Mission Control

New movies: Vin Diesel. The Rock. Charlize. ‘Fate of the Furious’

These are the films showing in Brevard and Indian River counties April 14-20, 2017.

Film Title: The Fate of the Furious

Opening Friday, April 14

“The Fate of the Furious” (PG-13): When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of crime and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before. Starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Charlize Theron. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square, Majestic, AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Indian River 24, Satellite Cinemas-Satellite Beach, Satellite Cinemas-Titusville

“Spark: A Space Tail” (PG): Spark, a teenage monkey and his friends, Chunk and Vix, are on a mission to regain Planet Bana – a kingdom overtaken by the evil overlord Zhong. Voiced by Jessica Biel, Hilary Swank, Patrick Stewart and Susan Sarandon. Movie theater: Cinemaworld

“Gifted” (PG-13) not reviewed: Frank, a single man (Chris Evans) raising his child prodigy niece Mary, is drawn into a custody battle with his mother. Also starring Octavia Spencer. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square, Majestic, AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Indian River 24

“Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo” (not rated): At the heart of the Apollo program was the special team in Mission Control who put a man on the moon and helped create th future. Movie theater: Premiere Theaters Oaks 10

“Tommy’s Honour” (PG): In every generation, a torch passes from father to son. An intimate, powerfully moving tale of the real-life founders of the modern game of golf. Movie theaters: Majestic, AMC Indian River 24

Opening Thursday, April 20

“The Promise” (PG-13): Set during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, The Promise follows a love triangle between Michael, a brilliant medical student, the beautiful and sophisticated Ana, and Chris – a renowned American journalist based in Paris. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square,

“Phoenix Forgotten” (PG-13): 20 years after three teenagers disappeared in the wake of mysterious lights appearing above Phoenix, unseen footage from that night has been discovered, chronicling the final hours of their fateful expedition. Movie theaters: Premiere Theaters Oaks 10

“Unforgettable”: A woman sets out to make life hell for her ex-husband’s new wife. Starring Katherine Heigl, Rosario Dawson. Movie theaters: Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Cinemaworld

Disneynature’s “Born in China” (PG): Film follows the stories of three animal families, transporting audiences to some of the most extreme environments on Earth to witness some of the most intimate moments ever captured in a nature film. Movie theater: Cinemaworld

Now showing, April 14-20

“Boss Baby” (PG) ★★★: A suit-wearing briefcase-carrying baby (voiced by Alec Baldwin) pairs up with his seven-year old brother to stop the dastardly plot of the CEO of Puppy Co. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square, AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Indian River 24, Satellite Cinemas-Satellite Beach, Satellite Cinemas-Titusville

“Beauty and the Beast” (PG) ★★: An adaptation of the Disney fairytale about a monstrous-looking prince and a young woman (Emma Watson) who fall in love. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square, Majestic, AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Indian River 24, Satellite Cinemas-Satellite Beach, Satellite Cinemas-Titusville

“The Case for Christ” (PG): An investigative journalist and self-proclaimed atheist sets out to disprove the existence of God after his wife becomes a Christian. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square, Majestic, AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Indian River 24

“Get Out” (R) ★★★: A young African-American man visits his Caucasian girlfriend’s mysterious family estate. Starring Catherine Keener and Daniel Kaluuya. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, AMC Avenue 16, AMC Indian River 24

“Ghost in the Shell” (PG-13): In the near future, Major is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals. Starring Scarlett Johannson. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Merritt Square, AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Indian River 24, Satellite Cinemas-Satellite Beach, Satellite Cinemas-Titusville

“Going in Style” (PG-13) ★★½: Desperate to pay the bills and come through for their loved ones, three lifelong pals risk it all by embarking on a daring bid to knock off the very bank that absconded with their money. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square, Majestic, AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Indian River 24, Satellite Cinemas-Titusville

“Kong: Skull Island” (PG-13) ★★★★: A team of explorers and soldiers travel to an uncharted island in the Pacific, unaware that they are crossing into the domain of monsters, including the mythic Kong. Starring Tom Hiddleston. Movie theaters: Merritt Square, AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Indian River 24, Satellite Cinemas-Titusville

“Life” (R) not reviewed: An international space crew (with Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds) discovers life on Mars. Movie theaters: Merritt Square, AMC Indian River 24

“Logan” (R) ★★★: In the near future, a weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) in a hideout on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Merritt Square, AMC Avenue 16, AMC Indian River 24

“Power Rangers” (PG-13) ★½: A group of high school kids, who are infused with unique superpowers, harness their abilities to save the world. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Merritt Square, Majestic, AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Indian River 24, Satellite Cinemas-Titusville

“The Shack” (PG-13) not reviewed: A grieving man receives a mysterious, personal invitation to meet with God at a place called “The Shack.” Movie theaters: AMC Avenue 16, AMC Indian River 24

“Smurfs: The Lost Village” (PG) not reviewed: In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting race through the Forbidden Forest leading to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square, Majestic, AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Indian River 24, Satellite Cinemas-Satellite Beach, Satellite Cinemas-Titusville

“T2: Trainspotting” (R) not reviewed: After 20 years abroad, Mark Renton returns to Scotland and reunites with his old friends Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie. Starring Ewan McGregor and Ben Skelton. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, AMC Indian River 24

“The Zookeeper’s Wife” (PG-13) ★★★: The story tells the account of keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski, who helped save hundreds of people and animals during the German invasion. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square, Majestic, AMC Avenue 16, AMC Indian River 24

Special showings, April 14-20

“Hello, Dolly!” will be shown at 2 and 7 p.m. April 16 and 19 at Premiere Theaters Oaks 10. Tickets are $5.35.

“An Affair to Remember” will be shown at 2 and 7 p.m. April 23 and 26 at Premiere Theaters Oaks 10. Tickets are $5.35.

“Double Indemnity” will be shown at 2 and 7 p.m. April 30 and May 3 at Premiere Theaters Oaks 10. Tickets are $5.35.

National Theatre Live: “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” with Daniel Radcliffe, Joshua McGuire and David Haig will be shown at 2 and 7 p.m. April 20 at Cinemaworld and Majestic. Tickets are $21.40.

Continued showings

“Hidden Figures,” “Lion,” “La La Land,” “Chips,” “Before I Fall,” “Personal Shopper,” “A United Kingdom” will be shown at AMC Indian River 24.

