Patch.

NASA space suits always have a patch on them, usually specific to a particular mission. You can see several examples at AB Emblem's Web site.

Since we have space suits in Interplanetary, I figured we need patches, too, so I asked Ted Speaker to take the Interplanetary Corporation logo he'd already designed and turn it into something that'd look good as a 3" x 3" circle. He came up with...



I love the design, and I love the approach Ted took in creating it. After first confessing to being a science fiction/astronomy/physics nut (aren't we all?), he explained:

"You probably already know some of this, but... the major key to unlocking the secrets of space travel, the physical universe, and the theory of everything is a unified field theory -- a theory that bridges quantum mechanics with relativity (E = M C squared), or the bridge between the very very large and the very very small."

"So, on the patch, the stars represent Einstein's relativity and the atomic model represents quantum theory. And of course the Pi symbol 'appears routinely in equations describing fundamental principles of the Universe, due in no small part to its relationship to the nature of the circle and, correspondingly, spherical coordinate systems.'"

That didn't take long.

We haven't even loaded the film into the camera yet, but we already got some press on Interplanetary:

http://www.splattercontainer.com/read_news.php?ID_news=1121

Be warned, said press is in Italian (I think). From what I could tell from the Babelfish translation, Marco at SplatterContainer is looking forward to Interplanetary. I'll have to remember to mention that when we start looking to get the movie released overseas.

Details.

It seems like the start of any project, or any phase of any project in this case, goes fast. But, after you knock out all the brute force work, things slow down as you begin to take care of the details.

That's where we are with Interplanetary at the moment. As such, there isn't a lot of big news to report from the last few days. John, Jen, and I did get Carl's massive Master Control light fixture rigged tonight, though.



Carl built this thing out of some lumber and a king-size bed sheet, but, from below, it truly does look like something straight outta the future.

We also started playing around with the acrylic spheres that we'll be using as the basis for our space helmets. Here's a shot of Carl, John, and an LED light.



I just realized I haven't covered much "how to" stuff yet on this blog, so it's not quite living up to its billing as a sequel to "This Movie Ain't Gonna Shoot Itself." I will attempt to rectify that soon. And we'll hopefully get some more of the details taken care of this weekend.

Purring like a kitten.

Tom has been doing some serious mechanic-ing -- he already got the engine for our Mars buggy running.

Here's a close-up of the engine and the beer bottle that's serving as a temporary (and very small) gas tank.

Making a monster.

Jonathan Thornton, who we're really, really lucky to have doing special makeup effects for Interplanetary, got to work in a big way over the weekend, doing a full body and face cast of Shane "Trap" Traffanstedt. Trap will be playing the monster in Interplanetary. I did mention there's a monster, didn't I?

Here's Jonathan and wife Ramona working on Trap...



Jonathan has also started designing some effects stuff that looks amazing. I really want to show it off, but it would give away too many plot surprises, so I'll have to save it 'til the premiere.

Who says you can't find a desert in Alabama?

Our new friend Tim gave Carl and I a tour of Wade Sand and Gravel yesterday. There's a massive quarry over there that we're hoping to use for some exterior Mars shots. Here's a shot of Carl standing in the quarry...



We'll obviously have to wait 'til that large pool of water dries up before we do any shooting in that particular spot.

DP Jim Roberson also stopped by the set at Atrox to do some preliminary lighting tests...



And that's not all -- it's been a busy week. I'll try to post an in-depth recap soon.

Evidence.

Digital photographic proof that we are making a movie.

Here's Ming the Merciless manning Carl's small scale model of a control console...



John deconstructing a monitor for inclusion in the eventual full-scale control console...



Carl stepping through our first (unpainted) door frame...



Angie painting up a storm...



You wouldn't believe how much math was involved in constructing this control console frame...



Unloading the VW Beetle that will serve as the basis for our space age Mars vehicle...



Prototype space suit being fit for actress Mia Frost...