New Footage Part 1: Improved, extended Saturn fly-by

In March 2011, the first footage (vimeo.com/11386048) from Outside In went viral, resulting in 3.8 million hits and 1.3 million plays & media coverage in over 250 countries. Here is an improved, extended version of that footage with unlit side of rings, better color and other small tweaks added.

Created from over 30,000 real photographs taken by the Cassini spacecraft. Master is 5.6k resolution (5600 x 4200 pixels) with all work done in 32-bit floating point color space to preserve
photographs from artifacts.

No 3D models, CGI or texture maps used!

Much thanks to everyone who has supported and contributed to this. This is the beginning, just a taste of incredible things to come.

This is fly-through of this photograph – photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11141 – only a little brightness and contrast has been made to balance the moons with saturn’s body.The saturation is off due to lack of Flash Player ICM support.

This is still a work-in-progress and it’s an art film, not a science film, but as new image data comes down I will tweak this shot for improved accuracy.

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Posted on December 20, 2011 by avatar

Bill Nye “The Science Guy” endorses Outside In

Bill Nye is well known as “The Science Guy” but he is also a scientist, engineer, comedian, author, and inventor. Bill is a man with a mission: to help foster a scientifically literate society. He also happens to be the Executive Director of The Planetary Society, the world’s largest space interest organization co-founded by Carl Sagan. He recently had some inspiring words to say about the film on The Planetary Society’s blog:

We all dream of having the ability to fly. Unlike most people in earlier generations, people living now have dreams of flying in space. Outside In plays your dreams right before your eyes. You’ll soar past our nearby worlds and see for yourself what these extraordinary places look like up close.

It’s not imaginary; this film is created entirely from real images transmitted to Earth from our spacecraft. We built these machines to extend our knowledge beyond our own world. Outside In makes you part of our species’ extraordinary extraterrestrial journeys.

 

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Posted on September 15, 2011 by avatar

Fans of Outside In Speak

Fans of the film have done something as valuable as a big donation – they’ve recorded their thoughts and feelings about the film which will be used to show distributors and theaters what the global audience thinks about Outside In.

We need more – in any language, any quality is fine. For more info on submitting yours (by August 31 end of day), click here.

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Posted on August 29, 2011 by avatar

Send-off to Austin Fundraiser Party Sept. 7th @ Cafe Pasta

The fundraiser in Raleigh went well – we raised about $3000 – but we still need to raise that much more to present the first three minutes of footage to IMAX and giant screen theaters around the world at the Giant Screen Cinema Expo, in Austin, TX, September 18th – 24th.

I will be headed out, film under my arm, to the GSCA Expo and show the clip film to interested and major backers. I’m not at liberty to tell you who they are, but if I did, you’d know.

I’m taking a 30-hour bus journey to Austin, Texas. No flights, first class accommodations or plush amenities for this filmmaker – all the funds are going towards the big expense of recording the three minutes of footage to IMAX film.

Cafe Pasta is generously providing light appetizers and drink specials, including their newest Cassini Martini, named for the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn. Tickets are FREE and you will have a chance to see a portion of the film on HD projection, and mingle and network with others in our creative community, and a chance to support an ground-breaking film.

RESERVATIONS ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED – Only 200 are available. RSVP deadline is Monday, September 5. Don’t miss the best party to kick off the Fall.

RSVP Here: http://event.pingg.com/OutsideInCafePasta

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Posted on August 25, 2011 by avatar

Donor & Supporter Video Testimonials Needed!

We need some donors & supporters willing to record themselves on video in any language and you can use any camera, even a cellphone will do and talk about the film. Hearing from our supporters will make a huge difference to the fundraising efforts. We especially want people from outside Greensboro, NC.

Here’s all you need to know if you’d like to record a short video for Outside In. Again, you can use any camera (e.g. your still camera probably has a video function) but do a short test before to make sure audio and video are okay. Use the highest quality setting the camera offers.

  • Make sure the space is quiet – turn off anything noisy (air conditioner, loud computer etc.), indoors is better.
  • Frame yourself so that we see mostly your face and a bit body (see images below). You can look either directly into the camera or you can have someone off-camera ask you the questions and you can look at them as you answer.
  • Feel free to do multiple takes or have someone there talk to you so you are relaxed and natural. Don’t worry if you stumble etc. – just be yourself. And feel free to say anything (e.g. some people say when they first saw the clips that it did not real i.e. from real photographs). I will edit these and make sure you come across well.
  • You can use your own language (does not have to been in English) and we will subtitle. In facts, it’s BETTER if you speak your native language.
  • You can do it solo or with friends or family.