Planning ahead

April 22

• The Metropolitan Opera presents “Eugene Onegin” at 12:55 p.m. April 22 at AMC Avenue 16, Merritt Square 16, and AMC Indian River 24. Tickest are $23.55-$27.83.

• “Eugene Onegin” will be shown at 12:55 p.m. April 22 and 7 p.m. April 25 at Majestic. Tickets are $26.75 for adults, $21.40 for students.

April 23

TMC presents “The Graduate,” 50th Anniversary, at 2 p.m. at AMC Avenue 16 April 23 and at 2 and 7 p.m. at AMC Indian River 24 April 23. Tickets are $13.38.

April 25

“Chonda Pierce: Enough” will be shown at 7 p. April 25 at AMC Avenue 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, and AMC Indian River 24. Tickets are $16.05.

Manderville is FLORIDA TODAY’s community content specialist.

Contact Manderville at 321-242-3613

or lmanderville@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @lumanderville

------

Movie theaters in Brevard

• AMC West Melbourne 12: 4255 Norfolk Parkway, West Melbourne, at Hammock Landing. Call 321-369-7884 or visit amctheatres.com.

• AMC Avenue 16: 2241 Town Center Ave., Melbourne, at the Avenue Viera. Call 321-775-1210 or visit amctheatres.com.

• Cinemaworld: 4345 W. New Haven Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-4143 or visit cwtheaters.com. Tweet@cwtheaters

• Cobb Theatres Merritt Square 16 (Cobb Theatres): 777 E. Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, inside Merritt Square Mall. Call 321-459-3737 or visit cobbtheatres.com. Tweet @cobbtheatres

• Premiere Theaters Oaks 10: 1800 W. Hibiscus Blvd., Melbourne. Call 321-953-3200 or visit oaks10.com. Tweet @oaks10

• Satellite Beach Cinemas: 1024 SR A1A, Satellite Beach, in the Atlantic Plaza. Call 321-777-3778 or visit satellite-cinemas.com.

• Satellite Cinemas Titusville: 3550 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, inside Searstown Mall. Call 321-269-0533 or visit satellite-cinemas.com.

Movie theaters in Indian River County

• AMC Indian River 24: 6200 20th St., Vero beach. Call 772-563-2933 or visit amctheatres.com. Tweet@amctheatres

• Majestic 11 by Cinemaworld: 970 16th Place, Vero Beach. Call 772-978-7188 or visit cwtheaters.com. Tweet @majesticvero

New on DVD

Released April 11: “Lion,” “Hidden Figures,” “Toni Erdmann”

April 18: “The Founder,” “Split”

April 25: “La La Land,” The Girl with All the Gifts,” “Mean Dreams”

May 2: “I am Not Your Negro,” “The Salesman,” “The Red Turtle”

May 9: “A Street Cat Named Bob”

June 27: “The Autopsy of Jane Doe”

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 17th Apr

Apollo 13: celebrating the unsung heroes of mission control

ARTICLE BY: ROBIN MCKIE

Ahead of a new documentary about Nasa’s ground crews, astronaut Jim Lovell talks about the team that saved his life during 1970’s ill-fated moon mission

Jim Lovell (right) and Buzz Aldrin after their Gemini 12 flight, 1966. Photograph: Bettmann Archive

It is unlikely there is anyone who has more appreciation for the work of Nasa’s mission control than Captain Jim Lovell. His Apollo 13 mission was nearly destroyed when an oxygen tank in its main command module exploded. His spaceship was crippled and only narrowly coaxed to a safe return to Earth thanks to his crew’s heroic efforts – and the crucial aid of mission control.

Lovell was commander of Apollo 13 but was forced to abandon his mission’s planned lunar landing when the blast, which occurred 200,000 miles from Earth and two days into its journey in April 1970, triggered a major loss of power. Cabin heating stopped working, the water supply was disrupted and carbon dioxide began to build up. Lovell and crewmen Jack Swigert and Fred Haise were facing death.

These tribulations were recorded in Ron Howard’s film Apollo 13 (in which Tom Hanks played Lovell) and now form one of the key moments in the new documentary Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo. The film includes several gripping moments in mission control’s history, including the nail-biting lunar landing of Apollo 11 in July 1969. But none of these scenes of high drama matches the tensions that erupted when Swigert called mission control on 13 April 1970 to report: “Houston, we’ve had a problem here.”

Tom Hanks as Lovell in Ron Howard’s 1995 film Apollo 13.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest

Tom Hanks as Lovell in Ron Howard’s 1995 film Apollo 13. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo

Oxygen was being vented into space and the craft’s electronics were failing. “We were facing all sorts of problems, but the one that really stood out was the danger of carbon dioxide build-up,” Lovell told the Observer. “We exhale carbon dioxide and if it is not removed from the air in a cabin it becomes poisonous in high concentrations and we were heading in that direction. But we had no power. It could have killed us.”

That is where mission control really came into its own, he said. “The crew systems people came up with an ingenious way to remove the carbon dioxide by telling us how we could jury-rig the craft’s lunar module [which was supposed to carry Lovell and Haise to the moon’s surface] with duct tape, plastic and cardboard.”

Advertisement

The Apollo 13 crew followed these instructions and, huddled in the lunar module for the next four days, were able to survive as the craft swung round the moon and swept back to Earth. “We got back thanks to mission control and to our own efforts,” he said. “It was, above all, great teamwork.”

Jim Lovell, who is now 89, was already an experienced astronaut when he commanded Apollo 13. He had flown on two Gemini missions and was an astronaut on Apollo 8 with Frank Borman and William Anders. They orbited the moon 10 times before returning safely to Earth on 27 December 1968. In doing so, they became the first human beings to fly to the moon. Apollo 8 was a problem-free flight in contrast to his next mission, Apollo 13. Indeed, Apollo 13’s failure to reach the lunar surface puts Lovell in a unique position: he is the only person to fly to the moon twice but never land on it. (John Young and Eugene Cernan flew to the moon twice but both landed on their second missions.)

“It was frustrating and very disappointing at the time,” Lovell recalled. “But over the years, I have come to the conclusion that the accident was the best thing that could have happened to Nasa. It had become complacent after a stream of early Apollo successes. Suddenly, there was a potential catastrophe that brought out the fact spaceflight is inherently dangerous. It also highlighted the wonderful leadership and mission control team that we had. For those facts, it was a blessing in disguise.”

