Monday, January 09, 2017

Astrophysicist Jaymie Matthews and Author Robert Godwin Keep Science Real in New Space Series

          By Chuck Black

The people behind "DEEP SIX," a "hard" science sci-fi web-series currently in production in Toronto, Ontario are sticklers for accuracy. 

That's why co-creator Davin Lengyel has brought aboard University of British Columbia (UBC) astrophysicist Jaymie Matthews and author/publisher Robert Godwin as "resident rocket scientists," able to ensure that science remains deeply embedded within this particular attempt at science fiction.

The five minute "DEEP SIX" promotional video narrated by co-creator Lengyel (left) includes a short interview with UBC professor Matthews (right) and an overview of the production. Cast and crew also include co-creator/writer/ actor Mika Collins, writer/ actor Andy Hull, producer Danny Mendlow and actress Michelle Morgan, who has signed to play the lead role. As outlined on its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign webpage, the project, currently filming in Toronto," has received much of its needed financing, but we want to make it even better while opening it up for others to get involved." To see the complete promotional video simply click on the graphic above. Graphic c/o Space Mop.

According to its undated press release:
DEEP SIX is the story of the perils and potential of humanity’s first deep space outpost, dubbed Deep Six. The series draws on scientific knowledge as the backdrop for the story. The nuts-and-bolts approach to the science is reflected on the set, with practical FX miniatures, full size constructed sets and the use of rear projection – a throwback to films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien.
That's why the producers brought aboard Godwin, who has authored and/or published over 100 space and science focused books including 2001: The Heritage and Legacy of the Space Odyssey, which was co-written with Frederick I Ordway III, director Stanley Kubrick's technical assistant during the filming of 2001.

The plot, co-created by Lengyel and writer/ actor Mika Collins, will focus on an elite group of astronauts and their military escort on a perilous deep space mission.

This is one of the reasons why the team includes Matthews, who is also the mission scientist of Canada's first space telescope, the Microvariability & Oscillations of STars (MOST) telescope.

MOST has explored the Tau Ceti planetary system where much of the action of DEEP SIX is set.


Lengyel and his company, called Space Mop, have developed a reputation as successful Canadian crowd-funders, which is where at least some of the money needed to fund DEEP SIX is coming from.

The firm most recently spearheading the record-breaking Indiegogo CODE 8 campaign that raised $1.7Mln USD ($2.25Mln CDN) for Jeff Chan, Robbie and Stephen Amell's dystopian film, CODE 8, which is currently set to go to camera sometime in 2017.

Lengyel and Hull were also involved with the 2012 Space Janitors online series, which won best original series for digital media at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards.

For more information on DEEP SIX, check out the DEEP SIX Indigogo fund raising page. You can contribute until January 31st, 2017.
Chuck Black.
___________________________________________________________

Chuck Black is the editor of the Commercial Space blog.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Support our Patreon Page