Using spaceflight to get youth excited about science

Armed with the publicity surrounding the recent successful docking of a privately-built space capsule to the International Space Station, a group of filmmakers is preparing to release a film that will be given at no cost to science educators. Their intent is to leverage the excitement of spaceflight to interest young people in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), with an eye to inducing middle- and high-school students to pursue STEM-oriented careers. Having captured the final missions of the Space Shuttle program, and the first launches by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), the film’s producers have amassed a trove of never-before-seen footage that will be combined with astronaut-interviews to complete the film, Space Shuttle & The New Pioneers. Set to release later on this year, the filmmakers are now turning to corporate sponsors, and the public themselves, to get the project wrapped and into schools.

“We’ve received incredible support and personal help from individuals who work for NASA, Disney Imagineering, Sony Pictures and even James Cameron, to make this film happen,” said Space Shuttle producer David Knight. “Now we’re getting people from all walks of life involved through a crowdfunding campaign, and seeking participation by corporations who want to support science education” he continued. The film was shot in 3D using highly portable camera gear, allowing for scenes that couldn’t have been captured previously. Cameras were taken inside the Orbiter, Endeavour, with the astronauts onboard, just prior to her final journey. Similarly, cameras were taken to the launchpads for both the Space Shuttles and the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which has now delivered the first venture-funded spacecraft to the International Space Station. “The space hardware is amazing, but the real stars are the people who made this all happen,” field producer Haley Jackson stated. “With this film we’re letting the engineers, technicians and astronauts tell their stories, their passion and drive jump through the lens and onto the screen,” she continued.

Space Shuttle & The New Pioneers will be offered on 3D Blu-ray disk, DVD in 2D/HD, and to the home via cable and satellite. Special screenings will be held in early 2013 at schools for major contributors to the crowdfunding campaign, which is ‘live’ through June 30^th at Kickstarter.com – for the duration of the campaign visitors to www.spaceshuttlemovie.com will be taken directly to the Kickstarter page. Special items have been provided by fans of the film as awards to ‘Backers’ of the crowdfunding campaign, including signed posters of the shuttle by leading photo-artist Rodney Lough, Jr. and plush ‘Shuttle Bears’ made by a worker at Kennedy Space Center.

Corporations interested in participation, which can include title sponsorship, support of in-school screening events, the film’s premier at the California Science Center, production and distribution of DVDs to schools and museums, the website with activities and extras for students and educators, can contact the producers at 702-696-8412. 

A ‘sizzle reel’ containing excerpts from Space Shuttle & The New Pioneers is at http://youtu.be/5wCQqx_qXnc

Produced by Terbine Entertainment LLC.

Terbine Entertainment LLC

Terbine Entertainment LLC

Terbine produces and distributes content that stimulates our youth about the arts, science, engineering and technology

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