This point is emphasised in Mission Control, which also reveals how young the ground staff were. The average age was 29 and many had come straight from college. “Yet they did magnificently,” Lovell said.

They are likely to be needed again, if the Apollo veteran gets his way. “We had hardly begun to explore the moon when the Apollo missions were cancelled. We now have a rocket [the Space Launch System] and a capsule [the Orion] in development and we should use those to go back to the moon with some frequency.

“We need to build an infrastructure on the moon before we can even consider sending people to Mars. People think Mars is the next big thing but we haven’t done the moon properly yet. We need to go back. And when we go back, we are going to need the best people in space but also on the ground, in mission control.”

Mission Control is now available On Demand http://missioncontrol.movie/

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 16th Apr

Documentary Spotlights Apollo-Era NASA Flight Controllers

Flight controllers at NASA during America’s race to the moon were able to solve problems as they appeared during each mission. Many of them say we need a new commitment from Washington to give direction to America’s space program. A new documentary profiles the team that worked in NASA’s Mission Control to put humans on the moon.

Ed Mayberry

“Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo” doesn’t tell the story through the eyes of astronauts, as usual, but through the eyes of the flight controllers at Johnson Space Center. Apollo Flight Director Gerry Griffin says the moon landing happened because of the support they felt from leadership.

“We had people, starting with John F. Kennedy and then two other presidents during Apollo, and all the way down — both sides of the aisle at Congress — they backed us. They were committed. So with leadership and commitment you can do something like go to the moon. And frankly, we haven’t had that.”

Apollo Flight Director Gene Kranz:

“And this was at a time when our country had many of the same problems that we have right now. And our nation stepped up to accept the challenge — not only to go to the moon, but win the battle for space. And this was a group of unsung young people who sat at the consoles and made it happen.”

Retired flight controllers were on hand for the premiere of the movie at Space Center Houston. Its release coincides with the launch of a fundraising campaign to help restore Mission Control to its original state during the Apollo program. A great deal of trust was placed on the work of these flight directors. One of them was Glynn Lunney, who says that trust helped form a team.

“Our leaders trusted us to do things. ‘We trust you guys. You do what you have to do and we’ll back you up.’ And that’s the way it was, and we worked hard for them. When you get trust like that, you work very hard to be sure you’ve earned it.”

Director David Fairhead says decisions made in the political environment of the 60’s ultimately made his film making job easier.

“The great thing about it, as well, is that NASA, in their incredible wisdom, decided that they would cover everything because the Soviet space system was closed. They didn’t want to let people know what was going on, and I think NASA made a decision right from the very beginning that they were gonna open it to the world, so they could see what happened in the free world. A consequence of that is that they filmed everything.”

And NASA has a treasure trove of footage.

“The moon landings lost their kind of magic appeal, and I think one of the reasons for that is that film that was being used and used and used got so scratchy and so faded and it just looked like it was something that happened a very long time ago, so it lost its magic. And then I was fortunate to work on a film that just coincided with NASA re-transferring all that 16mm film from the negative onto digital HD.”

“Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

“Roger, Tranquility. We copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We’re breathing again. Thanks a lot!”

Apollo Flight Director Milton Windler says at the time, he didn’t really appreciate the historic aspect of what was being accomplished.

“I guess I feel bad because I didn’t feel like that I was on the verge of doing historical things. I just had a job and it was a fun job and I (had) just gotten out of the Air Force and I was just ready to do things. Right place at the right time, I guess.”

Gerry Griffin says “One of the keys of I think that helped us is that we were young. We didn’t know (what) we couldn’t do. And (it was) so fun to be on the end of the diving board where you had to make a decision.”

“Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo” is now in theaters, and available on digital platforms.

Posted on 15th Apr

MISSION CONTROL: THE UNSUNG HEROES OF APOLLO (NR)

Genre:Documentary Running Time:101 min.Release Date:April 14, 2017

Director:David Fairhead Cast:Dr. Chris Kraft, Gene Kranz, Gerry Griffin, Glynn Lunney, Jerry Bostick Writers:David Fairhead, Keith Haviland Producers:Keith Haviland, Gareth Dodds Distributor:Gravitas Ventures

City Cinemas Village East Cinema

181-189 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10012

11:50 AM2:10 PM4:30 PM7:00 PM9:55 PM

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 14th Apr

Space Center Houston hosts world premiere “Mission Control: Unsung Heroes of Apollo”

ARTICLE BY: MIKE H

SPACE CENTER HOUSTON - Nearly 45 years since the last time an American walked on the moon, a new documentary pays tribute to the unsung heroes of NASA's Mission Control during the Apollo years.

"No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind or more important for the long-range exploration of space," President John F. Kennedy said in a landmark speech about the Apollo program during a brand new documentary called "Mission Control: Unsung Heroes of Apollo."

The Apollo missions did all that and more.

"These are people from ordinary backgrounds who accomplished these extraordinary things with little to no preparation," Rick Houston, author of 'Go, Flight!' which the new film is based on said.

Space Center Houston hosted the out of this world premiere, which brought all kinds of space heroes out of the shadows.

"The Apollo generation, we were the end of the greatest generation. Many of the kids were born in the Depression. They grew up in World War II. They entered Mission Control with clear understanding of duty, honor, and country," Apollo Flight Director Gene Kranz said.

Even hometown Hollywood director Richard Linklater took in the monumental event.

"When I was a kid in Houston, I can't tell you how exciting it was to be around when the Apollo program and what was going on then, it was like living in science fiction," Linklater said. "It was like living in the future. Houston was, you know, ground zero for everything that was new."

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 14th Apr

MISSION CONTROL: THE UNSUNG HEROES OF APOLLO (NR)

Genre:Documentary Running Time:101 min.Release Date:April 14, 2017

Director:David Fairhead Cast:Dr. Chris Kraft, Gene Kranz, Gerry Griffin, Glynn Lunney, Jerry Bostick Writers:David Fairhead, Keith Haviland Producers:Keith Haviland, Gareth Dodds Distributor:Gravitas Ventures

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - Mason

531 S. Mason Rd., Katy, TX 77450

(3:35 PM)

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 14th Apr

MISSION CONTROL: THE UNSUNG HEROES OF APOLLO (NR)

Genre:Documentary Running Time:101 min. Release Date:April 14, 2017

Harkins Shea 14

7354 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85260

INDEPENDENT (10:50 AM)(2:05 PM)(3:35 PM)6:30 PM9:45 PM

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 14th Apr

'Mission Control' opens in Melbourne

ARTICLE BY: JAMES DEAN

You’ve heard of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, but how about Steve Bales?

