Dr Jen Gupta is interviewed alongside some of the world’s leading specialists on all aspects of speed.
Dr Jen Gupta, an astrophysicist at the University of Portsmouth, features in an exciting new film about speed and how it affects us.
Rapid Motion Through Space: An Incomplete History of Speed has its world premiere tonight (27 January) as part of a special event at the Royal Institution in London.
The documentary is the highly-anticipated debut feature length film from The Cosmic Shambles Network, which brings together the world’s leading scientists, comedians, writers and performers to produce entertainment for curious minds.
The film features exclusive interviews from a wide-ranging mix of scientists, engineers, sportspeople focusing on the many facets of speed and how it not only affects us all, but why it has fascinated humankind for thousands of years. It is presented by TV reporter and host for both MotoGP and the W Series, Amy Reynolds.
Filming my contribution with Trent took us back in time to when we think the first galaxies formed over 13 billion years ago, causing me to have a slight existential crisis about what a galaxy even is along the way!
Dr Gupta, Senior Public Engagement and Outreach Fellow in the University’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, is interviewed alongside some of the world’s leading specialists on all aspects of speed including astronaut Helen Sharman, 2021 Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner, McLaren F1 Team aerodynamics engineer Emel Cankaya, Olympic sprint medallist Desiree Henry, astrophysics YouTube star Dr Becky Smethurst and many more.
Dr Gupta said: “I've had the pleasure of participating in several Cosmic Shambles live events over the years and I can't wait to see how the team have pulled the hours of footage they filmed into a single feature length documentary. Filming my contribution with Trent took us back in time to when we think the first galaxies formed over 13 billion years ago, causing me to have a slight existential crisis about what a galaxy even is along the way!”
The documentary is directed and produced by the award-winning Shambles co-creator and director Trent Burton, and the cinematographer is Andrew Mickelburgh, a highly acclaimed Director of Photography with a well-established background in broadcast science television, including BAFTA nominated documentaries.
We travelled from Portsmouth to Switzerland filming exclusive interviews for the film so we could deliver a documentary in true Shambles style. Like our live shows we hope the film serves as a tasting menu of ideas and viewers will want to head off and further explore different areas that interest them.
Trent said: “Speed is such a vast topic it was perfect for Shambles’ first feature documentary film. As you’ll see from the trailer we’ve packed a whole lot into two hours from grand prix motorcycles to Bermuda land snails. We travelled from Portsmouth to Switzerland filming exclusive interviews for the film so we could deliver a documentary in true Shambles style. Like our live shows we hope the film serves as a tasting menu of ideas and viewers will want to head off and further explore different areas that interest them.”
The film’s world premiere screening is part of a panel discussion at The Royal Institution tonight, starting at 7.30pm. The panel will be chaired by comedian, actor and writer Robin Ince, with Dr Gupta joining experts including the film’s Director Trent Burton, physicist, oceanographer and television presenter Dr Helen Czerski and Matt Parker, mathematician, author, comedian, YouTube personality and science communicator.
Watch a trailer for the documentary here.