We’re casting in the next week for the two main characters in Mission To Mars – Gail & Stephan. Which’ll be fun.
We’re also soon to sign off on the design for the show and Tim (Polka’s Production Manager) will then start to build it! So I thought you might like to see the latest pictures of Rhys’s model. This is going to be the coolest den I’ve ever had to play in…
The other cool thing we did last week was two days of filming in a green screen studio for the scenes with the four “on-film” characters in the show. Basically, there’s a team of six astronauts travelling to Mars in two vehicles – Firefly 1 (carrying Gail and Stephan – the two “live” actors on stage) and Firefly 2 (carrying Vlatko, Joni, Maggie and Andy – whose scenes are all on video and synced into the show). All the characters are based on real scientists we know or have met.
Anyway… we filmed their scenes last week with our fabulous cast of Alex Elliot, Lucy Ellinson, Sue Ahmet and myself (well, they’re all fab, at least – I’d describe myself as having simply been VERY pleased to be there). Lillie Lindh was on make-up for the two days while the brilliant Lucy Wilson assisted me (directing) and the AWESOME Mic Pool. Mic’s doing the sound and video design for the show and has roughed up some shots with the space ship and other backgrounds imposed on the green screen. And here be the first-draft results.
I cannot tell you HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT BEING IN SPACE!
The crew of Firefly 2 in Mission Control, speaking to Firefly 1 who are seven days into mission
Dr Valtko Vedral explaining how we create artificial gravity
Dr Maggie Effisom-Riddick describing gravity
Crew of Firefly 2 on the launch pad
Dr Joni Spencer in micro gravity
Vlatko in micro gravity
Dr Andrew Newsam in micro gravity
Maggie in micro gravity
Onboard with the crew of Firefly 2
Onboard with the crew of Firefly 2 – superhero ending!
Joni in her private quarters on board Firefly 2, sending a message home
Andy in his private quarters on board Firefly 2, trying to explain how BIG the universe is