As the NASA astronauts descended to the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, the young mission controller made critical calls that ensured the historic landing attempt was not aborted.

"We’re go on that, Flight," Bales called after a "1202" alarm rang out in the Eagle lunar module, befuddling the flight crew and almost everyone else manning Mission Control consoles in Houston.

A guidance officer or "GUIDO," Bales and a supporting team of engineers recognized the issue from a simulation and were confident that the 1202 alarm, and a 1201 that followed, would not jeopardize the mission.

Those and other triumphs are the focus of “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo,” a documentary opening Friday in 13 markets across the country, including a week-long run at the Oaks Stadium 10 in Melbourne. The movie will also be available on demand from cable providers and streaming devices.

NASA audit: SLS rocket unlikely to launch in '18

"The Apollo program was probably the epitome of a team effort," said Jay Honeycutt, a former flight operations engineer at Johnson Space Center and former director of Kennedy Space Center.

Honeycutt, of Cocoa Beach, will participate in a question-and-answer session following the film’s 6:30 p.m. Friday showing at the Oaks.

He does not appear in the movie, but his work does. Honeycutt led simulations of lunar landing attempts that introduced problems like the 1202 alarms.

"Our job was to introduce failures into the simulations in order to make the crew and the people on ground work together to solve them," he said.

Based on Rick Houston’s book, "Go, Flight!: The Unsung Heroes of Mission Control, 1965-1992," the film features legendary Mission Control leaders like Chris Kraft, after whom NASA’s modern Mission Control Center is named, and Gene Kranz, known for his buzz cut and iconic white vest.

It also highlights, in their own voices, team members who are not household names like Bales, who did receive recognition from President Nixon.

Another dramatic scene recounts Apollo 12’s launch into a storm, triggering lightning strikes on the Saturn V rocket that wiped out telemetry and appeared certain to force a launch abort.

After tense seconds diagnosing the situation, John Aaron, an engineer monitoring power and life support systems from a console labeled EECOM, suggested, "Flight, EECOM, try SCE to Aux."

Few knew what the SCE switch was or where it was located. Fortunately, astronaut Alan Bean did. He switched it to the auxiliary position, the flow of data was restored and the mission went on to achieve the second moon landing in 1969.

Honeycutt said the movie shows how young people without decades of experience and working on missions never tried before were empowered to make nearly life-or-death decisions.

It also shows how people from humble backgrounds who were not elite military test pilots came together to achieve something special.

"These are people just like me," Honeycutt hopes young viewers might think. "And if I study hard and make good grades, I could be doing this kind of thing."

Air Force open to flying on used SpaceX rockets

Strange to a younger generation will be the cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke that clouds Mission Control, and the absence of women from the primary room.

The film features women flight directors leading current International Space Station operations. They express appreciation for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo program pioneers who established procedures and principles — including Kranz’s "tough and competent" mantra — that endure today.

"The fundamental concepts are not that much different than they were back in those days," said Honeycutt.

Moving scenes show the retired Mission Control team members return to their old consoles, nearly a half-century after the great Apollo missions.

Space Center Houston, the visitor center at JSC, has partnered with the film to help raise $5 million needed to restore the old Mission Operations Control Room. The public can contribute to the cause that aims to honor and preserve Mission Control's legacy.

"They never let the country down," says Kraft. "If you’re looking for patriots, they are they. Every one of them."

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 13th Apr

Stream on Demand: ‘Hidden Figures’ comes to On Demand

ARTICLE BY: SEAN AXMAKER

What’s new for home viewing on video-on-demand and Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services.

Pay-Per-View / Video-On-Demand

Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer star in the Oscar-nominated “Hidden Figures,” the true story of the brilliant African-American women whose unheralded work in the early days of NASA helped send the first Americans into space (PG). Also on DVD and Blu-ray.

Also based on a true story, “Lion” stars Dev Patel as an adopted boy who uses Google Maps to find his lost family in India. It was nominated for six Academy Awards (PG-13). Also on DVD and Blu-ray and at Redbox.

Also new: the Oscar-nominated comedy “Toni Erdmann” from Germany (R), family adventure comedy “Monster Trucks” with Lucas Till and Jane Levy (PG), and horror film “The Bye Bye Man” (PG-13 and unrated versions).

Available same day as select theaters nationwide is Werner Herzog’s historical adventure “Queen of the Desert” with Nicole Kidman and James Franco (PG-13). Also new: high school revenge comedy “The Outcasts” with Eden Sher and Victoria Justice (PG-13) and documentary “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo” (not rated).

Netflix

The animated odyssey “Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016) from Portland’s Laika Entertainment is a family-friendly epic of imagination steeped in Japanese culture and mythology. Features the voices of Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey (PG).

“Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return” revives the cult comedy about robot puppets heckling bad movies. Felicia Day, Patton Oswalt, and Jonah Ray co-star. 14 new episodes.

“Sandy Wexler” is the third Adam Sandler comedy made directly for Netflix (not rated).

Foreign Affairs: “Come What May” (France, 2016) follows the exodus of French refugees fleeing the 1940 Nazi invasion of France (R, with subtitles).

Streaming TV: the CW superhero team series “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: Season 2” improves on the overstuffed first season. Also new: “Documentary Now!: Season 2” from Fred Armisen and Bill Hader and the talk show “Chelsea: Season 2.”

Stand-up: “Kevin Hart: What Now” (2016, R)

Remember Don Rickles, the godfather of insult comedy, with the documentary “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project” (2007, not rated).

Amazon Prime Video

The sexy South Korean drama “The Handmaiden” (2016) spins a compelling tale of con artists, forbidden love, pornography, and poetic justice (not rated, with subtitles).

Anna Biller’s “The Love Witch“ (2016) pays tribute to 1960s Technicolor romances and sexy European horror films with a supernatural story about a passionate witch (Samantha Robinson) whose love potions keep killing her lovers (not rated).

