posted 02-06-2006 11:06 AM               

nWave Pictures Begins Production on Fly Me To The Moon, the First Computer Generated Feature Film in Real 3D

nWave Pictures, one of the world's largest suppliers of stereoscopic entertainment, has begun production on "Fly Me To The Moon,"" the first computer-animated feature film to be conceived, designed and created in 3D.

Directed by nWave founder Ben Stassen and produced by company president Charlotte Huggins, "Fly Me To The Moon" centers on three tween-aged flies who buck the conventional wisdom that "dreamers get swatted..." and stow aboard the Apollo 11 flight to the moon. The film is a funny, heart-warming journey that includes a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat ride alongside astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. The script was written by Domonic Paris, who will co-executive produce the film with Stassen through his company Illuminata Pictures.

"It's a very cute story about three houseflies who stow away on board Apollo 11, then get into the helmets of Neil and myself on the lunar surface," Aldrin said. "I'm really impressed with the animation I've seen so far.

"At the end I come in -- in live-action -- to say there were no flies on board. Of course, while I'm doing this, I'm swatting at flies buzzing around my head."

posted 07-24-2006 11:48 AM               

Kelly Ripa Joins 'Fly Me To The Moon' All-Star Cast

Kelly Ripa (ABC's "Live with Regis and Kelly") joins an all-star cast for "Fly Me To The Moon," the first-ever feature-length computer generated animated film, conceived and created entirely in 3-D. The film is produced by Illuminata Pictures and nWave Pictures, the production entity responsible for nearly one quarter of all 3-D IMAX films. "Moon" is directed by nWave co-founder Ben Stassen who has created, directed and produced world-famous ride and attraction films, including "Wild Safari" (nWave Pictures Distribution), "Haunted Castle" (nWave) and "Alien Adventure" (nWave). The announcement was made today by Illuminata Pictures co-founder and "Moon" writer / executive producer Domonic Paris.

Stassen comments, "Recent advances in computer technology make it possible to convert 2-D films to 3-D. However, with 'Fly Me To The Moon,' we are taking it a step further by producing every frame in 3-D for the maximum 3-D effect."

Paris says, "With more 3-D films entering the market, such as 'Monster House' and 'Meet the Robinsons,' more theaters are adopting 3-D capabilities. By the time we release 'Fly Me To The Moon' in 2007, we anticipate that there will be approximately 700 specialized digital theaters, while in 2005, there were only 300 3-D theaters available."

Set in 1969, when the NASA space program was in full swing, "Fly Me To The Moon" combines the Apollo 11 mission with the adventures of three young stowaway flies.

Also starring are Buzz Aldrin (former Apollo 11 astronaut), Adrienne Barbeau (HBO's "Carnivale," "The Drew Carey Show"), Ed Begley Jr. ("Six Feet Under"), Tim Curry ("Jumanji," "Scary Movie 2"),Trevor Gagnon ("Big Fish," CBS' "The New Adventures of Old Christine"), Christopher Lloyd ("Back to the Future," "Taxi"), Robert Patrick ("Walk the Line," "Spy Kids") and Nicollette Sheridan ("Desperate Housewives").

Stassen adds, "As the first true 3-D release, 'Fly Me To The Moon' has the incredible benefit that it cannot be pirated, and it also has a larger and longer shelf-life."

The film is an nWave Pictures production in collaboration with Illuminata Pictures, and it is slated to open in an estimated 700 specialized 3-D theaters worldwide in Spring 2007.

posted 02-28-2008 01:09 AM               

Six Flags Flies Audiences to the Moon

Six Flags, Inc. announced today a partnership with nWave Pictures that will bring the excitement of Apollo 11 and the first walk on the moon to millions of park guests this season.

"Fly Me To The Moon-3D," a ride simulation based on the animated feature film releasing this summer, features the voices of Kelly Ripa, Christopher Lloyd and Nicolette Sheridan and will be the featured attraction at 3D theaters at Six Flags Great Adventure, in Jackson, NJ and Six Flags Over Texas, in Arlington, TX.

The fact based fictional film follows three teenaged flies on an incredible adventure as they become part of history - stowing away inside the space helmets of Commanders Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins on the Apollo 11 mission that marked America's first manned landing on the moon.

"Fly Me To The Moon" is the first-ever computer animated feature film designed, created and produced from the first frame, exclusively for the 3D experience. "This innovative film is a great example of the kind of unique, first-run entertainment that our guests have come to expect at the new Six Flags," said Dan Weinberg, Six Flags Vice-President of Entertainment. "The collaboration with nWave allows us to continue the expansion and diversification of our in-park product."

NWave Founder and Director Ben Stassen:

"We applaud Six Flags for thinking outside the box and really seizing the opportunity to expose park visitors to this film. As a company that specializes in 3D production and distribution, we're excited about the new alliance with Six Flags. Their family of parks offer nWave the perfect platform to showcase the recreation of the Apollo 11 flight through the ride film experience that will entertain both adults and children."

