Man Conquers Space
Encyclopedia
Man Conquers Space is an upcoming alternate history feature film in development, chronicling the fictional conquest of space along the lines of the famous series of articles "Man Will Conquer Space Soon!
" by Collier's Magazine
, published between 1952 and 1954, and edited by Cornelius Ryan
, supported by Dr Wernher von Braun
along with a team of experts, and illustrated by famed space artist Chesley Bonestell
.
The project began development in early February, 2000. As of July 2010, it is still in development, with four teasers and an hour's rushes already completed.
The film has been written and directed by David Sander
, director of the short war film Ghosts of War
(2010), and owner of visual effects house Surfaces Rendered, based in Sydney
, Australia. The original concept for the film was developed by David Sander
with Boyd Britton.
is amidst the crucible of World War II
. Prompted by gaining pre-eminence in the high-ground of space, the world's triumphant superpowers race to dominate orbit, the Moon and beyond. To this end, the United States government under President Truman
commits to founding the National Council of Astronautics (NCA) and the United States Space Force (USSF) in 1949. After a period of technological development and installation of infrastructure, Eagle One lands the first men on the Moon in July 1963. With continued lunar operations, the eyes of the NCA turn to Mars, landing there in 1968. The 1970s and beyond are devoted to technological expansion and the privatisation of space, leading to a very different modern day. The film is told through the eyes of those who witnessed and lived through these historical events.
The screenplay originally existed largely as a series of notes, as interviews with some of the characters were to be conducted as if everything had happened for real, prompting the actors to ad-lib their lines (after a process of indoctrination during rehearsals), and then the rest of the film structured around those interviews in a similar fashion to techniques used in actual documentary film production. During the project's early formative period, a series of policies were established for the film - namely: not one frame of the film was genuine archival footage - everything had to be made for the film; it all had to be shot close to hand in Sydney, consequently far-flung locations such as Cape Canaveral, Moscow, Europe, the surface of the Moon and the terrain of Mars all had to be recreated somehow; it could not star known actors, otherwise the believability of the characters as being who they say they are is not going to work (unless certain actual historical figures agree to play themselves); and it had to be an appropriate tribute to the vision and dreams of the post-war world, enough to bring teary-eyed nostalgia back for those who remember those days of promise (and who may very well constitute a sizeable percentage of the viewing public for a project such as this). Each of these policies has been rigidly adhered to, which while complicating the process (including making it more expensive), is considered a better way to achieve an authentic result.
To illustrate the project to potential investors, a fully fleshed out screenplay was required, and by 2005 a first draft of that document was completed. Since then there have been numerous revisions, and in May 2008 the project was packaged and taken to the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival
, for assessment and consideration by motion picture industry representatives. The consensus was that the project was very strong and solid, but despite his years of industry experience, Sander had insufficient background in the appropriate areas (namely feature directing) to warrant the handing over of the substantial budgetary sums required to bring the entire vision to life. Consequently the project was put on hiatus so other projects of more modest approach and scale could be developed to make up the experience shortfall. These projects include the First World War short film Ghosts of War
(2010); a second short film (currently in development and due for completion by the end of 2010); and a low-budget feature film (also currently in development, scheduled for completion by mid-2011).
The hiatus from Man Conquers Space has not been complete however, as more content is continually developed, including a new teaser (release pending) and other tools designed to promote it to appropriate parties.
The sporadic and erratic rate of progress of the film's development is a direct consequence of priorities that Sander is required to address in his professional capacity as visual effects and graphic artist for the television and motion picture industries. The project's website is only occasionally updated, partly due to the rate of progress, but also as a consequence of a policy within the production of only releasing a very narrow wedge of information and produced material prior to the film's completion and official release.
Man Will Conquer Space Soon!
Man Will Conquer Space Soon! was the title of a famous series of 1950s magazine articles in Collier's detailing Wernher von Braun's plans for manned spaceflight. Edited by Cornelius Ryan, the individual articles were authored by such space notables of the time as Willy Ley, Fred Lawrence Whipple,...
" by Collier's Magazine
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, published between 1952 and 1954, and edited by Cornelius Ryan
Cornelius Ryan
Cornelius Ryan, was an Irish journalist and author mainly known for his writings on popular military history, especially his World War II books: The Longest Day: June 6, 1944 D-Day , The Last Battle , and A Bridge Too Far .-Early life:Ryan was born in Dublin and educated at Synge Street CBS,...
