NASA is gearing up to send humans, including a Canadian astronaut, to the moon after more than fifty years, with Thunder Bay-born filmmaker Laura-Lynn Petrick seizing the opportunity to create a cinematic masterpiece akin to a “Kubrick moment.” The upcoming Artemis II mission, set to launch next week, will see four astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hanson, embark on a 10-day lunar orbit journey to conduct essential surveillance, testing, and experiments in preparation for the subsequent Artemis III mission, which aims to return humans to the moon’s surface in the near future.
The mission has sparked creative expressions from Canadian singer-songwriter Emm Gryner, who crafted a new song titled “Touch the Sky” to commemorate the occasion. Petrick, who directed, filmed, and edited the music video for Gryner’s song, expressed her excitement, stating, “It’s truly an honor. I’m obsessed with space and science fiction in general, so this just feels like my Stanley Kubrick moment.”
The music video, shot in various locations including Thunder Bay and Sarnia, features local actor Leo James Durocher portraying a younger version of Hanson. Gryner shared that the song creation process was inspired by her friendship with Catherine Hansen, Jeremy’s wife, and the collaborative efforts of a talented team.
Petrick and Gryner, who had long discussed collaborating, finally found the perfect opportunity with this project. The music video includes footage from NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and Hansen’s training, meticulously curated to capture the essence of the mission and the spirit of exploration.
Gryner expressed her satisfaction with the final product, emphasizing that the video wasn’t about her but a tribute to Hanson’s endeavors. She mentioned that all proceeds from the song “Touch the Sky” will be donated to the Bluewater Health Foundation in Sarnia, adding another layer of significance to the project.
