Saturday, July 14, 2012, 8:00 pm, $10
Orbit(film) is a project that uses the art of cinema to inspire the art of science and education. A collaborative, 80-minute omnibus movie about our solar system,Orbit(film) is intended for all ages, as grade-schoolers will have their interest in art and science piqued, and older generations will have their youthful love of space renewed.
In Orbit(film), every planet in our solar system is represented by a short film, each made by a different filmmaker, dealing with the science of outer space through creative and emotional storytelling and visual poetry. Some or all of the original source material will come from NASA footage, reinterpreted by each filmmaker to make a portrait of the respective planet. Non-planet films cover the sun, moon and comets. the program is co-produced by Mike Plante (Cinemad) and Mark Elijah Rosenberg (Rooftop Films).
the films
The Sun
made by Brent Hoff (“Look at the Sun”, 2011, 5 min)
made by Brent Hoff (“Look at the Sun”, 2011, 5 min)
For thousands of years, humanity has watched the sun with a mixture of fear and awe, believing without knowing why, that our lives depend on its mysterious undulations. Today, technology has sharpened the view and revealed fantastic, explosive visions roiling a chaotic surface, but what has changed? Today, with our sun mysteriously spotless for the longest period in recorded history, our astronomers can no more discern the future than could ancient Mayan priests. The sun has changed, our sense of wonder has not. Now more than ever, we must look at the sun. Because it’s getting sexy up there.
Mercury
made by Ben Coonley (2011, 6 min)
made by Ben Coonley (2011, 6 min)
A mercurial cine-opera set to visuals gathered by NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft. Lyrics composed in collaboration with the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN).
Venus
made by Jessica Oreck (2010, 4 1/2 min)
made by Jessica Oreck (2010, 4 1/2 min)
Jessica explores the inner-workings of our sister planet. Examining the atmospheric composition of Venus, this piece, narrated by Jackie Reynal, exposes a reminder of what could happen on Earth.
Earth
made by Mike Plante (“A Quick Note About Earth”, 2011, 3.5 min)
A short note about Earth and a gentleman of our times.
A short note about Earth and a gentleman of our times.
The Moon
made by Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky
(“I Seen the Moon”, 2010, 3 1/2 min)
Recollection. Romance. Regret.
Signs of life for this man may very well exist on the Moon.
Signs of life for this man may very well exist on the Moon.
Mars
made by Mark Elijah Rosenberg (“No Message Received”, 2010, 9 min)
A little robot born on Mars. The introverted scientist who created it. A meta-fictional re-telling of NASA’s Mars Pathfinder mission as a story of outcast people and forgotten technology, about wondrous things struggling for attention in busy worlds.
Comets
made by Deborah Stratman (“…These Blazeing Starrs!”, 2010, 14 min)
Since comets have been recorded, they’ve augured catastrophe, messiahs, upheaval and end times.
This will be a little film about these meteoric ice-cored fireballs and their historic ties to divination.
…These Blazeing Starrs!
Threaten the World with Famine, Plague, & Warrs:
To Princes, Death: to Kingdoms, many Crosses:
To all Estates, inevitable Losses!
To Herds-men, Rot’ to Plowmen, haples Seasons:
This will be a little film about these meteoric ice-cored fireballs and their historic ties to divination.
…These Blazeing Starrs!
Threaten the World with Famine, Plague, & Warrs:
To Princes, Death: to Kingdoms, many Crosses:
To all Estates, inevitable Losses!
To Herds-men, Rot’ to Plowmen, haples Seasons:
To Saylors, Storms; to Cittyes, Civil Treasons
– Du Bartas, De cometis (1665)
– Du Bartas, De cometis (1665)
Jupiter Elicious
made by Kelly Sears (2010, 4 min)
made by Kelly Sears (2010, 4 min)
A haunted meteorologist dreams of storms that are both closer and further away than he thought. His unshakable bravado is undone through fast winds and high pressure systems and a sense of duty.
Saturn
made by Jacqueline Goss and Michael Gitlin (“Scan Platform Problems”, 2011, 6 min)
The most beautiful planet deconstructed, played with, put back together again.
Uranus
made by Bill Brown (2010, 8 min)
made by Bill Brown (2010, 8 min)
It is 2003. A spaceman takes a trip to Uranus. He is fleeing from the Earth in the month before a big, rich country invades a little country of little consequence for mysterious reasons.
Neptune
made by Poseidon (“Neptune Calling”, 2011, 5 min)
made by Poseidon (“Neptune Calling”, 2011, 5 min)
Neptune, in a true display of his personality, prank calls the other planets.
Pluto
made by Travis Wilkerson (“Pluto Declaration”, 2011, 3 1/2 min)
made by Travis Wilkerson (“Pluto Declaration”, 2011, 3 1/2 min)
Restore the classical definition of planet!
Bring back planet Pluto!
The solar system is 12!
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