Swinburne to unveil the Hidden Universe

A 3D simulation of the evolution of the Universe is being produced as a giant-screen film in a unique partnership between Swinburne University of Technology and December Media.
Swinburne's Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing (CAS) is using the university's ‘Green Machine' supercomputer to turn new data into a 3D simulation. Meanwhile, December Media producer Stephen Amezdroz will shoot live action scenes in some of the highest, driest and remotest places on the planet.

Russell Scott of Swinburne 3D Astronomy Productions at the CAS will direct the film.

"This is a big bold venture by our 3D Astronomy Productions team that showcases Swinburne's ability to undertake ground-breaking work in collaboration with external partners," CAS Director Professor Warrick Couch said.

"It is a very exciting step forward in linking us to a wider, global community and exciting them about their place in the Universe."

The $8.6 million film supported by Film Victoria will be distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films, the world's largest distributor of IMAX films.

"We're making a film about what lies within the gaze of the new generation of telescopes," Mr Amezdroz said.

"Hidden Universe will reveal as never before the incredible links between our own nature and the rest of the Universe and the possibility of life on other planets - giving audiences a dramatic new view of the cosmos."

With production taking place in July and August in Chile and Australia, the Australia-based filmmakers will employ computer-generated imagery, remastered telescopic images and cutting edge new data to create simulations of the cosmos and its beginnings.

From imagery obtained from telescopes such as Hubble, the VLT (Very Large Telescope) and ALMA Telescope in Chile, they will create 3D giant-screen images of celestial structures such as the Whirlpool Galaxy, Crab Nebula and many others. The film will also visualise for audiences what telescopes ‘see' in multi-wavelength revealing previously unseen forms such as pulsars and stellar nurseries.

Hidden Universe is due for release in 2013.

Provided by Swinburne University of Technology