Foreign affairs: Mads Mikkelsen stars in the crime comedy “Flickering Lights” (2000) from Denmark (not rated, with subtitles).

True stories: Monty Python’s Terry Jones explores modern economics in “Boom Bust Boom” (2016) with comedy, animation, and puppets (not rated).

Streaming TV: Nordic noir series “Fortitude: Season 2“ offers up a new murder mystery in the Arctic Circle.

Amazon Prime / Hulu

Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer star in “Barbershop: The Next Cut” (2016, PG-13) and Lake Bell writes, directs, and stars in the show business comedy “In A World …” (2013, R).

Hulu

The Australian horror film “The Babadook” (2014) is both a primal fairy tale and an affecting family drama with old-fashioned scares and no explicit violence (not rated).

Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson shines in the tender and touching drama “Short Term 12” (2013) as a counselor at a facility for homeless kids (R).

Streaming TV: the animated “Camp Lakebottom: Season 1” arrives from Disney XD.

HBO Now

Inspired by a true story, the satirical “War Dogs” (2016) stars Jonah Hill and Miles Teller as private munitions brokers in over their heads (R).

HBO originals: the Brazilian drama “Psi: Season 3” begins (with subtitles) and comedy “Crashing” completes its debut season.

Showtime Anytime

“The Man Who Knew Infinity” (2015) stars Dev Patel as visionary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan and Jeremy Irons as his mentor at Trinity College (PG-13).

David Lynch’s sweet, autumnal family drama “The Straight Story” (1999), starring Richard Farnsworth and Sissy Spacek, is gentle and offbeat and rated G.

Sundance Now

A pair of provocative American indie dramas: “Kid-Thing” (2012) from David Zellner and “Sun Don’t Shine” (2012) from actress Amy Seimetz (not rated).

From France comes Claude Chabrol’s low-key psychological thriller “The Color of Lies” (1999) and Jean-Luc Godard’s notorious “Hail Mary” (1985), which sparked protests for its modern take on the story of the Virgin Mary.

New on disc

“Hidden Figures,” “Lion,” “Toni Erdmann,” “Monster Trucks,” “The Bye-Bye Man,” “Sword Master”

At Redbox

“Lion,” “Monster Trucks,” “Collateral Beauty,” “War on Everyone”

Sean Axmaker is a Seattle film critic and writer. His reviews of streaming movies and TV can be found at http://streamondemandathome.com.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 13th Apr

Video Clip from Mission Control: Launch of Apollo 8

ARTICLE BY: SONIA SHECHET EPSTEIN

MISSION CONTROL: THE UNSUNG HEROES OF APOLLO is a new documentary about the team managing every space mission from the ground. NASA’s mission control center monitors all aspects of space flights. Mission control has been depicted in narrative films such as Theodore Melfi’s HIDDEN FIGURES as well as television as in National Geographic’s series MARS.

MISSION CONTROL features astronauts, flight controllers, and flight directors of NASA space missions from Gemini to Apollo 1 to the first moon landing. It will open in New York at the Village East Cinema on April 14, and will thereafter be available to stream.

The clip documentary below shows historical footage from the 1968 Apollo 8 mission. Engineers and flight specialists who worked on getting that mission off the ground speak on camera. Apollo 8 became the first mission to successfully orbit the moon and return to Earth.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 13th Apr

Latest installment of ‘Fast and Furious’ hits theaters Friday

ARTICLE BY: AMY MAGINNIS-HONEY

FAIRFIELD — Number eight in “The Fast and the Furious” series arrives on the big screen Friday.

“The Fate of the Furious” centers on the globetrotting team settling into a routine when Dom is seduced into a world of crime by a mysterious woman. The elite force crisscrosses the globe to stop an anarchist and to bring home the man who made them a family.

Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Ludacris and Charlize Theron are featured in the action adventure, which is rated PG-13.

Opening in limited release are:

“Spark: A Space Tail,” an animated film about a wisecracking teen living on an abandoned planet with his friends who learn of a plot to wipe out the entire universe. Hillary Swank, Susan Sarandon and Patrick Stewart are some of the voices in the film, which is rated PG.

“The Lost City of Z,” which tells the true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett, who journeys into the Amazon at the dawn of the 20th century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific community, he returns again in an attempt to prove his case, only to mysteriously disappear. The film is rated PG-13.

“Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo,” a documentary about the faltering start of the Mercury and Gemini programs, the tragic Apollo 1 fire and the Moon landings. It’s not rated.

“My Entire High School is Sinking into the Sea,” an animated feature about best friends preparing for another year at Tides High School. When a blossoming relationship threatens to destroy the friendship, one of them learns the student body is in danger. Jason Schwartzman, Lena Dunham and Maya Rudolph are some of the featured voices in the movie, which is rated PG-13.

“Altitude,” which features Denise Richards as a headstrong FBI agent who goes rogue on a hostage negotiation and is sent packing to a desk job. On her flight back to Washington, D.C., her seatmate offers her millions of dollars if she can get him off the plane alive as his ex-partners stage a brutal hijacking. It’s rated PG-13.

“Finding Oscar,” a documentary that centers on a young boy who was spared during a forgotten massacre in Guatemala’s decades-long civil war, only to be raised by one of the soldiers who killed his family. Almost 30 years after the tragedy, he sets out to uncover the truth and bring justice to those responsible. It’s not rated.

“Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer,” which features Richard Gere in the story of a man who only wants to matter. He has a lonely existence in the shadow of power and money, using any angle or connection to put himself in a position of significance. Things change when he buys a pair of expensive shoes for a lowly Israeli politician, who becomes prime minister. It’s rated R.

“A Quiet Passion,” which features Cynthia Nixon in the story of poet Emily Dickinson. It’s rated PG-13.

