posted 11-05-2006 11:59 PM               

Only 12 men in history have walked on the moon and yet there is no personal account of how these historical missions affected each man personally. The Wonder of it All recounts the narrative of their journeys from childhood to the present. The story unfolds as each astronaut talks candidly about his adventure, with never heard statements until now.

This film has been in the making for 2 years. Our goal is to make a humanistic story that shows these remarkable men talking about there lives and how walking on the moon affected each one personally. We have conducted in depth interviews with 7 of the men that made these journeys. With over 12 hours of footage that we shot, we had the painstaking task of narrowing that down to 90 minutes.

• Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11
• Alan Bean, Apollo 12
• Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14
• John Young, Apollo 16
• Charles Duke, Apollo 16
• Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17
• Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17

posted 11-09-2006 08:25 AM               

Greg Schwartz finally issued an "ultimatum" that we could not hold up production any longer to include Mr. Scott. It was painful not to have all missions represented for a while, however when we started to realize what all the other willing moonwalkers had given to us, the pain of non-symmetry melted away.

posted 01-30-2007 02:14 AM               

Roth and his small but experienced team of filmmakers have crafted an entertaining and engrossing documentary that focuses on the human side of the six successful Apollo moon landings.

"The Wonder Of It All" features new interviews with seven moonwalkers: Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Ed Mitchell, John Young, Charlie Duke, Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt. They alone serve as story teller/narrator and its their words that move the film forward.

"The Wonder of it All" is not a linear recounting of the landings, mission by mission. In fact, very little is said of the objectives of each Apollo flight. The focus is instead placed on the astronauts themselves; their common experiences and their different views on similar topics. How did they handle fear? Do they consider themselves explorers? How do they wish to be remembered?

There are stories in "The Wonder Of It All" that I have not heard before. There is new imagery as well, courtesy the astronauts' personal family photo collections. The film primarily keeps the camera on the astronauts, but NASA archival footage is interwoven throughout, illustrating their commentary.

All of the astronauts share a delightful sense of humor, though Young's dry wit is especially memorable, as is his broad smile after sharing a funny story.

The film's tone is at other times poignant. Given that Monday was NASA's Day of Remembrance, it was particularly powerful to hear the moonwalkers reflect on the sacrifices of their fallen colleagues.

Roth and Basta said at the start of the evening that this screening was of great importance to them, as it was arranged to thank NASA for its assistance making their film possible. Afterwards, it was NASA's turn to express their gratitude, as many in the audience approached the filmmakers to express their pleasure with the film. There were Apollo veterans — people who had worked with the moonwalkers directly — who shared that this film had given them a fresh look at their former colleagues.

posted 04-07-2007 12:30 PM               

In attendance will be Alan Bean and John Young. Captain Young will also give a lecture on Saturday the 21st of April:

PRESERVATION and SURVIVAL
Space Exploration & Earth's Future

By Captain John W. Young, USN, Ret.

APRIL 21st, 2007, 10 AM
Radisson Hotel, Newport Beach, CA

posted 04-21-2007 02:34 PM               

I found that this film filled a hole in the history of the space program. Over the years people have lamented how the moon travelers were test pilots and were not able to communicate their feelings and thoughts about the program. Many have written books. In some cases they have done extremely well documenting their thoughts and feelings on paper.

This movie has put the words with the faces. Jeff Roth has allowed us to sit down in the living rooms of Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Ed Mitchell, John Young, Charlie Duke, Gene Cernan, Jack Schmitt, and chat about their experiences. Jeff has really done a great job of engaging the astronauts to bring out a deeper level of intimacy via film that you just can't convey in print.

I found Alan Bean was very funny throughout. Charlie Duke was very warm and my wife's favorite. Gene Cernan was as poignant as ever. Buzz Aldrin opened up a lot and seemed almost vulnerable at times. Ed Mitchell gave us a glimpse of his self and his search for a deeper understanding of our experiences as humans. Jack Schmitt displayed a bit of the adventurer and enthusiasm he has. John Young displayed a bit of his famous dry wit that you have all heard so much about.

The movie is a documentary. It is basically close up head shots of these men sharing their stories for about an hour and a half. There are scenes of their missions well intermixed throughout. I wouldn't categorize this as a date movie, but if you find a significant other that enjoys it half as much you will as a space enthusiast, well, that person is a catch.

