Topic: Mission Control (Haviland Digital documentary)
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-31-2016 08:23 AM
"Mission Control: The Men Who Put a Man on the Moon" is a new feature length documentary from the producers of "The Last Man on the Moon."
At the heart of the Apollo program was the special band of brothers in Mission Control. The feature documentary film "Mission Control: The Men Who Put a Man on the Moon" tells their stories, describing the rural homesteads and smokestack towns they came from, and the remarkable team they became.
The film consists of interviews with those who worked in Mission Control and Apollo astronauts, enhanced by stunning VFX, an original orchestral score, and NASA and other archive. The film covers the concepts developed in testing supersonic aircraft, the early days of NASA and the intensity of first journeys to the moon. It shows how the concepts developed in that great era form the foundations of spaceflight today.
A special preview will be shown at Spacefest in Tucson, Arizona, June 9-12, 2016.
Buel Member
Posts: 649 From: UK Registered: Mar 2012
posted 05-31-2016 08:58 AM
This is absolutely incredible news!!!
Rick Member
Posts: 379 From: Yadkinville, NC Registered: Jun 2000
posted 05-31-2016 09:30 AM
And at least one of the associate producers is a heck of a nice guy, too!
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 05-31-2016 09:35 AM
Craig, this is going to "float your boat"... big style.
In October, Space Lectures facilitated an interview with Jim Lovell for the movie.
I sat on the other side of a partition listening to the whole recording: we are all in for a real treat!!
The chap stood behind Jim in the corner of the room like a naughty school boy is his movie "stunt double": Kevin Costner look alike and Jim's makeshift "bodyguard" Andrew McDermott... aka OWL.
In the second photo I captured the moment when the film crew told Jim he was buying the first round!
Buel Member
Posts: 649 From: UK Registered: Mar 2012
posted 05-31-2016 11:01 AM
quote:Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn: Craig, this is going to "float your boat"... big style.
It doesn't take much, Rick!!
quote:Originally posted by Rick: And at least one of the associate producers is a heck of a nice guy, too!
Is it Gerry Griffin then, Rick? 😅
Rick Member
Posts: 379 From: Yadkinville, NC Registered: Jun 2000
posted 05-31-2016 02:44 PM
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice...
mode1charlie Member
Posts: 1169 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
posted 05-31-2016 03:33 PM
Excellent! I won't be able to attend Spacefest due to a schedule conflict, but I look forward to news about other screenings and a general release.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
They had titles such as FIDO, EECOM, RETRO and FLIGHT, and the "go/no go" calls they made led to one of, if not the most, amazing achievements in all of human history. And yet, 50 years later, their names and stories remain largely unknown by the public.
"Mission Control: The Men Who Put a Man on the Moon," a new documentary being previewed for the first time this week, brings the flight controllers from behind the consoles to the front of the cameras.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3118 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 06-06-2016 09:52 AM
It will be interesting to compare this with the 2004 two-part documentary "Failure is Not an Option" on the History Channel. Sadly, one obvious difference will be the depth of the wrinkles...
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-08-2016 02:47 PM
From the filmmakers on Facebook:
Our new poster for our special previews at Spacefest. Looking forward to seeing many of you there.
Buel Member
Posts: 649 From: UK Registered: Mar 2012
posted 06-13-2016 05:21 PM
I expected this movie to be good but it was far, far better than that. Very polished and near perfect.
The ONLY thing that could have been improved in my opinion is if more of the men from the MOCR could have been featured, but I guess there is only so much they can fit in.
Kraft came across very well.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 06-13-2016 05:58 PM
How much of the movie was shown?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-14-2016 08:57 AM
The complete film was screened. It was finished just a week before Spacefest.
According to the filmmakers, it will still be some time before it is available for others to view as they now look towards film festivals and distribution, but they were very happy to share the sneak preview with the Spacefest attendees and guests.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 06-14-2016 01:37 PM
Awesome!
David Carey Member
Posts: 782 From: Registered: Mar 2009
posted 06-14-2016 02:21 PM
An excellent film - having several of the controllers present at the screening made it even more special.
moonguyron Member
Posts: 191 From: Trinity, FL USA Registered: Jan 2011
posted 06-15-2016 06:44 PM
I made the mistake of leaving Spacefest without a copy of "Mission Control." Can anyone tell me how to order copies? Thanks.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-16-2016 12:38 AM
"Mission Control" was not for sale at the show. The film has not yet been released. The screenings were a special sneak preview for attendees.
