I've been thinking a good bit about Apollo 15 over the last few weeks... being 40 years ago these past weeks, and have just started reading Al Worden's book. Apollo 15 was the first "long" set that we did, 6 DVDs, quite an undertaking as our third set. It was an interesting time, and later we upgraded the set to make it more along the model of our sets, with much more preparation material before launch. But the production of the Apollo 15 set really was the time when we developed what the Spacecraft FIlms set would really be like. Packed with material, and just as complete as we could get it.
One of the reasons I remember the Apollo 15 set so fondly is because it was the first time that I spoke with an Apollo astronaut about a set we were creating. I was working on the onboard footage, and was trying to determine why some of the footage was "reversed." We have a policy of turning the footage around so that it is correct, but I wanted more information. I had spoken with a few people and word sort of "got out" that I was looking for some answers on why some footage was reversed. One afternoon while working on Apollo 15 the phone rings. It was late. I answered it. The kind voice on the other end told me he was Al Worden, and he'd heard I wanted to talk to him. We chatted about several technical aspects of the footage from Apollo 15.
We finished up the set and it has long been one of our most popular. A great mission. I've since also had the pleasure of talking with Dave Scott about some aspects of the mission, when I did the revision. And of course I regret never having the chance to know or meet Jim Irwin. But I'm enjoying Al's book and the history of Spacecraft Films of which I am reminded. I'm happy to finally have the Apollo 15 set available again... it's a great mission, and one of the sets of which I'm most proud.
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