New York, NY (Top40 Charts) "We are thrilled that 'Space Next' will be seen at the Museum of Flight by NewSpace 2016 conference delegates - because the movie's message is that space research, industry and exploration are alive and well in the 21st Century global community," said director Luke Ployhar of Afterglow Studios (Minneapolis).
The Museum of Flight, a Smithsonian affiliate, dedicated its entire June 18 film schedule to premiere 'Space Next' in 4K stereoscopic 3D CGI, and the opening was timed to coincide with the NewSpace conference of entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers and policy leaders, held by the Space Frontier Foundation. At two of the premiere screenings (open to the public), 'Space Next' director Ployhar - a seasoned Hollywood filmmaker and effects artist whose credits include 'Minority Report' - will introduce the film and show how scenes were created. Ticket & schedule information: click here
Museum of Flight CEO Doug King said, "'Space Next' fits the Museum's commitment to be the foremost educational air and space museum in the world. It is a perfect fit for attendees and fans of the NewSpace conference, and for young people inspired by the subject matter."
"These deep space missions, robotics, satellites, space tourism, life changing science breakthroughs and data visualization may seem like science fiction, but are part of modern-day reality," said Tina Ratterman of BIG & Digital, Las Vegas-based distributor of 'Space Next.' "'Space Next' was designed to engage and inform the public and serve STEAM education with a realistic picture of our present and future in space."
Cutting edge digital cinema
'Space Next' is a movie on the frontiers of cinema as well as space. It was produced in realistic, digital animation to screen on the world's IMAX® and Giant Screen Theaters and most advanced cinema systems - ultra-high resolution and custom immersive theaters most often found in science museums and state-of-the-art planetariums. It was formatted to accommodate multiple digital platforms in 2D, 3D, flat-screen and Fulldome, and resolutions up to 8K. (In comparison, high-end commercial cinema has not yet surpassed 4K resolution.)
Modern aerospace
'Space Next' first summarizes the history of space exploration, which was primarily government-led through the end of the NASA shuttle program in 2011. Then the movie delves into the rich variety of modern-day government and private industry activity on today's space frontiers.
"We worked with leading scientists and consultants from NASA and other institutions,'" said Luke Ployhar. "'Space Next' presents actual possibilities of what lies in the future of space development."
Among the aerospace innovators covered in 'Space Next':
Bigelow Aerospace (Las Vegas) - as widely reported in the news, its pioneering space station design with inflatable modules was field tested on the International Space Station on June 3, 2016
SpaceX (Hawthorne, CA) - private developer of space vehicles, frequently in the news (recently successfully landed a rocket on a drone barge as proof of concept for reusable rockets)
NASA - Satellites have advanced the study and understanding of space and weather phenomena with unprecedented levels of image capture and data visualization
Global exposure
'Space Next' is screening at
Tycho Brahe Planetarium in Copenhagen,
National Infantry Museum (Columbus GA), US Space and Rocket Center (Huntsville AL), and Johnson Geo Centre (St. John's, NL, Canada) in addition to Museum of Flight. It is rolling out at additional venues in North America, Europe, Asia and Japan.
Space Next run times include 38 and 25 minutes. The film is supported with a comprehensive marketing campaign and includes a 23-page Educator's Guide with activities to support Next Generation Science Standards and STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math).
Afterglow Studios, producer of 'Space Next'
Afterglow Studios is a multi-media content provider comprised of highly talented Artists, Designers, Animators and Programmers working in tandem to create images that inspire. Clients include International Paper, Target, Best Buy, Indycar, Showtime Networks, Honeywell, Fox, Audi, Buell, Indy Lotto, Purina, Disney, Touchstone
Pictures and many more. Afterglow Studios founder Luke Ployhar is a veteran of Hollywood filmmaking and a special effects artist whose credits include "Planet of the Apes" and "Minority Report." Visit https://www.afterglowstudios.com.
BIG & Digital, distributor of 'Space Next'
BIG &
Digital is a Boutique Distributor of Films for Museums, Attractions and Cinemas in 15/70mm, 2K and 4K Digital, IMAX® Digital, Fulldome, Blu-Ray and DVD. BIG &
Digital has worldwide distribution rights of all formats of "Space Next." Sub-Distribution Partners include Evans & Sutherland (Fulldome worldwide, excluding Japan) and D&D
Pictures (Fulldome and Flat Screen in Japan). Other titles in the BIG &
Digital library of special venue cinema include Dragons and Watermelon Magic. Visit https://www.biganddigital.com or follow BIG &
Digital on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
The Museum of Flight
Founded in 1965, the independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, serving more than 560,000 visitors annually. The Museum's collection includes more than 160 historically significant airplanes and spacecraft. Attractions include the world's only full-scale NASA Space Shuttle Trainer. The Museum's aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 150,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum's on-site and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Visit https://www.museumofflight.org
