News Campus and Community New planetarium show combines puppetry, fulldome technology
| New planetarium show combines puppetry, fulldome technology |
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| Thursday, November 01, 2012 | |
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In collaboration with Paperhand Puppet Intervention, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will present “The Longest Night: A Winter’s Tale,” a fulldome planetarium show. The show opens Saturday (Nov. 3) at the planetarium and continues through Feb. 24, 2013. "The Longest Night” is a classic fable, set in a snowy village. A young girl from the village leaves on a simple quest that tests her courage and sparks her generous spirit. Will she be able to return to her village as a hero? The production of “The Longest Night” became a quest of its own – a unique collaboration between Paperhand’s artists and performers and Morehead’s award-winning production team. Paperhand’s elaborate, larger-than-life puppets are traditionally seen in live, three-dimensional performances; this is the first time its puppets have appeared in a 360-degree digital video performance. To transform Paperhand’s performance into a fulldome planetarium show, Morehead used green-screen videography and other techniques not commonly used in fulldome production. Paperhand and Morehead worked together to develop the script, and the Paperhand Band provided music for “The Longest Night” soundtrack. “This might be the first fulldome planetarium show of its kind anywhere in the world,” said Todd Boyette, Morehead director. “We have combined video footage of live puppetry with animation in a 360-degree setting. You’ve never seen a planetarium show like this one, and I’m proud that Morehead and Paperhand were able to create such a beautiful, warm and exciting story.” Show times are 11:30 a.m. Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $7.25 for adults; $6 for children, students and seniors. For more information, call (919) 962-1236. Link to video trailer for “The Longest Night”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mefUC1HQZwo&feature=share&list=UUYOhV5QP9dwx8w5Mqa9Mmeg Morehead Planetarium and Science Center website: www.moreheadplanetarium.org |