"Fly Me To The Moon-3D" debuts Opening Day at each park - March 1 at Six Flags Over Texas and April 5 at Six Flags Great Adventure.

posted 02-28-2008 01:10 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave Clow:
Just curious...what's the value on the collectables market for a flown dead mosquito?

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posted 03-01-2008 12:40 PM               

I'm sure all of the usual promo materials will be available shortly. Count me in for the Buzz Aldrin limited edition autographed 'Fly Me to the Moon' trading card set (No 001 of course) please.

I'm sure we can continue a trivia thread based on what the animators get wrong courtesy the previous post to this one. Who's for the worst fly joke - see last post, I'll bet the scriptwriters have them all already and a thread on the first piece of film related merchandise that is available. (You'll have to be excluded Robert, you probably already have it).

posted 03-01-2008 09:07 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Cliff:
Not sure about this, Dave, but the last time I was at Space Camp, Arabella, the spider used in an experiment on Skylab 3, was on display.

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posted 07-04-2008 09:46 AM               

Cosmosphere to premiere "Fly Me to the Moon"

Come to the Cosmosphere Friday, Aug. 8 for the premiere of its newest IMAX film, "Fly Me to the Moon."

Created by nWave Pictures, "Fly Me to the Moon," an animated feature film, places a whimsical twist on the Apollo 11 mission. Three tween-aged flies get the adventure of a lifetime aboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft with the world's first Moon walkers. Rated G.

posted 07-20-2008 02:22 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by kyra:
No joke, I believe I saw a story in a children's/young adult's space magazine (Odyssey?) about 1985-1986-ish about Apollo 15 having a lone cockroach that had got to ride along in Endeavour.

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posted 08-06-2008 05:29 AM               

The movie is visually stunning. I mean IMAX and 3D animation - you can't beat it. The story line about three adolescent flies that want to hitch a ride to the Moon, well we all would have liked to have done that.

It's a children's movie so the back story about evil Russian flies who try to sabotage the mission is silly and could have been eliminated. It added nothing to the movie and feels out of place now that we've been partnering with these same Russians for years.

If you haven't seen it and want to avoid my complaints, stop reading now. While I hope this movie will encourage young children to study the Apollo program and excite them about the Constellation program, today's teachers will have to educate them on the facts not the movie version.

1. As I mentioned before, the Apollo 11 patch is on the wrong side of the suit.

2. There is no NASA patch anywhere. (Did NASA forbid the use of it's emblem?).

3. The location of dump the flies live in is about the same as the SME gantry at KSC. Way too close.

4. After the Saturn V makes it to orbit the crew goes to bed, the end of a long first day no doubt.

5. The crew arrives at the Moon on day two and only then does it separate the CSM from the SIV-B and dock with the LM.

6. During the landing you see a brief close-up of the gloved hand of the CDR at the controls and the name stenciled on it is "ALDRIN." (Buzz's revenge?)

7. While the poor guys stay in their "hard suits" the entire time, the CDR and the LMP don't wear their helmets while landing on the Moon.

8. Tranquility Base looks an awful lot like the Hadley /Appenines of Apollo 15.

9. While on the Moon the astronauts set up the Flag and then just hop around.

posted 08-06-2008 10:20 PM            

It's just as easy to do the lack of accuracy you describe is disturbing. Making Buzz Aldrin (for whatever reason) the commander of Apollo 11 is certainly an odd choice. If they did everything else right besides this, it still wouldn't make up for this egregious error. Putting the patch on the wrong side of the suit is just a dumb mistake that shouldn't have been made and it shows a complete lack of regard for historical accuracy. I have to wonder just how much research the filmmakers did before they went into productions.

posted 08-06-2008 10:28 PM               

There is also no reason to complain about all the technical mistakes. The Saturn 5 seems to reach orbit without dropping off any stages. In the movie the astronauts reach lunar orbit before attaching the LEM to the Command Module. The kids will just have to "unlearn" this stuff when they grow up: not a big deal, since they already have a lot of that to do anyway.

What is significant about this movie, and makes it a important part of the ongoing debate about the value of human spaceflight and the ongoing effort to get back to the Moon before 2020 (about the time the target audience for this film will be entering college), is that it exists at all. Someone in the film industry thought that the story of first Moon mission was attractive enough to children and their parents to invest real money into making this thing. At a time when fantasy, such as the Narnia movies, are capturing the public imagination and their dollars, the fact that a film about the very unfanciful Apollo program can be made at all is important.

posted 08-11-2008 10:09 PM               

When they walked out in the main area and saw the Apollo 12 Command Module, they were finally able to put the pieces together and understand some of the things I've tried to teach and show them. Yes, there are some inaccuracies like missing NASA patches, and yes it is a bit far fetched that three flies would hitch a ride to the moon but it was great to see them walk away a bit more interested in space exploration and the Apollo 11 mission.

