My next film will be a three minute short about Sputnik 2 and its canine passenger, Laika. I have finalized the story, I have built the models, and I am ready to begin production.

Dog's Head Modeling

The project is so exciting because I see potential in capturing the dichotomy between the pure joy of being the first living thing in space the harsh reality of being trapped on a suicide mission.

Laika was found on the streets of Moscow and was deemed a prime candidate for space travel. Soviet scientists assumed that a stray dog would be well-prepared for the cold of space. Without much fanfare, she was placed in a tiny capsule on the top of a multi-stage variation of a German V2 rocket three days before the launch. She became the first animal in space before dieing from heat and stress several hours later.

The film opens with a close-up shot of Laika in a tiny, undefined capsule. She lazily opens her eyes and scratches herself. A low rumbling noise gets louder and louder until, in an instant, Laika’s eyes jerk upward and her ears perk upward in exaggerated surprise. The scene changes to a wide-frame view of the launch already in progress at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Model of Sputnik 2 Launch Site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome

It is essential to highlight the contrast between the hastily-designed R-7 rocket of Soviet engineering and the elegance of the evolved dog inside. During the launch sequence, the camera follows the rocket from an aerial observation point, using simulated lens-zoom effects to avoid a video-game camera feeling. The close up happens to capture some of the inefficiencies of the design: screws bolting off, rocket stages burning up, and the capsule shaking violently.

When the dog reaches space, she plays in the weightless and wags her tail happily. Through the window she can see the deep blue atmosphere against the blackness of space. She is the first living thing to see the curvature of the Earth. The iconic Sputnik beep doubles as Laika’s excited heartbeat.

Fur and Skin Texture Tests on Laika Model

Slowly and deliberately, the mood changes from the exhilaration of being in space to realization that there is no method for return. The reconcilable Sputnik beep is altered to sound more like an oppressive master. Laika paws with increasing desperation at the window and looks longingly at the Earth below. As the music intensifies, the tiny craft with paper-thin walls is shown hurtling silently through the blackness of space.

Finally, Laika chooses to hold her own leash, so to speak, and end the mission on her own terms by jumping out of her hurtling craft.

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I am very excited to be actively working on a film again after a year-long, school-imposed hiatus. The skills I learn while experimenting in 3D space are just as valuable as those I learn in the classroom, but I had doubts about defining myself in an academic environment without impressive courses.  Now I am convinced that creating a short film is a more effective and enjoyable way of presenting myself – even in an academic environment – than excellency in my classes.