“Jeremiah Tower,” a documentary about one of America’s first celebrity chefs. It’s not rated.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 12th Apr

Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo showtimes – Friday, April 14

ARTICLE BY: J.R. JONES

Hidden Figures dramatized the true story of four black women whose mathematical skills enabled NASA's Mercury program to send John Glenn into orbit in 1962; coming on the heels of that movie, this documentary about the development of NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston can't help but feel like white-male backlash. Director David Fairhead (In the Shadow of the Moon) interviews a large contingent of Mission Control veterans—you know, those guys in the crew cuts, black neckties, and white, short-sleeved shirts—and they relive some of the more storied missions of the Apollo moon-landing program: Apollo 1, scuttled after an electrical fire in the rocket cabin killed three astronauts in 1967; Apollo 11, which landed Neil Armstrong on the moon two years later; and Apollo 13, the disaster-plagued 1970 mission later immortalized in the Ron Howard movie of the same name. This is the usual mix of talking heads and archival footage, but Fairhead also inserts detailed CGI sequences that vividly illustrate the technical issues unfolding.

Fri 4/14, 7 and 9 PM; Sat 4/15, 3, 5, 7, and 9 PM; Sun 4/16, 1, 3, 5, and 7 PM; and Mon 4/17–Thu 4/20, 7 and 9 PM.

Posted on 11th Apr

Movie of Houston's space contributions premieres at Space Center Houston

ARTICLE BY: RYAN KORSGARD

HOUSTON - The movie, “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo” tells the story of Houstonians who put space in the American space program.

The movie’s premiere landed at Space Center Houston Tuesday night.

More News Headlines

Woman Making a Difference: NASA scientist teaches students careers in science

Famed NASA astronaut John Glenn laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

HISD students get exclusive interview with NASA astronaut

NASA's women pioneers to star in new Lego set

25-year NASA typist receives special honor during Black History Month

“It was a long time coming,” said legendary Apollo 13 flight director Gene Kranz.

He said the movie introduces you to the real people involved in the space program, not actors.

“Part of it is failure is not an option. And it's time to get back on track and get back into space and become explorers again," Kranz said.

While Kranz worked in mission control at the Johnson Space Center, astronauts like Col. Walter Cunningham of Apollo 7 relied on mission managers to get him to space and back to earth safely.

"Astronauts get the glory. But they don't realize how much work was going on not just by hundreds but thousands of people,” Cunningham said.

The film’s release happened as Space Center Houston worked to raise money to restore NASA’s Mission Operations Control Center.

CEO of Space Center Houston and President William Harris said, "This is really an important part of American history and really world history when we achieved this incredible milestone."

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 11th Apr

On VOD: Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo

Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo. No rating. At the heart of the Apollo program was the special team in Mission Control who put a man on the moon and helped shape the future. Catch the film on VOD starting Friday, April 14. Assholes Watching Movies says, “It’s exactly the kind of tribute that these men deserve.”

Starring: N/A

Director: David Fairhead

Rating: Unrated

Genre: Documentary, History

REVIEWS

Britflicks gives the film 4 stars, and further notes, “Hearing it from the key actors nonetheless succeeds in putting us in the front row seat at Mission Control, and makes for frequently exciting drama (particularly during the Aollo 11 and Apollo 13 missions). There are odd moments which stay with you.”

Assholes Watching Movies says, “It’s exactly the kind of tribute that these men deserve.”

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 11th Apr

On Demand DVD New Releases April 10-16

ARTICLE BY: MEREDITH ENNIS

On Demand DVD New Releases April 10-16

Lion (pictured, above) After a 5-year-old boy from India is adopted by an Australian couple, life changes in every way. In his 20s, that boy, Saroo, decides to search for the family he was separated from as a child. His adoptive mother encourages the journey, as it will open his eyes to his past. Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara (PG-13, 1:58) 4/11

Hidden Figures As NASA races to space against the Russians, a team of African-American women is at the core of the most important mathematical data. Such a global accomplishment needs all hands on deck to be successful. An amazing story of courage in a white-male-dominated world, this film will inspire everyone. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe (PG, 2:07) 4/11

Monster Trucks As a high-school senior, Tripp is ready to get away from life in his small town and begins his exit plan by working to create a monster truck from scrapped vehicles. Along the way, he finds a creature that may just be the friend he needs to help him succeed. Lucas Till, Jane Levy, Thomas Lennon (PG, 1:45) 4/11

The Bye Bye Man If you say his name, or even think it, he will come for you. When three college friends move into a house together, they start to see and think things that aren’t there — thoughts put into their head by the mysterious figure known only as the Bye Bye Man. Douglas Smith, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lucien Laviscount (PG-13, 1:36) 4/11

Toni Erdmann In this award-winning movie, a practical joker father tries to reconnect with his career-driven daughter. Peter Simonischek, Sandra Huller (R, 2:42) 4/14 German, subtitled in English

The Outcasts After falling victim to a humiliating prank by the high school Queen Bee, best friends and world-class geeks Mindy and Jodi decide to get their revenge by uniting the outcasts of the school against her and her circle of friends. Victoria Justice, Eden Sher, Peyton List (PG-13, 1;35) 4/14 Same day as theatrical release

Queen of the Desert Nicole Kidman plays explorer, diplomat and ‘female Lawrence of Arabia’ Gertrude Bell in the Werner Herzog-directed true story of a woman who defied all convention. Also stars James Franco (PG-13, 2:09) 4/14 Same day as theatrical release

Altitude A female FBI agent is offered millions to help a thief escape from a hijacked airplane. Dolph Lundgren, Denise Richards (R, 1:28) 4/14 Same day as theatrical release

Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo This documentary film tells the stories of the group of men who were the heart of the Apollo space program through interviews with those who worked in Mission Control and with astronauts, enhanced by extraordinary archival footage, stunning VFX and an original orchestral score. The film covers the first journeys to the moon by Apollo 8 and Apollo 11, and the huge effort required to save the crew of Apollo 13. (1:41) 4/14 Same day as theatrical release

The Levelling Trainee veterinarian Clover Catto returns to the farm where she grew up after hearing news that her brother Harry (has died – in what appears to be a suicide. Clover is forced to confront her father Aubrey – about the condition of the farm, the livestock and, crucially, the details surrounding Harry’s death. Ellie Kendrick, Jack Holden (R, 1:23) 4/15 Pre-DVD release

Availability dates, titles and schedule subject to change and may vary by system. Check with your cable provider for ordering information. HD and 3D not available in all systems.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 10th Apr

NewsFix in Space: Giant asteroid heading towards earth, breathtaking pics of Jupiter

ARTICLE BY: MIKE H.

NASA - Our first stop takes us to an asteroid heading straight for Earth.

