complex a concept for him at the time, to use special effects and to work with actors like Ben Stiller and Robin Williams.

I asked Levy at the reception about what aspect of directing the third film was most difficult. “So much money goes into the special effects,” he explained, “but the struggle is to remember about the actors, because in the end, they’re the most important part of the movie.”

He especially enjoyed directing the scenes where Sir Lancelot made fun of Larry: “It shows how Ben [Stiller] is willing to make fun of himself,” Levy said.

Another difficult  scene where Larry and Teddy speak to each other near the end of the movie when Teddy, played by the late Robin Williams who died earlier this year, slowly turns back into wax: “At the same time, it was funny, sad and warm,” Levy stated.

There are two surprises in this film. One is that Hugh Jackman makes a surprise appearance in the film. “It’s a secret, so don’t tell anyone! Wait until the movie is released,” Levy told us.

Levy asked Jackman to play a role in the film, and without looking at the script, Jackman agreed. He was not interested in the money either, and said he’d play the part for free. Jackman makes a short appearance, playing himself in a Broadway performance of Camelot, and personally, it was one of my favorite scenes.

The other surprise is that Williams is still Teddy Roosevelt. The film was shot before last summer, so families can enjoy one more film with the comedic genius. “[Robin] had a true love for things like this,” Levy said. “He loved working with institutions and playing a character in a film that’s for the whole family.”

On a final note, Levy is a prime example of a Hollywood director who is not about making a huge blockbuster filled with explosions and fast-paced action. “I love producing uncynical movies that are ispirational. They take you on a ride that makes you reflect back on your own life, on the possibilities you’re given,” he explained.

I highly recommend that everyone watch “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.” You can watch the magic literally come to life and, meanwhile, reflect on the efforts put into the film and Levy’s passion for aspirational films.