Yesterday, a group of our science teens at the Cal Academy of Sciences got to talk with Jeroen Lapre, senior technical leader in the Morrison Planetarium here. Before Jeroen came to the Academy, he spent many years working in digital effects for the film industry, specifically Industrial Light and Magic. He worked on such tiny, little known projects as "Star Wars" episodes 1-3.
One of the neatest parts of Jeroen's talk was his description of an independent film project that he has been working on for a long time: "Maelstrom II." Based on a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, "Maelstrom II" tells the "near future" story of one lone technician trapped in a damaged space vehicle in a degrading orbit around the moon.
Continue reading ""Maelstrom II": An Independent Scifi Film Project Based on Real Science (video)" »
"Y: The Last Man" is one of the most acclaimed comics of the decade, a dystopic scifi series that builds an elaborate universe around the premise of what would happen if every man on earth was wiped out by a plague. The characters are indelible and unique and the adventure is heart-pounding. Created by Brian Vaughan and Pia Guerra, this sixty issue series just blew me away each and every issue.
Originally published starting in 2002, a group of super fans have released this fan flick of the comic on Youtube earlier this year. "Y: The Last Man Rising" has impressive production values, some strong casting, and thrilling action.
This 20 minute film is well worth your time. I want more Agent 355!
I was watching the wonderfully cheesy kung-fu flick "The Last Dragon" tonight when I spotted the perpetually beleagued actor William H. Macy in a bit part. He is apparently some kind of producer of the television show that the love interest Vanity stars in in the movie.
Here Macy is trying to convince Vanity to allow a mob boss's girlfriend's music video to play on her show. I wonder how he feels about playing this role?
You can watch the full "The Last Dragon" movie in YouTube, which I highly recommend to fans of chock sockey kung-fu movies and blaxpoitation flicks. Don't forget to eat your popcorn with chopsticks!
This -- seriously -- is the plot of "Step Up 4" aka "Step Up Revolution": greedy developer wants to tear down local neighborhood in Miami to make way for a fancy hotel. Dancers organize to stop him... using the ultimate weapon : their sick dance skills. Oh, and the female lead dancer is the daughter of the developer. But how they succeed?
Actual line from the film: "We need to stop him. Enough with performance art. It's time for protest art."
Wasn't this the exact plot of "Breaking II: Electric Boogaloo"? Or countless other song-and-dance films in the 40s? All this movie needs is Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney saying "Let's put on a show!"
There are a lot of talented dancers and choreographers associated with this film: Adam Sevani, Twitch, Madd Chadd, Phillip Chbeeb, Travis Wall, the Ticks, etc. I'm hoping that the super-hokey plot doesn't take all the air out of the amazing dancing. But I have a doubt.
Tonight I got around to watching "Reefs to Rainforests," the documentary about the 2011 scientific expedition to the Philippines organized by the California Academy of Sciences. It's a really amazing story about the largest expedition ever organized by the Academy in its 158 years of existence, with about 100 participants from the Academy and local partners.
Watching these scientists from many disciplines dive deep into the ocean, hike deep into the rainforest, climb tall trees, and root out insects and spiders in the middle of night is a great reminder of what a fantastic adventure science can be. They got to see parts of the Philippines that I have dreamt of visiting, and other areas that were totally remote and intimidating.
And I learned that these scientists are made of sterner stuff than me. You see one arachnologist get bit by a gigantic spider as he is putting it in the a bag for collection. "I'm pretty sure they aren't poisonous," he says, examining the bite. He then resumes searching for more spiders. WOAH.
I also appreciated how much the scientists were connecting with local researchers, teachers, and towns folk, to educate, exchange ideas and collaborate on ways to preserve the local environment, for themselves and succeeding generations of Filipinos. Makes me proud to work at the Academy. And a bit more hopeful about the Philippines, seeing locals stand up for the environment.
My only regret is that this expedition happened before I was at the Academy! But I get to see the fruits of it every day that I'm on the public floor.
My swing dance video talk show: SwingNation
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