Random Happening: PVPLC in a Virtual Event Presents Award-Winning Documentary Chesley Bonestell ~ A Brush with the Future

On Jan. 29, Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy will present a special virtual event: Chesley Bonestell ~ A Brush with the Future. 

Admission to the event includes a DVD and Zoom Q&A discussion from 4 to 5 p.m., with award-winning South Bay filmmakers Douglass M. Stewart, Jr. and Timothy Branning (San Pedro). Also joining the discussion will be renowned space artist Ron Miller, a co-producer of the film, and rocket engineer, Rocco Lardiere, of Palos Verdes. The moderator will be Dr. William Ailor, founder of the Land Conservancy, who is a technical fellow at The Aerospace Corporation.

Long before satellites would journey to planets and deep-space telescopes would photograph distant galaxies, there was a man whose prescient vistas dazzled the eyes and the imagination of those who beheld them. His name was Chesley Bonestell. This feature documentary will show you how this space artist saw so far in the future. Filmmaker and Rancho Palos Verdes resident Douglass M. Stewart, Jr. has uncovered the fascinating life of architect and painter Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986). Bonestell lent his talents to two legendary structures: the Chrysler Building and the Golden Gate Bridge. He participated in famous movies like Citizen Kane and The War of The Worlds as a matte artist. So it’s curious that few today know who he is. Chesley Bonestell ~ A Brush with the Future endeavors to remedy that.

Stewart and Branning’s film unveils the true legacy of Chesley Bonestell. Told by people who knew Chesley personally, and by those who saw the genius of his work – such as Ray Bradbury — the film also includes rare interview footage of Chesley, himself​. This award- winning feature documentary chronicles the extraordinary, nine-decade life of a quiet, artistic visionary, whose imagery caught the attention of the American public. His futuristic paintings offered hope to a public weary of fighting World War II. His work portrayed space as “The Final Frontier,” just waiting to be explored and settled, like the Old West. Many veteran aerospace engineers living in the South Bay grew up with Bonestell’s images igniting their imaginations and giving them a dream to follow. His dazzling visions of planets in our solar system are credited with the creation of America’s space program.

As a fitting legacy, the film was sent to the International Space Station where it now resides in the ship’s library for the crew’s enjoyment.

Stewart worked on the film with Rocco Lardiere, an aerospace engineer whose career was influenced by Chesley Bonestell. Branning, also based in the South Bay, was the film’s principal director of photography. 

Watch the trailer; https://www.chesleybonestell.com/trailer.html 

Buckle up for an exciting exploration of a true galactic visionary. The event includes home delivery of a DVD. Participants should make a reservation to receive an advance copy of the film to watch at home and get the login link for the Zoom event.

Time: 4 to 5 p.m., Jan 29, Q&A discussion

Cost: $30 per family 

Details: Get tickets and DVD at: pvplc.org/event/chesleybonestell

Venue: Zoom

Find more information below: 

Development Director, Susan Wilcox

310-541-7613, x202

Email: swilcox@pvplc.org

Communications Manager Louise Olfarnes

Tel: 310-541-7613, x 210 Cell: 31- 626-7863

Email: lolfarnes@pvplc.org

https://www.chesleybonestell.com/trailer.html