This movie is important, and will stand the test of time, and in my opinion be a reference point for generations to come as people look back on the Apollo era.

As a side note, I should relay where Jeff Roth found the inspiration for this film. It was in Burbank, CA. That's right; Jeff was at the Sims Hankow Show in Burbank having lunch when he noticed about three astros several tables away having lunch. He marveled at the people in the restaurant who were oblivious to who was in the room with them.

So, in a sense we should thank Steve and Nolan again for some of the good which has come out of one of their classic shows. These shows, and others like them, are each classic moments in time that we can share and should not be missed by anybody.

Sorry for going on so long. There is more I would like to write about the talks and the John Young lecture today in Newport Beach too. Suffice to say, everything you have heard about John Young being a really funny guy, with a dry sense of humor is true.

posted 04-21-2007 07:20 PM            

A neat part of the evening is that the starting time of the premiere (6:30 PST) was within 7 minutes of being exactly 35 years after the Apollo 16 lunar landing (the landing was at 6:23 PST on 4/20/1972). Even John Young seemed to be surprised about this.

As a humorous side note, the city of Newport Beach gave Alan Bean a proclamation naming April 20 Alan Bean Day. However, they also gave a similar proclamation to John Young. The mayor joked that one got the first half of the day and the other the second half.

John's talk on Saturday morning found him in fine wit.

posted 04-23-2007 02:45 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Aztecdoug:
This movie is important, and will stand the test of time, and in my opinion be a reference point for generations to come as people look back on the Apollo era.

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I hope that this film will be worthy of your praise regarding standing the test of time: I guess we'll find out. We are headed to Houston and the Houston Worldfest this next week to screen "The Wonder of it All" for the festival.

posted 04-23-2007 08:22 PM               

"The Wonder of it All" is a wonderful film interviewing almost all the living moonwalkers (except Armstrong and Scott) and hopefully will be seen around the country near you soon. I personally believe it is better and different than Al Reinhart's "For All Mankind" as it is a interview film and not a talking heads feature. You will enjoy it.

posted 06-14-2007 05:37 PM            

• July 13th - US Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama
  
• August 18th - Museum of Flight, Seattle Washington - Bonnie Dunbar will be introducing the film

posted 09-09-2007 08:42 AM               

The film's official website doesn't have any more details. I'd think that if it were going to be at National Air and Space Museum they would say so. Perhaps it will be outdoors?

posted 10-04-2007 09:10 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
I believe that this screening will indeed be at the National Air and Space Museum's flagship building on the National Mall.

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The Wonder of It All
Special Movie Screening
Saturday, October 13, 8:00 PM
Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater
National Mall Building
Admission: Free, Tickets Required

Join the National Air and Space Society for a special showing of "The Wonder of It All," introduced by Director/Executive Producer Jeffrey Roth. This award-winning 90-minute documentary features interviews with seven moonwalkers who talk about their lives and how walking on the moon affected them personally. Many of the photos in the film were donated by the astronauts from their private collections and have never been seen before.

After the movie, Roth will answer questions about his passion for preserving human spaceflight history and his experiences in making this film.

This is a National Air and Space Society event.

posted 10-05-2007 10:31 AM               

'The Wonder Of It All' Space Film Captures Fresh Moonwalker Stories

President Edmund Burke of Space Information Laboratories, Inc. (SIL) announced today that the critically acclaimed, award-winning documentary, "The Wonder of It All," will have a special viewing open to the public on Saturday, November 17, 2007.

The film, to be shown at the Endeavour Center near Vandenberg Air Force Base, is an 82-minute documentary produced and directed by Jeffrey Roth, that explores the lives of seven of the twelve astronauts who walked on the moon, and the impact that event had on their lives.

"The Endeavour Center Open House and special viewing of the 'The Wonder of it All' space film will motivate students to explore space science and technology," explained Burke. "The film will inspire students, families and the public to appreciate life on Earth, and provide motivation to follow their dreams in pursuing high-tech careers." Burke's organization, SIL, is actively involved in programs that inspire the next generation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and is also a participant of the California Innovation Corridor that is funded by the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative.