 

Suggested questions to answer (you don’t have to use all of these and you can make your own):

  1. If you like, state your name (can just be first name), where you are from (can just be city or country), what you do.
  2. How did you hear about Outside In?
  3. What did you feel when you first saw clips from the film?
  4. What appeals to you about the film?
  5. Why did you decide to donate (or support the film)?
  6. What are your plans for seeing the film? (e.g. what theater – it would be great if you could look up the theater by their official name and use that)
  7. What do you like most about the film?

When you have it done, you can use a service like YouSendIt (www.yousendit.com) or upload to as private (password protected) video on Vimeo (www.vimeo.com).

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Posted on August 5, 2011 by avatar

Outside In Fundraiser at IMAX Theater in Raleigh – NEW footage 8/21 @ 5PM

OUTSIDE IN ON THE GIANT SCREEN:

Mark your calendars as new footage from my non-profit film “Outside In“ will be on the giant screen at Wells Fargo IMAX Theatre at Marbles Kids Museum on Sunday August 21st at 5:00pm, followed by a reception and short presentation. Until you’ve seen these amazing images brought to life on 70ft wide, 50ft tall screen with 24,000 Watts of sound, you’ve not seen or heard them at all. And if you are too far away to attend, please let us know anyone you know in the area.

The occasion is the kickoff event of the Summer Fundraiser to support production and promotion of this ground-breaking film. We will be showing stunning new footage, a Q&A, a casual reception and special presentation from space outreach advocates Mike Malaska and Tony Rice. This is a critical time for the film to create a new film-out of the new footage to present to global theaters and distributors at this years international Giant Screen expo in Austin TX.

IMPORTANT FACTS:

  • You must RSVP to this event as soon as possible – seating is limited. If you have not received an Evite, contact us or call 336-315-6081. All donors in NC so far (big thanks to you) should have received one.
  • Please invite anyone you know in NC that you think would help support the film but please let them know this is fundraiser – the goal is raise enough funds to cover the cost of a new filmout of 3 minutes of new footage. Please contact us with their name, email and/or phone number.
  • If you are attending, please arrive a few minutes before 5pm. We have a narrow window in the theater.
  • We will be serving non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks in the reception following the screening.
  • If you are not able to come or don’t live in the area, you can still support our Summer Fundraiser by contributing in the online campaign and/or spreading the word on IndieGoGo here: http://igg.me/p/29650?a=1258&i=shlk

Thanks to all our donors and sponsors – it’s people like you that make a project like this possible.

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Posted on August 3, 2011 by avatar

Stanley Kubrick’s B-day & Launch of Urgent Fundraiser

Kubrick on the set of "2001"

Today would have been Stanley Kubrick’s 83rd birthday. There is a reason that launching a fundraiser today for “Outside In“  is very appropriate.

In 1985, I was at a library in Knoxville, TN watching movies on VHS, trying to catch up on the many films I had missed as a kid. I put in a tape of “2001: A Space Odyssey” and watched it on the tiny 13″ TV.

I was simply blown away. I had no idea movies could be like this — so rich, complex, mysterious and elegant about things that excited me – science, space, exploration, the unknown.

Later, as I studied film and became aware of the craft, “2001” became even more special. The amazing editing, sound design, cinematography, use of music (Kubrick was a pioneer in using existing music as score) was a huge influence on not only me, but generations of filmmakers.

“2001” probably inspired more filmmakers that any other film and is a landmark in cinematic history. Of course, on release it struggled with the critics. But today, it’s one of the most influential films ever made.

The entire concept and execution of “Outside In” is based on what I learned watching and dissecting “2001“. Most importatly, if you want to truly engage an audience on both a primal and intellectual level:  show, don’t say. Cinema is about visuals, sound and music. Not talking or reading. “2001” demonstrates the power of this. Hopefully, “Outside In” can live up to this standard.

That’s why, from the beginning, Outside In is “in memory of Stanley Kubrick”. May he rest in peace but live on the screen forever.

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Posted on July 26, 2011 by avatar

Dark Sky Time-lapse Shoot – Update #1

Colin Legg and his team are in the wilds of Western Australia to shoot incredible dark sky time-lapse footage including 12 days of shooting for Outside In in July. They only have contact other than satellite every few days. Here’s a stunning shot Colin took of the Lunar Eclipse in the Milky Way:

Photo Copyright Colin Legg

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Posted on June 22, 2011 by avatar

Outside In Dark Sky Time-lapse Shoot

Exciting news literally on the horizon…Colin Legg is embarking on a truly ambitious mission to capture stunning dark sky time-lapse footage in the wilds of Western Australia. He’s taking a truly amazing 5 camera rig using high-end DSLR’s and specialized electronics that will capture some of the best dark sky time-lapse footage ever made.

