How Many Stars?

In 1982, I saw a short film that offered a well-reasoned attempt to answer a timeless question:  How many stars are there in the universe?  It was fascinating and unforgettable.  I remember thinking that someday I’d like to make a film like that. Thirty-six years later someday finally arrived.

During the past six weeks, Jerry Harned and I have been working on a new five-minute video.  In it we try to calculate the star population of the cosmos (a number that seems to increase almost daily as more powerful telescopes see deeper and deeper into space).  The current estimates are staggering and inconceivable, but we do our best to bring them down to Earth. You’ll never look at the night sky the same way again.

As you’ll see in the film, we don’t limit our exploration to outer space.  We also dive into the microscopic universes of atoms and molecules. In some respects the complexity of these realms is even more mind-boggling.

I love projects like this because they’re challenging on several levels. It’s difficult to photograph the depths of the universe and the interior of an atom (yes, we’re eternally thankful for computer animation).  It’s also tough to tell a big, complex story in a handful of minutes. But I wake up every morning thrilled by the opportunity to try.

We aspire to produce films that, in some small way, reflect the brilliance of what God has created.  The subject matter is endless and, for a couple of filmmakers from southern California, it never loses its wonder.

I hope you enjoy HOW MANY STARS.  Be sure and share it with your kids and grandkids.  I can almost guarantee it will spark some lively conversations.

As always, thank you for your encouragement and support.  At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we absolutely cannot make these films – and then give them away to the world through THE JOHN 10:10 PROJECT  website – without the help of people like you.

Have a great month and please keep us in your prayers.  We’re working on a new film for July, right now.

Onward