"The Wonder of It All" focuses on the "rarely told human side of the men behind the Apollo missions to the Moon," added the film's Executive Producer/Director Jeffrey Roth. "This film weaves the astronauts' insightful interviews with rarely seen private family photos and NASA archival footage to poignantly tell their unique story in their own words."

Described by NBC News Space Analyst James Oberg as having "seamless editing" with a narrative that is "absolutely perfect," it is not surprising that the film took "Winner - Special Jury Award for Documentary from Worldfest, and won Second Place at the Rhode Island International Film Festival. The film delves into the lives and experiences of former astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Edgar Mitchell, Harrison Schmitt, Charles Duke, Eugene Cernan and John Young, and took over two and a half years to produce.

"The Endeavour Center is offering us a great opportunity to see this film," noted California Space Authority (CSA) Media/PR Manager, Wil Simon. "Roth's documentary is a compelling, humanistic story, about how each man was affected in a unique way by walking on the surface of the moon. People love to know what makes a pioneer 'tick' and this film offers a unique perspective on these men."

"The Wonder of It All" has special screenings scheduled for October 13th at the Smithsonian - National Mall in Washington, D.C., October 21st at the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival, and October 22-23rd in Norway at the Bergen International Film Festival.

posted 10-14-2007 06:59 PM               

This is an outstanding documentary that really puts you into the heads and the thinking of seven of the moonwalkers. One speaks after another and it's seamless. As one Astronaut is finishing his sentence another begins to speak. Although they were all interviewed their thoughts run together, it's a really wonderful how the producers did this and it had a nice flow. I thought this film could have been several hours longer and I would not have gotten tired. Hearing the moonwalkers say "IT" in their own words is extremely interesting! They really opened up.

It was also interesting seeing the collections and books they had in their homes or offices. Buzz Aldrin had several models and books behind him.

posted 10-14-2007 07:37 PM               

During the Buzz Aldrin interviews, there were several books on the shelf behind him. At some point during the filming the books "Lost Spacecraft" and "Back to the Moon" were switched out with each other. As the filming of his comments was obviously not in order, it was quite obvious to several of us in the audience to see a different book in place for almost each session.

posted 10-14-2007 08:34 PM               

This rearrangement of the stream-of-consciousness narratives into a cogent, coherent exposition is illustrated by one delightful flub in continuity on the part of the interviewers. As clips from comments by one of the astronauts appear throughout the documentary, the books on a shelf behind him in his study arrange and rearrange themselves back and forth between two different configurations. Clearly, halfway through the interview, the cameraman had the idea to move a moon-related book into a more prominent position.

posted 01-02-2008 10:26 PM               

Here's my "first-impression" take of the film.

posted 01-05-2008 09:17 PM            

The film is a rarity in that it is individually autobiographical with a collective biographical sense of all the participating astronauts. It differs markedly from the competing documentary "In the Shadow of the Moon" by giving us one of the most personal views of the Moonwalkers yet on record.

posted 01-25-2008 09:10 PM               

Roth said his idea, to track down and interview the men who made history from 1969 to 1972 as six of the Apollo missions landed on the moon, was rejected by major movie studios and TV networks.

"They said astronauts talking about themselves and their feelings was not 'manly enough,'" Roth said. "But they said if they can build motorcycles, give us a call."

Unfazed, Roth and co-producer and cinematographer Paul Basta eventually located seven of the nine Apollo men still alive and recorded their stories.

Released six months ago, "The Wonder of it All" is gaining critical acclaim at film festivals around the world, but so far it has not been released to theaters nationwide.

That could soon change.

Roth said they're teaming up with the American Film Institute, which could lead to a distribution deal or a major TV network before being released on DVD.

posted 03-01-2008 09:55 AM               

They're living legends, America's space pioneers who first walked on the moon, and they're telling their individual stories now about their journeys into the outer limits.

Buzz Aldrin, now 78, was born to fly. His father was an aviation pioneer who introduced his son to the skies at age 2. That toddler one day would join Neil Armstrong, the first pair to walk on the moon.

Astronaut Alan Bean was so inspired by the heavens during his trip to the moon that he later resigned from NASA to pursue a lifelong passion for art - becoming the first person to paint the moon and stars from the perspective of someone who has been to another world.

