NASA is gearing up to launch humans, including a Canadian astronaut, to the moon after a hiatus of over fifty years. This mission, known as Artemis II, is scheduled for liftoff possibly next week. It will involve four astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hanson, on a 10-day journey around the moon. While the spacecraft will not land, it will engage in surveillance, testing, and experiments in preparation for Artemis III, which aims to bring humans back to the lunar surface in the near future.
Celebrating this mission is Canadian singer-songwriter Emm Gryner, who has released a new song titled “Touch the Sky.” The accompanying music video for the song was directed, shot, and edited by filmmaker Laura-Lynn Petrick, a Thunder Bay native. Petrick expressed her excitement, stating that working on the project felt like her own “Stanley Kubrick moment.”
The music video was filmed in various locations, including Thunder Bay at Belluz Farms, featuring local actor Leo James Durocher as a younger version of Hanson. Additional scenes were shot in Sarnia, showcasing Gryner performing at a piano. Gryner shared that the song idea emerged from a conversation with Catherine Hansen, Jeremy’s wife, and praised the collaborative effort that brought the project to life.
The video also incorporates footage from NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and Hansen’s training sessions. Petrick highlighted the creative process of selecting and editing the footage to evoke a sense of accomplishment and inspiration akin to a coming-of-age film.
Gryner expressed her satisfaction with the final video, emphasizing its focus on honoring the work of astronaut Jeremy Hansen. She mentioned that all proceeds from the song will be donated to the Bluewater Health Foundation in Sarnia. The collaboration between Petrick and Gryner culminated in a visual and musical tribute to the upcoming lunar mission and the dedication of the individuals involved.