, supported by Dr Wernher von Braun
Wernher von Braun
Wernher Magnus Maximilian, Freiherr von Braun was a German rocket scientist, aerospace engineer, space architect, and one of the leading figures in the development of rocket technology in Nazi Germany during World War II and in the United States after that.A former member of the Nazi party,...
along with a team of experts, and illustrated by famed space artist Chesley Bonestell
Chesley Bonestell
Chesley Bonestell was an American painter, designer and illustrator. His paintings were a major influence on science fiction art and illustration, and he helped inspire the American space program...
.
The project began development in early February, 2000. As of July 2010, it is still in development, with four teasers and an hour's rushes already completed.
The film has been written and directed by David Sander
David Sander
David Sander is an Australian film writer and director and special effects artist who owns Surfaces Rendered, a visual effects, graphics, design, and film finishing business...
, director of the short war film Ghosts of War
Ghosts of War
Ghosts of War is a short film made in 2010, written and directed by David Sander and produced by Enzo Tedeschi, and starring Graham Brissett and Simon Broadhurst....
(2010), and owner of visual effects house Surfaces Rendered, based in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia. The original concept for the film was developed by David Sander
David Sander
David Sander is an Australian film writer and director and special effects artist who owns Surfaces Rendered, a visual effects, graphics, design, and film finishing business...
with Boyd Britton.
Synopsis
The dawn of the Space AgeSpace Age
The Space Age is a time period encompassing the activities related to the Space Race, space exploration, space technology, and the cultural developments influenced by these events. The Space Age is generally considered to have begun with Sputnik...
is amidst the crucible of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Prompted by gaining pre-eminence in the high-ground of space, the world's triumphant superpowers race to dominate orbit, the Moon and beyond. To this end, the United States government under President Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
commits to founding the National Council of Astronautics (NCA) and the United States Space Force (USSF) in 1949. After a period of technological development and installation of infrastructure, Eagle One lands the first men on the Moon in July 1963. With continued lunar operations, the eyes of the NCA turn to Mars, landing there in 1968. The 1970s and beyond are devoted to technological expansion and the privatisation of space, leading to a very different modern day. The film is told through the eyes of those who witnessed and lived through these historical events.
Development
Man Conquers Space initially existed as an independent short film project, however in mid-2001 the scope and scale of the subject matter prompted a re-think and a restructure into a feature-length production.The screenplay originally existed largely as a series of notes, as interviews with some of the characters were to be conducted as if everything had happened for real, prompting the actors to ad-lib their lines (after a process of indoctrination during rehearsals), and then the rest of the film structured around those interviews in a similar fashion to techniques used in actual documentary film production. During the project's early formative period, a series of policies were established for the film - namely: not one frame of the film was genuine archival footage - everything had to be made for the film; it all had to be shot close to hand in Sydney, consequently far-flung locations such as Cape Canaveral, Moscow, Europe, the surface of the Moon and the terrain of Mars all had to be recreated somehow; it could not star known actors, otherwise the believability of the characters as being who they say they are is not going to work (unless certain actual historical figures agree to play themselves); and it had to be an appropriate tribute to the vision and dreams of the post-war world, enough to bring teary-eyed nostalgia back for those who remember those days of promise (and who may very well constitute a sizeable percentage of the viewing public for a project such as this). Each of these policies has been rigidly adhered to, which while complicating the process (including making it more expensive), is considered a better way to achieve an authentic result.
To illustrate the project to potential investors, a fully fleshed out screenplay was required, and by 2005 a first draft of that document was completed. Since then there have been numerous revisions, and in May 2008 the project was packaged and taken to the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, for assessment and consideration by motion picture industry representatives. The consensus was that the project was very strong and solid, but despite his years of industry experience, Sander had insufficient background in the appropriate areas (namely feature directing) to warrant the handing over of the substantial budgetary sums required to bring the entire vision to life. Consequently the project was put on hiatus so other projects of more modest approach and scale could be developed to make up the experience shortfall. These projects include the First World War short film Ghosts of War
Ghosts of War
Ghosts of War is a short film made in 2010, written and directed by David Sander and produced by Enzo Tedeschi, and starring Graham Brissett and Simon Broadhurst....
(2010); a second short film (currently in development and due for completion by the end of 2010); and a low-budget feature film (also currently in development, scheduled for completion by mid-2011).
The hiatus from Man Conquers Space has not been complete however, as more content is continually developed, including a new teaser (release pending) and other tools designed to promote it to appropriate parties.
The sporadic and erratic rate of progress of the film's development is a direct consequence of priorities that Sander is required to address in his professional capacity as visual effects and graphic artist for the television and motion picture industries. The project's website is only occasionally updated, partly due to the rate of progress, but also as a consequence of a policy within the production of only releasing a very narrow wedge of information and produced material prior to the film's completion and official release.