The asteroid is more than a half-mile long will fly by earth on April 19th and is the closest asteroid to fly by since 2004.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this could be devastating to our planet, but NASA said its it just a potential hazard.

A bit further in space only 415 million miles away, a NASA probe has captured Jupiter like never before!

These incredible shots of 'The Giant Planet' are some of the coolest and closet looks at Jupiter we've ever seen.

These planetary selfies were snapped by the $1 Billion Juno spacecraft and show's lots of storms and gases.

Lastly, a new documentary "Mission Control: Unsung Heroes of Apollo" at Space Center Houston is honoring the famed Apollo Mission Control leaders.

"You could've heard a pin drop in that control center. I mean, it's the first time we'd gone behind the moon," one of the historic Mission Control operators said in the new film.

If only those guys could figure out what to do about the asteroid heading our way.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 8th Apr

MISSION CONTROL: THE UNSUNG HEROES OF APOLLO TRAILER (2017)

At the heart of the Apollo space program and a remarkable decade of achievement was the team who worked in Mission Control.They were born against a backdrop of economic turmoil and global conflict. Some came from a rural lifestyle little changed from the 19th century. Others grew up in a gritty, blue-collar America of mines and smoke stacks. They ranged from kids straight out of college to those toughened by military service. But from such ordinary beginnings, an extraordinary team was born. They were setting out on what JFK called: "The most hazardous, dangerous, and greatest adventure upon which mankind has ever embarked" and through their testimony – and the supporting voices of Apollo astronauts and modern NASA flight directors – the film takes us from the faltering start of the program through the Mercury and Gemini missions, the tragedy of the Apollo 1 fire to the glories of the Moon landings.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 13th Mar

Gravitas Ventures Buys ‘Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo’ By Winnie Chak

ARTICLE BY: WINNIE CHAK

Gravitas Ventures has acquired worldwide rights for Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo, a documentary that has yet to premiere at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival. The distributor is planning a theatrical and VOD release on April 14.

Mission Control revisits the early days of the Apollo program, including the Apollo 1 fire and, the Mercury and Gemini missions, and the Moon landings. The documentary will feature archival footage of NASA’s humble beginnings and the teams’ early days working on the moon mission, alongside interviews with the team behind the moon landing.

The film is directed by David Fairhead and is produced by Keith Haviland and Gareth Dodds.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 13th Mar

Lionsgate sets Liam Neeson thriller for 2018

Posted on 13th Mar

Film Acquisition Rundown: NEON Picks Up Errol Morris’ ‘The B-Side,’ FilmRise Gets Two Sundance Premieres and More

ARTICLE BY: KATE ERBLAND

– NEON, the recently launched distribution company founded by Tom Quinn and Tim League, will release Oscar winning director Errol Morris’ “The B-Side,” a heartfelt portrait of photographer, Elsa Dorfman. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2016 followed by a prestigious festival run, screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival and the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (IDFA).

The film is slated to open theatrically on June 2.

– Gravitas Ventures has secured worldwide rights to “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo,” the compelling untold story about an extraordinary team.

The story is told told “with unprecedented access to archival footage and stories from the men who lived it, including the creator of Mission Control, Dr. Chris Kraft, retired NASA Flight Directors Gene Kranz (portrayed by Ed Harris in “Apollo 13”), Glynn Lunney and Gerry Griffin. Also appearing are Flight Dynamics Officer Jerry Bostick, Flight Controller John Aaron, iconic astronaut Captain James Lovell (played by Tom Hanks in “Apollo 13”), and moonwalkers Charlie Duke and the late Captain Gene Cernan.”

The film will arrive in select theaters across the U.S. and VOD on April 14. The film is now available to pre-order from iTunes: http://apple.co/2meT16A.

– Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired North American rights to the LGBT/drama romance “UTOPIANS” (aka “Tung lau hap woo”), the newest feature film from Hong Kong LGBT auteur SCUD. The film had its world premiere at the New Director’s Film Festival in Japan. The film later held its U.S. Premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and went on to play at Outfest FUSION and the Chicago International Film Festival.

Breaking Glass is planning a premium VOD and DVD release in early May.

– FilmRise has announced that it has acquired the exclusive North American distribution rights to Ernesto Contreras’ “I Dream In Another Language.” Contreras’ film won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

FilmRise will release the film theatrically in mid-2017.

– Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired North American rights to director Paul Rocha’s family-comedy “In the Dog House,” starring Kim Hamilton, Matt Masella and Alana Baer.

Breaking Glass is planning a DVD/VOD release on April 18. The film will also be available on the following platforms: Amazon Instant, Google Play, Vudu, and through local cable and satellite providers.

– FilmRise has also acquired the exclusive North American distribution rights to Felipe Bragança’s “Don’t Swallow My Heart, Alligator Girl!” The film had its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, and its European premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in the Generations Competition.

“Don’t Swallow My Heart, Alligator Girl!” will be available to stream later this year on Amazon Prime Video. FilmRise opted-in to Amazon Video Direct’s Film Festival Stars — a new program designed to establish an attractive distribution model for films screened at film festivals, beginning with Sundance.

– Gravitas Ventures has bought all U.S. rights to the Ross McCall-starring crime drama “The Beautiful Ones.” Jesse V. Johnson wrote and directed the film, which co-stars Jesse Schram (“Mad Men”), Brian Tee (“TMNT”), Eric Roberts (“The Dark Knight”), Fernanda Andrade (“The Devil Inside”) and the late Ed Lauter (“The Artist”).

McCall portrays “a mob family shylock who falls in love with the wrong woman during a turf war, and has to use his unique skills to rescue her from the same people he once called brothers.” The film is slated for a summer 2017 release. The deal was negotiated by Gato Scatena of Scatena & Rosner Films, and Brendan Gallagher of Gravitas Ventures.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 13th Mar

Watch Trailer For ‘Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo’ Out Friday, April 14

As the world watched the outcome of the Apollo space missions, crowded around televisions and radios, the heroes of NASA – the controllers and support teams inside Mission Control – clenched their fists and sweated every detail through each liftoff and descent. Now, the compelling untold story behind this extraordinary team comes to life in the new film “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo,” which will arrive in select theaters across the U.S. and VOD on April 14.

