Proposal Writing: The Real Universe
by Derek Reid
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Picture this: A massive, unstable star with its foot on the nuclear gas pedal, speeding through its short life towards an early, spectacular demise. A starburst galaxy whose spiral is completely overwhelmed by flame-like plumes shooting out from its core, electrifying every atom in its path. An enormous cluster of galaxies, with their incredible mass, bending and amplifying light from the farthest reaches of space and time. What are we seeing? What does it mean? This can only be The Real Universe.
For all of the amazement we feel looking out into space, there has never been an astronomy series that is laser-focused on what space actually looks like. Certainly, there have been many attempts to illustrate the wonders of the cosmos using CGI and animated simulations, which look impressive, and have some value when trying to illustrate the complexities of modern astrophysics. But problems arise when “artist’s renderings” are edited alongside “real” images in an unclear way, causing many viewers to wonder what’s real … and what’s fake.
As an example, ask yourself if you’ve ever seen a picture of the Milky Way, our home galaxy, from above or below. Or in its entirety from far away. Or in motion. Watching a typical astronomy documentary, you’ve probably seen such an image. If so, whatever the context, whatever the intent, you’ve been tricked. Because no such image exists. Taking a picture of the Milky Way is like photographing a city from street level. We just can’t see it all.
As television producers and truth seekers, the biggest question we ask ourselves is: Why show an animation of a galaxy, nebula, or star cluster when we can show the real thing? There are no animations in space – only real galaxies, real nebulas, and real star clusters. And we’re not talking about blurry pixels or faint points of light. These are the most photogenic space images ever captured, all together in one 13-part documentary series that is as powerful and authentic a viewing experience as you will ever see. In a world of augmented reality, computer generated fiction, and fake news, The Real Universe is what educated audiences want most: a return to truth.
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Hosted by a preeminent space scientist, and reinforced throughout with documentary-style interviews, every episode in the series tackles a different hot-topic issue in astronomy – the search for extraterrestrial life, the colonization of other planets, the quest to figure out dark matter – all using incredible images of deep space as a springboard to higher understanding. Expertly written and researched, the narrative emphasizes the wonder and awe of the glorious universe, combining poetic musings, subjective impressions, and staggering facts, striking the perfect balance between imagination and explanation.
Culled from the latest and greatest images from the world’s premiere space agencies, everything you see is 100% real and unaltered, with no enlargements or up-scaling, showcasing only the most mind-blowing scenics in all of creation. This simple premise, which no other astronomy series has ever had the conviction to uphold, elevates The Real Universe to a level of authenticity never witnessed. Until now.
Picture this: A dazzling nebula studded with glowing pink clouds and tendrils of dark dust, harboring thousands and thousands of budding stars. An ancient globular cluster with millions of primordial bodies whizzing through space at 600 kilometers per second, lighting up the darkness like fireworks. A spiral galaxy in a hurricane-like swirl, cannibalizing a powerless neighbour with unstoppable ferocity. You’ve never seen anything like this before, and you’re not going to believe your eyes. This is The Real Universe.