INTERVIEW: Disney Plus series ‘Among the Stars’ presents the drama of space travel
Photo: At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 60 crew member Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency works procedures inside his Soyuz spacecraft. Photo courtesy of Andrey Shelepin / GCTC / Photo courtesy of press site with permission.
The new six-part Disney Plus series Among the Stars presents the story of NASA in the 21st century and one of its most well-known astronauts, Captain Chris Cassidy, who can be seen readying for his final mission into space. The documentary series follows Cassidy and other astronauts from around the world as they prepare for their highly anticipated flights and some of the obstacles they will face, including how the delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are many important messages behind this space drama. As the audience comes to know about Cassidy and his unique story, they are able to view a variety of scenes, captured from all angles. There are personal diary entries, livestreams and footage of Cassidy from both his personal and professional life.
The maestro behind Among the Stars is Ben Turner, executive producer and director of the series, who is best known for his work on Fulwell 73. Turner was able to successfully expand beyond Cassidy’s story and also include the contributions of engineers, flight controllers and specialists, according to press notes. What the audience receives is an expansive — and mesmerizing — look at space travel in the 21st century.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Turner about the new series. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What do you find fascinating about this story and Captain Chris Cassidy?
I’ve always been fascinated by space. The notion that there’s so much out there in the universe that we don’t know and haven’t explored has always excited me. A lot of filmmaking is about perspectives, and the perspective of Earth from space had a profound effect on anyone who has seen it. So I had wanted to make something in and around NASA for a while as they go to space! Chris was the way in. It was a privilege to work with him, but we were very keen to make the show about the teams at NASA and not just about Chris. We wanted to tell the story of a mission and get a 360-degree view of how NASA work as they are such a unique and well-loved organization. I have heard people use NASA as an adjective or a verb to convey a high standard and level of commitment, we wanted to unwrap how that actually manifests in practice.
How did you approach the filming of this limited series? Was it difficult to capture a space story for the small screen?
We went from the ground up, which made a big difference. Once Chris introduced us to the teams, we sought to get to know them and what they were doing and to tell their story. This gave a very different perspective on what was happening and also allowed us to embed with the people who are living the drama of the mission on a daily basis and so capture their story more comprehensively.
In terms of capturing a story for the small screen, we very much wanted to bring a vérité feel to our show. Space is always shown on big screens in a cinematic way, conveying the power and awe of the rockets, etc. I love that and can watch it forever, but capturing everything perfectly and in such splendor puts a barrier between the audience and those involved. We wanted to get much closer to them, to live and breathe the mission with those involved, including those in space, so whilst we wanted the show to be spectacular and cinematic, we also embraced the messiness of real life by using all kinds of different cameras to allow us to capture more and cutting shots in a way that brought you into their world in a visceral way.
Was it important for you to focus on the characters as much as the space details?
Absolutely. By knowing the characters and what their stakes are, you open up the dramatic tension of the story. It is the cornerstone of this series.
How far back does your love of space go? Were you a NASA fan as a child?
Absolutely. Since I was a child I’ve wanted to go to space. I love being a filmmaker, but I’d give it up in a heartbeat for the chance to fly to space.
How long have you been working on this project?
Officially about two years, but I have wanted to make this show since I started in the industry. In 2015, I made a music video in NASA with One Direction for a song called “Drag Me Down,” and that was when I really started to think seriously about how to get access to shoot there. And since then I told anyone who would listen that I wanted to do this, and eventually it paid off!
What do you hope is the ultimate takeaway for a viewer who catches all six episodes?
I hope people feel inspired by the show. The news is pretty bleak at the moment, and we face a lot of challenges, challenges which need to be faced honestly. But we also need to feel inspired to meet these challenges. I remember watching Chris finally launch to space in the middle of a global pandemic, on a Russian rocket, and it felt like an act of defiance for humans, to remember, as I sat in my house during a lockdown that when people come together across the world they can do amazing things. We are going to need to do amazing things over the next generation, but I believe it’s possible. And I hope that our show in some way helps people to believe that.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Among the Stars, executive produced and directed by Ben Turner, is now airing on Disney Plus. Click here for more information.
