'Good Night Oppy's' mission to Mars demands ultra-realism for its look to be unique

As a documentary filmmaker, Ryan White has tackled subjects as varied as the fight for gay marriage in the Supreme Court, the life of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the impact of tennis legend Serena Williams and the trial of two women convicted of assassinating the half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. What he’s always wanted to do, however, was make a film about space, a subject he’s been fascinated with since his childhood as a “space geek.

It was also incredibly important to White that the scientists and engineers at NASA felt that Mars not only looked real but better than anything they had seen before. Nailing the different shades of the red planet’s landscape? Not a problem. Matching the detail of Mars’ geological environment? That was tougher.

Chronicling Spirit and Opportunity’s adventures also meant creating an ambient environment. While not hospitable to humans, there is an atmosphere on Mars and that means there is sound. White had the talents of legendary sound editor Mark Mangini, who won his second Oscar — for “Dune” — during the production of “Oppy,” to bring that aspect of the film to life. A new generation of rovers conveniently assisted in that regard.

Despite that technical wonder, it was the stories of those real-life people on the ground at JPL that became the heart of the movie. It was a bit unexpected for White and his longtime producing partner, Jessica Hargrave.

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