LEVAR BURTON - NARRATOR
In Saturn’s Rings is a groundbreaking giant-screen adventure that takes audiences on a journey of the mind, heart and spirit, from the Big Bang to the awe-inspiring rings of Saturn.
Over 7.5 million mostly unseen real images from the Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Hubble Telescope Milky Way time lapses, and more are brilliantly brought to life in this ground-breaking epic immersive journey across space and time.
From the earliest images after the Big Bang, to the final photographs Cassini took before plunging to its end in Saturn’s clouds, In Saturn’s Rings, like space exploration itself, is a journey of the heart, mind and spirit that moves audiences with some of the most amazing space images ever seen.
In Saturn’s Rings is unique as it uses no computer-generated images. Instead, the film painstakingly employs multiplane photo animation created entirely in Adobe After Effects with image processing by over one hundred volunteers in Adobe Photoshop, GIMP and custom Java/ImageJ programming tools.
Set to powerful music composed and performed by Pieter Schlosser and “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber performed by the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dmitry Sitkovetsky.
In Saturn’s Rings will be presented in 8K/6K & 4K resolutions on massive screens and concert-level surround systems to audiences in giant screen institutions, IMAX® theaters, fulldome planetariums, museums and select 4K digital cinemas.
In Saturn’s Rings is now playing at select locations with many more theaters to be added in the near future.
IN SATURN'S RINGS
Locations and theaters are listed here.
Fulldome release will follow shortly after.
Fly through space and explore the wonders of the Universe as science meets art on the giant screen!
BEHIND THE SCENES
7.5 MILLION REAL PHOTOGRAPHS
Animated To Full Motion
In Saturn's Rings is a large format movie about space exploration and our universe made exclusively from real photographs taken by spacecraft.
Director Stephen van Vuuren used more than 7.5 million photographs and numerous film techniques to create the effect of flying through space, including an amazing visit to Saturn and its rings.
CGI and 3-D modeling were not used in any capacity to create the realistic feel van Vuuren wanted for the viewer's experience. Most of the photos were taken by various major space missions.
A true labor of love, the film was made possible by the generous contributions of supportive people who share the filmmaker's passion for this project.
Take a 14 billion light-year journey of the mind, heart and spirit from the Big Bang to the conclusion of the Cassini-Huygens Mission at Saturn.
CLEANING 5 MILLION GALAXIES
THE ART & TECHNICAL WIZARDRY OF THE FILM
Read More: How Did They Do This?
Thanks to all of the film volunteers who made In Saturn's Rings possible.
5 CAMERA MILKY WAY TIME-LAPSE
Colin Legg: Photographer, Technician, Benefactor
Colin Legg embarked on a truly ambitious mission to capture stunning dark sky time-lapse footage in the wilds of Western Australia. He utilized a custom-built 5 camera rig using high-end DSLR’s and specialized electronics that captured some of the best dark sky time-lapse footage ever made.
Colin shot 11 days of day & night time-lapse footage for In Saturn's Rings and graciously donated this work to the film. It’s an amazing gift as the footage originally planned for use were stills stitched together. This incredible and one-of-a-kind footage blows that out of the water.
The shoot took place in a dry lake bed, Lake Dora, basically in the middle of nowhere. It’s about 90 km from nearest mining operation so there would be minimal light pollution.
THE MUSIC
ADAGIO FOR STRINGS
Greensboro Symphony Orchestra
The film features “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber performed by the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dmitry Sitkovetsky.
The Greensboro Symphony Orchestra recorded two new versions of Samuel Barber's masterpiece "Adagio for Strings" for the film.
A Kickstarter campaign to fund the recording raised the $37,500 needed for production. The live recording employed a special double section of string players and percussionists who in addition to the classic original, performed a second, rhythmic version of "Adagio for Strings," arranged by Resident Conductor Nathaniel Beversluis.
O.Henry Magazine Article: "6th Rock From The Sun"
News & Record: "Local Filmmaker's Space Odyssey"
Meet The Musicians who
contributed to In Saturn's Rings
INFINITUM
Pieter Schlosser
Infinitum is the opening music of In Saturn’s Rings composed by accomplished film composer and musician Pieter Schlosser. His award winning film and television compositions are world-renowned.
His work is featured in Destiny 2, NBC's You, Me And The Apocalypse and Freeform's The Lying Game, Lifetime's The Client List and music on the Transformers franchise, Resurrection and Desperate Housewives to name a few.
INFINITUM
Call For Music
In 2016, we posted an open call for musicians – from solo to full orchestra – to create performances of Schlosser's composition that will be mixed and layered together to create a unique musical soundscape. Listen to the submissions here.