Andras Pires Muhi reporting
Andras Pires Muhi reporting
Tibor Hirsch, and me Andras Pires Muhi came to Mars on the one hand to make a documentary film about the work of Crew 71 including a few elements of fiction as well. On the other hand we have recorded scenes that mainly focuses on the themes of science (Geography, Biology, Meteorology, Astronomy). So at the end there will be two films.
The project was supported by Inforg Studio, maybe the most famous and recognized artfilm company in Hungary.
Now, the mission is done. We go home with 60 tapes on DVcam format. That is 2400 minutes of material. We will start editing and post-production in June. Until that time Tibor Hirsch and I let our eyes to relax a little bit. Some distance is necessary when You begin to build the structures.
Anyway our mission was very very difficult… That’s the only thing I can tell to filmmakers who want to visit this amazing place. Most of the shots were made on the EVA’s. But EVA is not for making a movie. This is for scientific research. And here You can only find 3 ATV’s for transportation. Tibor Hirsch (the director) usually had to stay in the HAB. Only the cinematographer/cameraman went out with two astronauts. That was me. So the classic example - when the director really directs – could only come to fruition on on-foot EVA’s, when everybody took part. I participated approximately on 20 EVA’s, Tibor was there only on 6 or 7.
It was also difficult to communicate. I was the only one, who didn’t wear helmets and gloves (only the space suit and Mars-boots) because it would have made impossible to see the picture (i.e. the display) I compose. We tried it honestly but didn’t work. (I was permanently being dead for two weeks) We had problems with the radios all the time. Sometimes I made mistake forgetting to bring radio on myself.
Protection of the expensive and irreplaceble stuff was the main character of my job. I used camera-bag against sand. The camera looked like it had an accident or something. Every little gap on it was taped with leukosilk. In spite of the fact that I made everything for the safety We had lots of technical problems. All of them were dangerous but thanks God none of them was tragical for the result.
I had to run a lot with camera in hand but I shouldn’t have. The punishment was a mysterious electronic anomaly. The picture began to jump for short periods day by day, couldn’t do anything with it, couldn’t really figure out what the problem was. The only thing I did was letting the machine to repose for a while. That helped I don’t know why, cannot analyze the situation.
It’s fine to use the UHF microphone (microport) on this ground because the radio communication of space-travellers results valuable voices for the film. (This stuff was also broken for some days)
It is very important to bring cleaning tape! When the sand finds a way to the head of the camera, the only thing can help is this. I had to set this tape in three times. That’s fine proportion after fourteen sols in the desert.
Working in desert is hard both physically and mentaly. The suit is warm and the wind is blowing. The camera weights 4 kilograms, the stage is 5. Never try it at home!
And the hardest thing to be mentioned: there was no free time! I didn’t have a single minute to read two pages from my book. Once I started but fell asleep after ten minutes. I love working. But sometimes it was irritating that I don’t have a time on myself. I sent short emails to my girlfriend every day, but for my parents or my friends couldn’t write one line! Because I had to send the journalist report every day until 8 p.m. (actually many times I finished at half past 8), and after it started the tests of the Psychological Institute. I could have become psycho mainly because of psychologists. You must keep Sunday everytime because if You cannot relax it will worsen the quality of your work.
Did not write about the alien couple (X-z.o and Fsztpipwk) I met the day before yesterday because I know You woluldn’t have believed me this. That was nice. We had a deep philosophical talk, and after that they disappeared or teleported.
Finally I really have to thank all my crew mates, especially Tibor Hirsch
for inviting me to this trip, and our commander Henrik Hargitai for accepting
me and expending much time for the film – pushing science to the background
many times. And thank You members of Mars Society for finding out this
great adventure and letting an all Hungarian crew experience it!
Recording scenes near Widow’s Peak