Gravitas Ventures has secured worldwide rights from Haviland Digital to the compelling untold story behind this extraordinary team, told with unprecedented access to archival footage and stories from the men who lived it, including creator of Mission Control, Dr. Chris Kraft, retired NASA Flight Directors Gene Kranz (portrayed by Ed Harris in "Apollo 13"), Glynn Lunney and Gerry Griffin. Also appearing are Flight Dynamics Officer Jerry Bostick, Flight Controller John Aaron, iconic astronaut Captain James Lovell (played by Tom Hanks in "Apollo 13"), and moonwalkers Charlie Duke and the late Captain Gene Cernan.

Mission Control was at the very heart of the Apollo program and its heroes were born against a backdrop of economic turmoil and global conflict. Some came from a rural lifestyle unchanged since the 19th century. Others grew up in a gritty, blue-collar America of mines and smoke stacks. They ranged from students straight out of college, to soldiers toughened by military service. Yet, from such ordinary beginnings, an extraordinary team was born. They set out on what JFK called "the most hazardous, dangerous, and greatest adventure upon which mankind has ever embarked." Through the team's testimony and the supporting voices of Spollo astronauts and modern NASA leaders, "Mission Control" explores their journey from the faltering start of the program to Mercury and Gemini missions, the tragic Apollo 1 fire and the glories of the Moon landings. This was achieved through a team whose average age was around 27 years old.

"Mission Control" was directed by David Fairhead and produced by Keith Havilland and Gareth Dodds. The three men came to the story of "Mission Control" after their work on "The Last Man on the Moon," which bowed at SXSW in 2015 and told the tale of Astronaut Gene Cernan. Crenan, who flew three times in space and twice to the Moon, passed away in January 2017.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 13th Mar

SXSW: ‘Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo’ Bought by Gravitas

ARTICLE BY: DAVE MCNARY

Gravitas Ventures has acquired worldwide rights from Haviland Digital to the documentary “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo” ahead of its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival.

Gravitas is planning an April 14 day-and-date release in theaters across the U.S. and VOD.

The film includes archival footage and stories from the creator of Mission Control, Dr. Chris Kraft, retired NASA flight Directors Gene Kranz (portrayed by Ed Harris in "Apollo 13"), Glynn Lunney and Gerry Griffin. Also appearing are Flight Dynamics Officer Jerry Bostick, Flight Controller John Aaron, Astronaut Captain James Lovell (played by Tom Hanks in "Apollo 13"), and moonwalkers Charlie Duke and the late Captain Gene Cernan.

"Mission Control" explores the faltering start of the program to the Mercury and Gemini missions, the tragic Apollo 1 fire and the Moon landings.

SXSW in 2015 and told the tale of Cernan, who flew three times in space and twice to the Moon. “Mission Control” was directed by David Fairhead and produced by Keith Haviland and Gareth Dodds. The three men came to the story of “Mission Control” after their work on “The Last Man on the Moon,” which debuted at SXSW in 2015 and told the tale of Cernan, who flew three times in space and twice to the Moon.

"It's a real privilege to tell this epic story of a remarkable decade. It shows what vision and teamwork can achieve," said Havilland.

"Flights into space capture the imagination as much today as they did 50 years ago," said Gravitas Ventures' CEO Nolan Gallagher. "From Space X to 'Hidden Figures' to 'The Martian,' the dreams of millions are carried out by hundreds of heroes both in the air and on the ground at Mission Control. We are thrilled to be working with Gareth and Keith to share this remarkable piece of history with audiences everywhere."

Fox's "Hidden Figured," which centers on the role of female African-American scientists in the early days of the space program, has been a critical and commercial success with three Oscar nominations and $145 million in domestic grosses.

The deal for "Mission Control" was negotiated by Nolan Gallagher for Gravitas, and Dodds and Haviland Digital.

Watch the theatrical trailer below:

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 13th Mar

‘Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo’ Bought by Gravitas

ARTICLE BY: DAVE MCNARY

Gravitas Ventures has acquired worldwide rights from Haviland Digital to the documentary “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo” ahead of its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival.

Gravitas is planning an April 14 day-and-date release in theaters across the U.S. and VOD.

The film includes archival footage and stories from the creator and Mission Control, Dr. Chris Kraft, retired NASA Flight Directors Gene Kranz (portrayed by Ed Harris in "Apollo 13"), Glynn Lunney and Gerry Griffin. Also appearing are Flight Dynamics Officer Jerry Bostick, Flight Controller John Aaron, astronaut Captain James Lovell (played by Tom Hanks in "Apollo 13"), and moonwalkers Charlie Duke and the late Captain Gene Cernan.

"Mission Control" explores the faltering start of the program to the Mercury and Gemini missions, the tragic Apollo 1 fire and the Moon landings.

"Mission Control" was directed by David Fairhead and produced by Keith Havilland and Gareth Dodds. The three men came to the story of "Mission Control" after their work on "the Last Man on the Moon," which debuted at SXSW in 2015 and told the tale of Cernan, who flew three times ins pace and twice to the Moon.

"It's a real privilege to tell this epic story of a remarkable decade. It shows what vision and teamwork can achieve," said Havilland.

"Flights into space capture the imagination as much today as they did 50 years ago," said Gravitas Ventures' CEO Nolan Gallagher. "From Space X to 'Hidden Figures' to 'The Martian,' the dreams of million are carried out by hundreds of heroes both in the air and on the ground at Mission Control. We are thrilled to be working with Gareth and Keith to share this remarkable piece of history with audiences everywhere.

Fox's "Hidden Figures," which centers on the role of female African-American scientists in the early days of the space program, has been a critical and commercial success with three Oscar nominations and $145 million in domestic grosses.

The deal for “Mission Control” was negotiated by Nolan Gallagher for Gravitas, and Dodds and Haviland for Haviland Digital.

Watch the theatrical trailer below:

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 13th Mar

SXSW Apollo Documentary ‘Mission Control’ Rockets To Gravitas Ventures

ARTICLE BY: PATRICK HIPES

Gravitas Ventures has acquired worldwide rights to Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes Of Apollo, a documentary about the controllers and support teams inside NASA’s Apollo space program who helped make it tick. The pic, which is making its world premiere next month at SXSW, will hit theaters and VOD on April 14.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted on 13th Mar

Mission Control: Coming to theatres and on demand on April 14.

We will post more information as it comes up!

Posted on 6th Mar