Rick Member
Posts: 379 From: Yadkinville, NC Registered: Jun 2000
posted 06-22-2016 10:09 AM
Spacefest was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I'd like to very sincerely thank producers Keith Haviland and Gareth Dodds and director David Fairhead for their belief in and commitment to this project.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I began to get a bit emotional as the room began to fill up for the first showing. And it WAS a full house!
As the opening credits began to roll, it really hit. This wasn't a dream after all. That's when the tears REALLY began to roll. Best of all, my co-author Milt Heflin was sitting right in front of me... and he was wiping his eyes, too!
The first showing was attended by Glynn Lunney, Gerry Griffin and Chuck Deiterich, along with their wives. Former flight controllers Dutch von Ehrenfried and Jim Joki were also there, despite not being featured in the film. All seemed to truly enjoy the film.
It is my understanding that Rick Armstrong — Neil's son — attended the second screening. And then, following the formal banquet Saturday night, Alan Bean walked into the room for a showing that finally began at around 10:30 p.m.
When the film concluded, Alan stuck around for a bit of the Q&A session that followed. As he got up to leave, he shook my hand and said, "Beautiful film... absolutely beautiful."
Yeah... THAT was a good moment.
neo1022 Member
Posts: 281 From: Santa Monica, CA Registered: Jun 2013
posted 06-22-2016 12:53 PM
Rick, fantastic job on the film and the book. So gratifying to see the "earthbound astronauts" getting the recognition they so richly deserve...
wdw Member
Posts: 58 From: Scotland Registered: May 2007
posted 06-23-2016 01:33 PM
The director, David Fairhead, has become a bit of an Apollo buff over the past decade having edited productions like "In The Shadow Of The Moon," "Moon Machines" and now this.
I got to sit in on the late night showing at Spacefest and enjoyed it thoroughly. Despite the long day, I never even threatened to drop off. A film like this has to hit all the usual beats of any Apollo doc (Apollos 1, 8, 11, 13) but its approach was informative, refreshing and done with a solid skill in storytelling. It also has that Fairhead trademark of not being over-cut like many other docs are and that gentler pace of editing works for me. A keeper.
Rick Member
Posts: 379 From: Yadkinville, NC Registered: Jun 2000
posted 06-24-2016 09:04 AM
David, thank you very much for those kind words. As I said in my book presentation, I should probably be glad that there were a few thousand miles of ocean between David and I as he pieced the film together. I wanted to keep adding this... and this... and this... and this. Some things he did, others he didn't.
And I'm fine with that. In the end, I truly do believe that he and the rest of the team have put together a very, very good product.
Stafford Museum New Member
Posts: 3 From: Weatherford Registered: Jun 2016
posted 06-27-2016 08:55 AM
We have a section of the Apollo era Mission Control console on display at the Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford, OK. More than 20 Southwestern Oklahoma State University graduates have worked at Mission Control in Houston.
Rick Member
Posts: 379 From: Yadkinville, NC Registered: Jun 2000
posted 06-27-2016 10:59 AM
Including the one and only John Aaron, Mr. SCE to Aux himself ... and a featured flight controller in the film!
Rick Member
Posts: 379 From: Yadkinville, NC Registered: Jun 2000
posted 07-20-2016 10:24 AM
Today is the forty-seventh anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. To honor the occasion, please enjoy the very first trailer for Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo!
Buel Member
Posts: 649 From: UK Registered: Mar 2012
posted 07-21-2016 05:29 PM
I've just watched this and I'm still shaking my head in disbelief. What a film and what an achievement!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-16-2016 10:12 AM
"Mission Control" will be screened on Oct. 29 at The Explorers Club in New York City as part of their annual Space Stories event.
1 - 3 p.m. Screening a new movie about NASA called "Mission Control"
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-08-2017 06:56 PM
The world premiere of "Mission Control" will be at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin, Texas.
We are thrilled that our movie has been selected for the SXSW Film Festival 2017, which runs from 10th to 19th March in Austin, Texas. We can now start sharing this incredible story.
We will confirm dates and times of screenings as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing some of you there!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
A new feature length documentary about the NASA team that guided the United States' early astronauts into space and onto the moon has been given a "go" to launch into movie theaters this spring.
"Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo," directed by David Fairhead and produced by Keith Haviland and Gareth Dodds of Haviland Digital, will arrive in select U.S. theaters and be available through video on demand (VOD) services on April 14, through a distribution deal announced with Gravitas Ventures on Thursday (Feb. 23).
"Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo" is also now available for pre-order on iTunes.
ColinBurgess Member
Posts: 2031 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003
posted 02-25-2017 06:52 PM
A commemorative paperback edition of "Go, Flight!" is being released by the University of Nebraska Press to coincide with the release of the "Mission Control" documentary, which is based on the book. Yet another honour for Rick Houston and his co-author Milt Heflin. Look for both these gents at Spacefest VIII in Tucson in June.
Rick Member
Posts: 379 From: Yadkinville, NC Registered: Jun 2000
posted 02-25-2017 07:02 PM
With a brand-new epilogue!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-16-2017 03:44 PM
From the filmmakers on Facebook:
HOUSTON: we have cleared the launch tower.
Our "Mission Control" movie had its global premiere at SXSW in Austin on Tuesday (March 14). Glynn Lunney and Jerry Bostick led the enthusiastic Q&A, and received an ovation.
There is one more chance to see our film in Austin on March 18, 2:30 p.m. at the Zach theatre. We expect special guests. You can also pre-order on iTunes and Vimeo.
Rick Member
Posts: 379 From: Yadkinville, NC Registered: Jun 2000
posted 03-17-2017 07:37 AM
In celebration of the film's premiere at the South by Southwest film festival, it will be available this weekend — March 17-19 — for only $6.99 on iTunes! It will be released April 14.
bthumble Member
Posts: 267 From: Houston, Texas Registered: Nov 2007
posted 03-17-2017 05:21 PM
Thanks for the heads up. Just pre-ordered mine on iTunes.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-21-2017 12:16 PM
Space Center Houston release
Be there for Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo's premiere!
Join us for an exciting VIP opportunity and become a part of history in the making.
Space Center Houston is hosting Houston's exclusive premiere of Haviland Digital's newest blockbuster release "Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo" before it hits movie theaters nationwide.
Join us to experience an unforgettable cinematic event featuring the trials and tribulations that played out in our very own backyard and enjoy a panel discussion with all four Apollo Program flight directors after the film.
Tuesday, April 11
5:15 p.m. - Doors open
6 p.m. - Film begins
7:45 p.m. - Reception
8 p.m. - Special Q&A with Apollo Program flight directors
Posts: 140 From: Middletown, NJ, USA Registered: May 2010
posted 03-22-2017 12:54 PM
Was at the Explorers Club back in October when they aired the film. It was excellent and very well appreciated by the knowledgeable audience. It was great to have the British film producers there too. Learning how Chris Kraft set things up and was tough on his guys "because they liked it" was memorable.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-29-2017 03:46 PM
From the filmmakers:
Our official website is now here. Check it out for exclusive content, character bios and our new shop.
The shop includes the movie poster, t-shirt, pre-orders for the DVD and Blu-ray, and bundles including a signature patch and special edition photo book.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-31-2017 02:03 PM
From the filmmakers:
From April 14th, our movie will be available in selected theaters, and on global and US video-on-demand platforms. This infographic shows where.
Larry McGlynn Member
Posts: 1255 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003
posted 03-31-2017 06:52 PM
I cannot wait. Saw the rough cut of the film in Tucson last year. Now I want to see the final cut.
Buel Member
Posts: 649 From: UK Registered: Mar 2012
posted 04-01-2017 07:41 AM
I don't know if you were at the screening when the Flight Controllers/Directors were there but that was really something else!!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-01-2017 02:50 PM
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex release
Passholder Preview of Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo
April 12, 2017 Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Florida
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex annual passholders are invited to a preview screening of "Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo" at Astronaut Encounter Theater. Passholders are welcome to attend the preview with one guest on a first-come, first-served basis and no RSVP is required.
At the heart of the Apollo space program was the team who worked in Mission Control. Through the team's testimony and with supporting voices of astronauts and contemporary NASA leaders, "Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo" tells the story of how a group of Americans from ordinary backgrounds became an extraordinary team during the space race, supporting NASA's Project Mercury, Project Gemini and the Apollo missions to the moon.
posted 05-31-2016 08:23 AM
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