Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jan 15, 2012 11:50:48 GMT -6
Two new Skyshows to play
at the Adler Planetarium
at the Adler Planetarium
Two anticipated shows are coming to the Adler soon...
Four Minneapolis businesses collaborated on the 38-minute movie, an effort they say pushes the boundaries of digital filmmaking and proves to Hollywood that the Twin Cities can hold its own in the world of high-tech film production.
"Space Junk 3D" is narrated by British actor Tom Wilkinson ("In the Bedroom," "The Patriot") and presented by Melrae Pictures. With a running time of 38 minutes, the film relies on slick digital effects to swiftly present the space junk problem while simultaneously taking advantage of stunning views of Arizona's Meteor Crater and simulated galaxy crashes to depict the role that natural impacts have on the world around us.
Afterglow studios created multilayered stereo 3-D effects and animation that makes use of the sweet spot of the domed Imax screen and gives "Space Junk" viewers the sense that they're riding a satellite through space.
Tom Hambleton of Undertone produced the original score and mixed the sound; Carl Jacobs of Splice edited film that was so data-rich it consumed the equivalent of 100 laptops of memory.
They wanted to shoot in stereo 3-D, which added more complexity to the project because segments are produced separately for each eye so that images will pop off the screen. They also chose to present "Space Junk" in full-digital 4K, a high-resolution format. Its larger pixel size provides about four times the clarity of movies shown in traditional theaters.
Working with the 300-pound Imax camera created its own challenges. Because there are so few of the cameras available, they were forced into a tight, one-month shooting deadline. The Imax helicopter pilot and crew went from "Space Junk" to start work on "Batman: The White Knight."
The Adler Planetarium in Chicago also will show the film as well as another Melrae production, "3D Sun."
Full story here:
www.startribune.com/business/137290883.html
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3D Sun is a new film which was released in digital 3D theaters beginning in Summer 2007, and will launch in IMAX theaters beginning with the Smithsonian Air & Space's IMAX 3D theater in March 2008. 3D Sun will give audiences the chance, for the first time ever, to see the sun up close in dazzling, high-definition 3D. Leading NASA scientists from the mission unveil these images and take us behind the scenes to tell the story of the Sun and why a greater understanding of this dynamic star is of crucial importance to us all.
Stand above the arctic circle and witness the most brilliant auroras on Earth. Take a ride on a solar blast from Sun's surface to Earth's Magnetosphere. Witness the most powerful explosions in the solar system - equal to the force of a billion megaton nuclear bombs. And find out how these explosions disrupt electronic equipment, create geomagnetic storms and influence weather patterns on Earth.
I look forward to viewing these two new shows soon. Unsure when "SpaceJunk" will be showed, but "3-D Sun" is just a week away...
