51 Degrees North

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

51° North
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGrigorij Richters
Written byGrigorij Richters
Produced byAlexander Souabni
Grigorij Richters
StarringMoritz von Zeddelmann
Steven Cree
Steve Nallon
Jamie Doyle
Dolly-Ann Osterloh
CinematographyJames Kinsman
Edited byDavid Milkins
Music byBrian May
Release dates
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget€10,000

51 Degrees North (sometimes stylized as 51° North) is a 2014 science-fiction film written and directed by Grigorij Richters and starring Moritz von Zeddelmann, Steve Nallon, Jamie Doyle, Dolly-Ann Osterloh, and Steven Cree. The film is visually presented as found footage shot from the perspective of various video recording devices, primarily from a handheld camcorder operated by the main characters and from CCTV cameras and social media. The original soundtrack was composed by Queen and Brian May.

Plot[edit]

Damon Miller (Moritz von Zeddelmann) is a talented, young German filmmaker living in London who is grappling with the pressures of an impoverished profession and a dissolving relationship. He soon discovers that the Earth stands on the brink of an extraterrestrial disaster.

Damon is informed that the world will end in less than three weeks when a series of asteroids will strike the Earth. However, a glimmer of hope remains in the form of a secret spaceship orbiting the Earth that can house up to 2,000 people. In exchange for a ticket to this spaceship, they task Damon with documenting the final moments leading up to the asteroid strike.

Seeing an opportunity to save Ann and his unborn child and a chance to mend the rift his obsession has created, Damon accepts the assignment. As the end of days arrives, Damon watches London descend into madness, with families torn apart and friends lost. Armed only with his camera, Damon prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the ones he loves.

Cast[edit]

  • Moritz von Zeddelmann as Damon Miller[3]
  • Steven Cree as Michael Burlington
  • Steve Nallon as Professor Richards
  • Jamie Doyle as Frank
  • Dolly-Ann Osterloh as Ann
  • Frenzi as Frenzi
  • Snoopy as Snoopy

Production[edit]

51° North was shot between 2011 and 2014 in and around London, initially using a skeleton crew and employing guerrilla filmmaking tactics. The crew included stunt coordinator Greg Powell whose previous credits include the James Bond, Harry Potter, and Jason Bourne franchises.

The film was one of the largest productions ever to shoot at Piccadilly Circus, featuring over 2,500 extras.[4][5]

Music[edit]

51° North Composer and Queen guitarist Brian May with the film's production team outside Sarm Studios after a recording session.

Brian May, guitarist of British rock band Queen composed the music for the film.[6]

Release[edit]

51° North headlined the 2014 Starmus Festival[citation needed] and will be released on 30 June 2015.[7][8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Starmus Day 2: Hawking, May, "51 Degrees North" film – Astronomy Magazine – Interactive Star Charts, Planets, Meteors, Comets, Telescopes".
  2. ^ "STARMUS Festival".
  3. ^ "agenturFILMGOLD :: Agentur für Schauspieler und Newcomer :: Moritz von Zeddelmann". agenturfilmgold.de. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  4. ^ Hannah Shaw-Williams (2 November 2011). "Piccadilly Circus Descends into Chaos For Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Film Shoot". Bleeding Cool Comic Book, Movie, TV News. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  5. ^ APTN News Report
  6. ^ "Brian News – June 2014". brianmay.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Director Grigorij Richters launches 51 Degrees North feature film Kickstarter campaign". astronomy.com. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Asteroid Day: Everything you need to know about saving the world from space rocks". International Business Times. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.

External links[edit]