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'Race to Space' films at Dryden
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NASA Photo by Tony Landis
ìRace to Spaceî actors Barry Corbin and James Woods rehearse for a scene.
The filming at Dryden happened on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6. Most of the filming
was in front of 4800 and in a single office inside 4800.
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NASA Photo by Tony Landis
Actor Alex Linz prepares for a scene where he plays with his new friends,
two chimpanzees.
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NASA Photo by Tony Landis
These chimpanzees take a break during filming.
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NASA Photo by Fred
Johnsen
A makeup artist prepares actor Jack McGee for a scene.
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NASA Photo by Fred
Johnsen
The sound crew prepares for a shoot with Barry Corbin.
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NASA Photo by Tony Landis
Cars from the 1950s were used in front of Building 4800 to fit the era of
the film ìRace to Space.î
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NASA Photo by Fred
Johnsen
A chimpanzee is prepared for a scene on the set outside Building 4800.
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By Jay Levine
X-Press Editor
The temporary structures making up Hollywood Park near Dryden's X-15 were
clues to the few employees catching up on some work on the weekend that the
Center had some visitors.
Then there were the 1950s era cars in front of 4800. Oh, and chimps were
playing baseball with a boy outside.
It was just another day on set for the production crew and staff of the
Tri-Star and Redstone Productions motion picture "Race to Space"
Feb. 5 and Feb. 6. Dryden Safety and Mission Assurance Director Marta
Bohn-Meyer's office and the front of Building 4800 were transformed into
movie stages.
The movie focuses on a young boy, played by Alex Litz, who dreams of becoming
an astronaut. The boy befriends a chimpanzee and scientists on his quest to
reach the stars.
The movie also stars James Woods as the boy's father and Annabeth Gish as an
Air Force veterinarian in charge of training the first chimpanzee in space,
Ham. All three stars were at Dryden during the filming, as was the
chimpanzee.
Another likely cast member for the film is Buzz Aldrin. One of America's
first men on the Moon still is working on his schedule to appear as himself
in the film, according to "Race to Space" representatives. On July 20, 1969, Aldrin and Neil
Armstrong made their historic Apollo XI moon walk.
The movie's setting starts at the end of World War II, with American soldiers
escorting defeated German scientists. The film loosely explores the early
days of America's
Project Mercury and Mercury Redstone (MA-2), which was launched with a live
chimpanzee aboard. That 157-mile flight concluded with a splash down in the Atlantic
and was one of the final qualifications of the capsule for a human passenger.
Fifteen team members from Dryden assisted the crews in escorting people to
and from the makeup and dressing area in the Hollywood
Park to the set areas. People
would walk into the temporary structures to prepare for their roles and come
out ready to go. One man exited looking like a scientist that had a really
bad day in the lab. The once white lab coat looked like it had seen some
serious action.
Dryden team members also assisted with entry and exit of the set areas and
coordinated with the film makers the best way for crews to accomplish their
tasks rapidly, effectively and safely.
Film crews and miles of wires ran throughout Building 4800 as Bohn-Meyer's
office was redecorated with radios, furniture and relics of the 1950s to
simulate what it would have been like in the era in which the movie is set.
The two cars parked in front of 4800 were part of the background as the
chimpanzees played baseball with Litz.
Prior to the filming at Dryden, the crew had spent the week filming at the
Air Force Flight Test Center. They used the main base engine shop and two
flightline hangars. Kennedy Space Center, Fla.,
also is hosting the film crew with many locations.
A crew of about 60 people, two chimpanzees, an orangutan, and a cast of about
150 locally recruited extras were on site during the filming at Edwards Air
Force Base.
Moviemakers' target date for release is Jan. 31, 2001. That is the 40th anniversary of Ham's
journey on a Redstone rocket into space, beating Alan B. Shepard, the first
American astronaut, by several months.
The rocket over-accelerated and Ham received shocks, even though he was
pushing the right buttons. According to reports, upon splashdown the capsule
filled with water and Ham nearly drowned. The chimpanzee wasn't in a
particularly good mood and bit the first person who approached him.
Ham retired to a zoo following his space program experiences and died Jan.
19, 1983.
Woods is an accomplished actor with more than 50 movie credits including
three in 1999 ñ "The General's Daughter," "True Crime" and
"Any Given Sunday." Gish is known for her roles in "Double
Jeopardy," " Shag" and "Mystic Pizza." Litz' movie
credits include "Home Alone 3" and "One Fine Day."
Sean McNamara directs the film. His credits include; "Casper
Meets Wendy," "The Trail of Old Drum," "The Secret World
of Alex Mack" and "Totally Hidden Video."
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