Free screening of award-winning Woman In Motion film at the Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival™ celebrates Women’s History Month in the City of Orlando
The inspiring true story of how renowned Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols pioneered the NASA recruiting program to hire people of color and the first female astronauts for the space agency in the late 1970s and 1980s will screen as part of the City of Orlando’s celebration of women’s history month and the important contributions women have made in the Central Florida community.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City of Orlando present Woman In Motion: Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek and the Remaking of NASA, on Thursday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival™. The evening will celebrate the nationwide release of the film and include appearances by former Senator and astronaut Bill Nelson, former astronaut and NASA Deputy Administrator Frederick Gregory, Nicole Stott — the first astronaut to live Tweet from space – and other special guests.
Directed by local filmmaker, Todd Thompson, Woman In Motion chronicles the remarkable, untold story of how Star Trek actress Nichols transformed her sci-fi television stardom into a real-life science career when, in 1977, she embarked on a campaign to bring diversity to NASA. Nichols formed the company Women In Motion, Inc. and recruited more than 8,000 Black, Asian and Latino women and men for the agency. Nichelle and her program continue to influence the younger generation of astronauts as well, including Mae Jemison, the first female Black astronaut in space.
In addition to Nichols, Woman In Motion features notable celebrities, activists, scientists and astronauts including Neil deGrasse Tyson, George Takei, Pharrell Williams, Martin Luther King III, Al Sharpton, Vivica A. Fox, Walter Koenig, Rod Roddenberry, Michael Dorn, Guy Bluford, Charles Bolden, Ivor Dawson, Frederik Gregory and Benjamin Crump. The film currently enjoys a 98% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned numerous awards during its film festival run.
This film screening is part of Women’s History Month, which Mayor Dyer proclaimed to be celebrated through the month of March in the City of Orlando. “The City of Orlando has a long history of women residents who have helped advance the city and played a key role in shaping The City Beautiful over the years,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “Women have and continue to serve the community in many different ways, building a stronger Orlando for all who call it home. This Women’s History Month reaffirms the city’s commitment to assure that rights and privileges are available to women and all residents equally and that Orlando remains an inclusive, welcoming place for all.”
Woman In Motion is a great American story with incredible global impact,” said Thompson. “As a Florida filmmaker focused on telling inspiring stories and generating a continuous flow of work for local cast and crew, I’m thrilled to be sharing Nichelle’s story with the Orlando community.”
Tickets are free to view the film, but those interested should visit drphillipscenter.org/woman-in-
The evening is sponsored by Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Walt Disney World, elspaces, TyFy Studios, Moxē Integrated Marketing, Orlando Pride, Orlando Film Commission, CREW, Mitsubishi Power, HDR and Siemens.
For a copy of the City of Orlando Women’s History Month proclamation, click here.
WHEN & WHERE:
March 1 – March 31, 2021
Women’s History Month
City of Orlando
Thursday, March 11, 2021 Gates open at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7:00 p.m.
Woman In Motion: Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek and the Remaking of NASA Film
Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival™, 445 South Magnolia Avenue
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
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