NASA is gearing up to launch a mission to send humans, including a Canadian astronaut, to the moon after over fifty years, sparking excitement among space enthusiasts. The upcoming Artemis II mission is scheduled to take off next week, taking four astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hanson, on a 10-day journey around the moon to conduct various surveillance, testing, and experiments in preparation for Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface in the near future.
The mission has inspired Canadian singer-songwriter Emm Gryner to create a new song titled “Touch the Sky,” celebrating this significant endeavor. Thunder Bay-born filmmaker Laura-Lynn Petrick, known for her passion for space and science fiction, directed, filmed, and edited the music video for the song, likening the experience to a “Stanley Kubrick moment.”
The video production involved shooting scenes in Thunder Bay, featuring local actor Leo James Durocher portraying a younger version of Hansen, and in Sarnia, showcasing Gryner performing at a piano. Gryner shared that the song idea originated from a conversation with Catherine Hansen, Jeremy’s wife, and it eventually materialized into a collaborative project with a talented team.
Petrick and Gryner, who had been planning to collaborate for some time, seized the opportunity to work together on this project, incorporating footage from NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and Hansen’s training. The video, a tribute to Hansen’s mission, also highlights the scientific aspects of space exploration from a cinematic perspective.
Upon seeing the final video, Gryner expressed her admiration, emphasizing that the project is more about honoring Hansen’s work than personal appearances. She mentioned that all proceeds from the song will be donated to the Bluewater Health Foundation in Sarnia, demonstrating a commitment to giving back to the community.