Keep in mind this movie isn't targeted to us - its targeted to kids. If the movie makes a few more kids interested in history and our exploration of the moon and has a few errors, that's fine with me. The kids had a great time, walked away with a better understanding of a fairly difficult subject (for younger kids), and gave dad a much needed smile.

posted 08-15-2008 07:11 AM               

• 'Fly Me to the Moon': mission impossible Baltimore Sun
  
• Animated 3-D flick 'Fly Me to the Moon' looks good, lacks story Plain Dealer
  
• Movie Review: 'Fly Me to the Moon' McClatchy Newspapers
  
• Buggy lunar flight should be aborted Newark (NJ) Star Ledger
  
• 3-D Art Soars, But Lunar 'Toon Plot Won't Fly New York Post
  
• Fly Me To The Moon (2 stars out of 5) Orlando Sentinel
  
• Animated space story doesn't soar Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  
• Movie review: 'Fly Me to the Moon' San Francisco Chronicle
  
• Fly Me to the Moon: C St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  
• Apollo 11 story lifts 'Fly Me' from the pull of boredom Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  
• Fly Me to the Moon": Houston, we have a problem here Seattle Times
  
• Film Review: "Fly Me to the Moon" Universe Today
  
• 'Fly Me to the Moon' should be scrubbed USA Today

The movie's only saving grace is that it might introduce very young audiences to space exploration and NASA's glory days.

— USA Today

But despite the dullness of its main story, the Apollo 11 mission is a thrill, the best part of a mixed bag; it elevates what would otherwise have been a fly-by-night bore into something awe-inspiring in spite of itself.

— Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The nicest thing about the movie is its reverence for the Apollo space program. The 3-D technology is put to good use in a scene showing the effects of weightlessness, and the moon walk is depicted from Neil Armstrong's point of view, as Nat is hidden inside the helmet.

— St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Space exploration needs movies like this to engage and interest the next generation, and with cameo appearances by the likes of Buzz Aldrin only make movies like Fly Me to the Moon more valuable.

— Universe Today

posted 08-16-2008 04:53 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave Clow:
Two of them gave me their autographs. The third one doesn't sign.

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Now that's funny, Dave.

I can see the sequel now..."Spaceflies - The Later Years"

posted 08-24-2008 09:44 PM            

If you are looking for a documentary, this isn't it. For a goofy movie about flies hitching a ride to the moon, it was good fun.

I can see why it has received bad reviews, and the points raised in them are generally correct. The story tries to emulate "A Bug's Life," but the characterizations and script aren't as good, so you care less about the characters and what they do. Still, it keeps a sense of cheesy fun going throughout. I loved the little period details they added to show Florida in 1969.

The 3-D was awesome - not distracting, instead it kept me visually absorbed throughout. I'm a sucker for a good effect used well (and hate it when they are used badly) - and this was nicely done. The sheer wonder of weightlessness was excellently portrayed, and 3-D brought an extra level to it. I was laughing out loud at the fun of it all.

And yes, there were a large number of changes made to what really happened on the Apollo 11 mission. Which in some places felt odd, as they had obviously gone to great effort to capture accurate details in other parts. Nevertheless, for me, it never distracted. Instead, I accepted it as part of the movie's obviously fantasy-premise (flies in homemade spacesuits) and went with it.

I am glad I did. The 3-D portrayals of moments from the Apollo 11 mission (plus a moment from Apollo 10, and a Redstone launch) were wonderful to see in 3-D on a movie screen. It brought the kind of lump to my throat that parts of From the Earth to the Moon and the Apollo 13 movie managed. I ended up not caring about the inaccuracies, as the film-makers nailed a beautiful feeling of the spirit of Apollo 11 - the public interest, the reaction in mission control, and the sheer wonder of landing on the moon.

I doubt there will be many space fans who don't get a little lump in their throat watching the portrayal of the first step on the moon. And the effects of spacecraft orbiting the moon were stunning, in an absorbing "you-are-there" way.

posted 08-25-2008 02:16 PM            

OK, so they got bits of "history" wrong. So what - this is a film about talking flies! How real is it supposed to be?

posted 08-26-2008 11:25 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by kyra:
No joke, I believe I saw a story in a children's/young adult's space magazine (Odyssey?) about 1985-1986ish about Apollo 15 having a lone cockroach that had got to ride along in Endeavour.

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posted 08-31-2008 04:47 PM               

I am willing to forgive the historical oversights of any film, but this movie could not entertain enough to justify the deviation. So it flopped- in many ways. Patch locations on the astronauts' suits did not bother me as much as the misspelled word "authorized personal(sic) only" on a control board.

posted 07-09-2010 07:28 AM            

The theater is included with Museum admission and the films play daily. For more information, click here. Or for a behind the scenes blog post, click here.

Fly Me To The Moon (13:34)
Get ready for a fully immersive space odyssey! Put yourself into the middle of the action for a thrilling ride to the moon! Team up with three teenaged flies and sneak on board the legendary Apollo 11 for a mind-blowing experience that fully engages all your senses. Feel your heart pounding during countdown. Can you escape the smoke and fire that suddenly burst out on the launch pad? Grab on to your seat as the rocket boosters blast you off into space. If you make it through the atmosphere, try to relax... Enjoy an eye-popping view of Earth as you float among the twinkling stars. Soon you will find out how it really feels to set foot on the Moon. A sensational breathtaking experience like you've never sensed before.