We Are Stars: An Entertaining Blend of Science and Stardust

Asteroid. Asteroid.

The new multimedia show We Are Stars is now playing at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. This animated 26 minute film is guaranteed to entertain and educate the whole family. Presented by Montreal Space for Life in conjunction with their annual theme of Seeing the Big Picture, We Are Stars is available in both English and French versions.

We Are Stars is currently being shown in the Planetarium’s impressive 360 degree Chaos theatre. This immersive cinema experience aims to communicate a number of complex scientific concepts in a way that’s clear, concise, and easy to understand. Produced to appeal to children the informative film encourages audiences to think about subjects such as the origin of the universe, nuclear fusion, and evolution. Simply put We Are Stars attempts to explain how the sun, planets, stars, and ultimately the human race was created.

Produced by NSC Creative, a renowned computer animation studio, the documentary was directed by Max Crow who has worked in the field of immersive cinema for over fifteen years. The English version of We Are Stars is narrated by Andy Serkis, an actor who’s become well known in recent years for his voice work in such big screen blockbusters as The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Planet of the Apes. In We Are Stars, Serkis is the voice behind an unnamed Victorian Time Master who guides a group of adventurous youngsters on a trip back 13.8 billion years to the origin of life itself.

The film’s soundtrack comes courtesy of Rhian Sheehan, a composer from New Zealand. As an added bonus anyone interested can stream and download the We Are Stars soundtrack by visiting the website at http://wearestars360.com. It should also be noted that at the 2015 Fiske Fulldome Film Festival not only did We Are Stars win first prize for Best Show but Rhian Sheehan also took home the Best Music award for his work on the project.

Montreal’s Planetarium has a reputation for presenting audiences of all ages with documentaries not only meant to make science accessible but also fun. The narrative of We Are Stars begins at a surreal animated fair ground where a enthusiastic Time Master takes a group of young patrons on a cosmic voyage back in time to explore the notion that we are all made of stardust. Although the show is grounded in scientific fact it also serves to inspire viewers to gaze up at the night sky with a sense of awe and wonder complete with the knowledge that we are all part of something bigger. The film provides audiences with the notion that despite being physically separate entities humanity, the stars, and the universe are all connected in an innate and wondrous way.

We Are Stars is now playing at the Planetarium and is suitable for the whole family. At a time when the differences which separate us have become central points of discord this film delves deep into the realm of science in order to explore the basic elements which unite all forms of life.The theme of We Are Stars can best be summed up by the words of the ancient Persian poet Jalal ad-Din Rumi who said, “We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust”.

For details of shows at the Planetarium, click HERE. The show runs until December 31.

About C.L. Illsley

I was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia but have called Montreal home since 1999. I received degrees from Mount Saint Vincent University & Concordia University. I enjoy writing, watching movies, & most of all spending time with my 4 cats. Contact: Facebook | Twitter | More Posts