Star Trek Fandom & The Days of Old Sci-Fi at Stardome

Calling all Trekkies! On 8 September 1966, the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series was aired, marking the beginning of  ‘Trekkies’ fandom, which is still going strong 51 years on. The world was introduced to the voyages of the Starship Enterprise and in the words of Admiral James T. Kirk, it set out “to explore new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

In celebration of Star Trek’s 51st birthday, this 8 September 2017 Stardome is screening Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, the second film in the Star Trek film series. It’s 2285 and Admiral James T Kirk must stop his old nemesis Khan who has reappeared after years of exile, from using the life-generating Genesis Device for destruction. Join fellow Trekkies for a night of wine (18 years and over, ID required), popcorn and Star Trek carnage.

8pm. Bookings essential. $25 per person.
https://www.stardome.org.nz/show/star-trek-ii-the-wrath-of-khan/

This Giant Papier Mache Boulder Is Actually Really Heavy

Nowadays movies are drowned in CGI and extensive post-production effects. Before these tech-savvy effects were available, film effects were created manually. Looking back now everything looks incredibly fake. At the time, however, the universe on our screen appeared so real.

New Zealand director Christian Nicholson refers to these times as the good old days. In his award-winning film, This Giant Papier Mache Boulder Is Actually Really Heavy, Christian channeled the spirit of old sci-fi to create a film about three ordinary guys who at one moment are watching an old b-grade movie and at the next are thrust inside the movie itself and at the helm of a rickety old spaceship. In an action-packed comedic adventure, they embark on a quest to make their way back home in a world full of giant lizards, space battles, robots, aliens, warlords and amazons.

Christian’s vision was to return to the era of old sci-fi by creating a universe where special effects were basic and where everything that looked fake was actually real. He says, “Using the low budget as a means to be creative rather than restrict we can have fun with the script and make some cool visuals. I am going to surround myself with like-minded people and create a cool movie that lasts forever as something unique and special.”

On Thursday 21 September, meet Christian in person for a brief introduction and Q+A session about the making of the film before leaning back in the reclining seats and being thrust into a sci-fi universe of days gone by. The evening includes a glass of wine (R18 only, ID required) and popcorn. 7pm. Bookings essential. $25 per person.

For more information on NZ astronomy, NZ observatory and party venues Auckland please go to https://www.stardome.org.nz/show/this-giant-papier-mache-boulder/