The Astronaut's Eye: Terry Virts on Visual Storytelling in Space

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Summary

In this episode, Nick sits down with astronaut, filmmaker and consultant Terry Virts.  Terry spent over seven months in space during his two spaceflights, piloting the Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-130 in 2010 and commanding the International Space Station during Expedition 42/43 in 2014/2015.

He served in the US Air Force as a fighter pilot, test pilot, NASA astronaut, and is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He has directed several films, including One More Orbit (2019) and The Night After (2023), and is a guest lecturer at the USC School of Cinematic Arts where he teaches about his IMAX movie A Beautiful Planet.

Terry and Nick discuss creativity and problem-solving in filmmaking. Terry shares his experiences with capturing footage in space and the challenges of creating beautiful shots in zero gravity. They also touch on the importance of collaboration and the evolving nature of the film industry. Terry talks about his current projects and the reality of getting them off the ground. The conversation explores the democratization of content creation through platforms like YouTube and self-publishing. It also delves into the process of prioritizing projects and balancing passion with financial stability.

Takeaways

• Creativity and problem-solving are essential in filmmaking, especially when capturing footage in space.
• The film industry is constantly evolving, and it can be difficult to have a stable career. However, the passion for filmmaking drives many to pursue their projects despite the challenges.
• The process of getting projects off the ground in Hollywood can be slow and requires patience and perseverance.
• Self-publishing has become a popular alternative to traditional publishing, giving authors more control over their work.
• Prioritizing projects requires a balance between passion and financial stability.