The fantastic part of this (for me) is that he is shooting 12 days of day & night time-lapse footage for Outside In and donating this work to the film. It’s an amazing gift as the footage I originally planned to use was just some stills stitched together – nice stills but pales in comparison of what now will be there.

The Rig with Milky Way: Photo Credit Colin Legg

Colin and I crossed paths on the interwebz via the Timescapes Forum – he was really excited about my film and I loved his work. So we begin chatting about possibilities of him helping the film. After some testing on my part and tons of work, planning and building on he and his team’s part, the expedition is finally a go!

THE SHOOT:

The plan is to shoot a 12 day continous sequence timelapse sequence, 6 days either side of the new moon. Changing light will be tracked as smoothly as possible in camera and all 5 cameras will fire together. Images from each camera will be stitched together to cover 195 degrees of sky. The sequence will be used for the key sequence in Outside In that shows the loss of the night sky over the entire history of human civilization.

THE EXPEDITION:

The shoot will take place in a dry lake bed, Lake Auld, that is basically in the middle of nowhere. It’s about 80 km from the nearest aboriginal community to get supplies and 160 km from nearest mining operation, so there should be zero light pollution.

Location of Shoot (credit Google Earth)

It’s far enough north to escape most southerly winter storm systems but far enough south to avoid tropical lows with a very high chance of clear skies. Of course, nothing is easy especially shooting in the wilds. There could be smoke from fires, sandstorms etc. but hopefully if those occur, they will be brief and maybe even incorporated into the film.

THE TIME-LAPSE RIG:

The rig is built using five Canon 5D Mark II DSLR cameras arranged to capture a full sky dome panoramic time lapse with sophisticated electronics and software to control the cameras during the shoot. The rig allows all camera to fire at once, manages the exposure as light changes from day to night to day. By using five 5 Canon 5D’s, it will give better resolution and lower noise than even 15/70mm film used in IMAX and other giant screen productions.

Colin has a lot of help from key people in pulling this off that I’m also very indebted to.

  • His wife Uta Bauer is a critical member of the team helping with everything Colin can’t handle.
  • David Gargadennec is talented photographer & collaborator on the project. He will be with Colin on the 12 day shoot for the Outside In sequence. He designed and built 5 camera mount, power systems and contributed post processing advice.
  • Thomas Bethell built an 8 camera bulb firing and monitoring micro-controller for the project. He is a pioneer in bulb ramping camera controllers for smoothly tracking light (sunrise/sunset/moonrise/moonset). You can read more about the building of this here.
  • Fred Bruenjes is the developer of Eclipse Orchestrator software used in adjusting camera settings and orchestrating and timing the 12 day sequence. He modified his software to Colin’s needs for the shoot.
  • Carsten Oehring -  Created custom power systems engineering to keep all 5 cameras and supporting gear running.

As I get updates from Colin, I will keep everyone posted. This is a very exciting part of the creation of the film.

 

 

 

Posted in Film, filmmaking, News, space stuff, Supporters, technogeek stuff | 1 Comment
Posted on June 17, 2011 by avatar

Fundraising Update

Interesting things how timings work… I just completed major overhaul of the Team 11 and donation stuff plus added a new corporate sponsorship page today. And, then today, I got two grant rejections and one grant “IMAX film cannot apply” letter.

On the one hand it’s frustrating that Outside In has yet to land a single grant. Film grants in the US almost always go to “socially conscious” films and despite the fact that professional grantwriters have helped rework my applications, the few grants that will allow IMAX films to apply have rejected Outside In multiple times.

Of course, film grants are scarce in the US and most of them refuse to let IMAX films apply – believing that only well-heeled filmmakers make IMAX films despite much letter-writing in protest.

Outside In is, well, too outside-the-box for the usual indie film world, so fundraising will need to be outside-the-box too. Outside In already has impressed people with how much start-up seed money has been raised and the progress so far. Now it’s time to launch the film completely (see the cool rocket launch graphic added to the site).

It’s my mission to keep the film true to the pure vision: to inspire and spark interest in space exploration as way to understand the big questions. It’s also very important that the film reach as many people as possible and that the film sparks many new efforts in outreach, inspiration, dialogue and community building around the world.

You can help, even if you don’t have dime. Start a Team 11. Ask a generous friend to donate. Help find a corporate sponsor. And always continue to spread the word.

The images in the film belong to all humanity, so it’s only fitting that the film is of the people, by the people, for the people.

 

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Posted on June 3, 2011 by avatar