posted 06-25-2012 06:52 PM               

Capturing the Final Frontier

NASA Animation and the Movies

Presented by the Academy's Science and Technology Council

Hosted by Frank Marshall

When NASA missions cross the universe, they also create and rely on virtual voyages using animations to create amazing sights far beyond live-action footage. More than a cutting-edge film technique, animations open up a window to worlds beyond imagination.

In this unforgettable event, take a journey through the space program's breakthroughs in animations with NASA JPL animator Eric De Jong, who began his career creating Voyager animations on the Evans & Sutherland equipment of animation pioneer Jim Blinn. The evening features a look at Mars rover Curiosity animations in anticipation of its landing on the Red Planet in August.

NASA animators and image specialists regularly take these visual concepts a step further by joining forces with Hollywood filmmakers to create new wonders for the big screen. "Capturing the Final Frontier" will examine some of these collaborations, exploring the documentary films "Hubble 3D" (2010) and "Roving Mars" (2006) along with feature films "Mission to Mars" (2000) and the Oscar-nominated "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (2011).

The program will include film clips and conversations with filmmakers and NASA animators and scientists including:

• Eric De Jong – Principal Investigator, Solar System Visualization Project

• Scott Farrar – Visual Effects Supervisor, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"

• Bobbie Faye Ferguson – Director of Multimedia, Dept. of Homeland Security (formerly NASA Public Affairs Multimedia Manager)

• Tom Jacobson – Producer, "Mission to Mars"

• Dave Lavery – NASA Program Executive, Solar System Exploration

• Dan Maas – Art and Technical Lead, "Roving Mars"

• Lisa Malone – Director of Public Affairs, NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center

• Toni Myers – Director, "Hubble 3D".

• Dr. Frank Summers – Astrophysicist, Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute

• Bert Ulrich – Liaison, Multimedia Film and TV Collaborations, NASA Headquarters

Frank Marshall, one of the producers of "Roving Mars," has earned Oscar nominations for producing five Best Picture nominees: "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981), "The Color Purple" (1985), "The Sixth Sense" (1999), "Seabiscuit" (2003) and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008). His recent credits include "Hereafter" (2010) and "War Horse" (2011). He is currently working on "The Bourne Legacy," due to be released in August.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Ticketed seating is unreserved.

$5 general admission/$3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID (limit 2 at the discounted price).