These men are among the seven surviving of nine who walked on the moon, living historical figures who represent America's victory in the space race.

"There are some people who say when people look back at the 20th century five centuries from now, this is the most important thing they will remember, the beginning of humans leaving the Earth and going somewhere else," he said.

"It's sort of like 1492 when people begin to leave Europe and come to the New World. It changed the dynamics of history and this will, too."

Their rarely told tales of the men behind the Apollo missions are now the focus of "The Wonder of It All," a documentary by Sherman Oaks resident Jeffrey Roth, who interviewed seven of the nine surviving moonwalkers.

posted 07-16-2008 10:51 AM               

The movie provides a very personal view of the seven moonwalkers that were interviewed. While I have had the luck of hearing most of the stories the astronauts provided in their interviews, I was surprised by some of the details they provided for this film. Jeff has done an excellent job in letting the astronauts tell their personal stories.

Jeff advised the audience that the movie will have a limited theater release in the near future and then will be released as a DVD in July 2009. Some might understand the connection between the DVD release date and another event that occurred in July about 40 year prior to 2009. The DVD will include more footage and narration of the film by some of the astronauts and the director.

posted 10-09-2008 12:23 AM               

The Wonder of it All - October 16

President and Mrs. George Bush and the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation will host a screening of the documentary film "The Wonder of it All" on Thursday, October 16 at 5:30 pm. Part of the Kay and Britt Rice Lecture Series, the screening will be held at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at the George Bush Presidential Library Center, and a reception will follow. Astronauts from the Apollo space program and the film's director, Jeffrey Roth, will be available to answer questions following the screening. Astronauts currently scheduled to attend the event include Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Eugene Cernan, Charles Duke, Joe Kerwin, Ken Mattingly, and John Young.

Honoring the men who walked on the moon and became heroes to a nation, "The Wonder of it All" uses thoughtful and candid accounts from seven moonwalkers to focus on the rarely told human side of the Apollo missions. In the film, astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Eugene Cernan, Charles Duke, Edgar Mitchell, Harrison Schmitt, and John Young intimately reflect on the training, the tragedies, the camaraderie, and the effect their space travel has had on their families.

The Kay and Britt Rice Lecture Series is an endowed program designed to address emerging topics and current events of interest to members of our international, national, state and local communities. The purpose of the series is to bring to the Texas A&M University campus prominent experts and central figures in current issues of public interest.

"The Wonder of it All" is presented in conjunction with the "Beyond the Moon: NASA's Continuing Mission" exhibit, which is now on display at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum through August 2009. A collaboration between the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, and Space Center Houston, the three-part exhibit examines America's exploration into the final frontier. The LBJ Library and Museum begins with man's fascination with the heavens through the first walk on the moon. The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum continues the story with the end of Apollo, Skylab, the Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station. Large scale models, original shuttle equipment, a shuttle simulator, and interactive programs are just a few of the spectacular items that are displayed. The third part of the story, which will explore the future of NASA, will take place at Space Center Houston.

posted 06-10-2009 10:25 AM               

They will also be releasing the film theatrically, with special screenings planned at NASA's Kennedy and Johnson space centers.

posted 06-10-2009 11:19 AM               

It holds a special meaning for me as after watching this with my wife, Cheryl, she had to go and meet all those astronauts again. For her, it was the "a ha" moment where she "realized" these guys actually walked on the moon.

posted 06-28-2009 09:50 PM               

They also note the bonus features on the DVD:

• Three commentary tracks: Apollo 16 moonwalkers John Young and Charlie Duke with director Jeffrey Roth; Apollo 14 moonwalker Edgar Mitchell with producer Paul Basta; and filmmaker commentary with director Jeffrey Roth and producer Paul Basta

• Apollo 16 John Young presentation given during the world premiere festivities of the film

• Apollo 11 Buzz Aldrin exclusive interview with Miles O'Brien;

• and an outtake reel!

posted 07-29-2009 04:31 PM               

I believe it was described earlier as poignant, and that's how I would describe it as well. When Gene Cernan talks about his last steps on the moon, you can see he is moved by that memory. Or Alan Bean talking about being asked by Pete Conrad to join the Apollo 12 crew, and a number of other moments. I even saw a different side of Buzz Aldrin than you see in more traditional documentaries.