NICKELODEON SUITS UP FOR THE ASTRONAUTS HOUR-LONG
PREMIERE EVENT, FRIDAY, NOV. 13, AT 7 P.M. (ET/PT)
The Astronauts Marks the First Production From Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Kids+Family Division
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HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--Oct. 9, 2020--Nickelodeon enters orbit for an epic hour-long premiere event of The Astronauts, the network’s first co-production with Imagine Kids+Family. The brand-new live-action series follows a group of kids who embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they are mistakenly launched into space. The Astronauts is executive produced by Imagine Entertainment Executive Chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, and Imagine Kids+Family President Stephanie Sperber. The series is created by Daniel Knauf (Carnivàle, The Blacklist), who also serves as writer and executive producer. The first two episodes of The Astronauts premiere back-to-back commercial on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
In the hour-long premiere of The Astronauts, the spacecraft Odyssey II is set to launch on a mission to retrieve a foreign object that could potentially save mankind. The plan quickly goes awry when five untrained kids use their parents’ security clearances to sneak onto the empty ship. Soon after they board, the onboard AI system triggers the launch sequence. Unable to stop the ship from blasting off, the kids must assume their new role as astronauts and brave harrowing tasks, as their parents rush to find a way to take control of the situation.
The group traveling together through space are: Samantha “Samy” Sawyer-Wei, played by Miya Cech (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Always Be My Maybe); Elliott Combs, played by Bryce Gheisar (Wonder, A Dog’s Purpose); Martin Taylor, played by Keith L. Williams (Good Boys, The Last Man on Earth); Doria Taylor, played by Kayden Grace Swan (A Black Lady Sketch Show); and Will Rivers, played by Ben Daon (Child’s Play). Matilda, the ship’s onboard AI system, is voiced by Paige Howard (The Employer, Adventureland).
The premiere episodes of The Astronauts are directed by DGA Award nominee Dean Israelite (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Power Rangers movie, Project Almanac), who also serves as executive producer. The series is also directed by Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, The Orville), and Marcus Stokes (Criminal Minds, The Flash, 911). Will Davis served as creative executive for Imagine Kids+Family.
Production of The Astronauts for Nickelodeon is overseen by Shauna Phelan, Senior Vice President, Live Action Scripted Content; and Zack Olin, Senior Vice President, Live Action. Brian Banks serves as Nickelodeon’s Executive in Charge of Production for the series.
The Astronauts is the first production to hail from Imagine Kids+Family. Imagine has a rich history telling stories rooted in space adventure, including the multiple Academy Award-winning film Apollo 13 (celebrating its 25th anniversary this year), the hybrid docuseries Mars for NatGeo, and the Emmy Award-winning series From The Earth To The Moon for HBO.
About Imagine Kids+Family
Imagine Kids+Family was formed in 2019 by Imagine Entertainment Chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard with a focus on developing and producing premium kids and family entertainment with capabilities in consumer products and franchise building. Imagine Kids+Family is run by President Stephanie Sperber, a veteran kids entertainment executive with a successful career in building kids and family businesses, IP, and franchises. IKF recently acquired an equity stake in popular The Tiny Chef Show to develop the original short-form stop-motion animation Tiny Chef character across all platforms including short-form, tv series, and digital, and is part of a strategic global franchise plan. Currently, IKF is producing its first live-action series The Astronauts for Nickelodeon; Kalamata’s Kitchen; Breyer Hollow; The Trail; and Going Vintage to name a few. IKF is also producing Max Einstein under its partnership with James Patterson’s’ kid imprint Jimmy Books, and has a first-look partnership with Academy Award-winning animation company Lion Forge (Hair Love) around its existing IP of both licensed and original ideas, starting with Chippy Hood, Bug Tron, Puerto Rico Strong, and Unt. Black Comic Anthology.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 41st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).
Update (11/12) - The Astronauts season one will have 10 episodes.
The Astronauts | Friday at 7PM!! | Episodes "Countdown" & "Day 1" | All New to Nickelodeon!!
The Astronauts | NEW Series Premieres Friday at 7PM with an Hour Long Premiere!!
From Local Profile:
Plano Native Bryce Gheisar Stars in Nickelodeon’s “The Astronauts”
Launching his father’s spaceship, the Odyssey 2, was an accident. Elliot Combs, the sensitive and proud son of the Odyssey’s billionaire owner, had convinced his four friends to sneak on board with him. He called it “a once in a lifetime deal.”
Then the countdown to launch began.
Now, Elliot has to prove that he is the leader that he knows he can be and learn how to work together with his friends, not only to show his worth to his dad and to himself but also to bring them safely home to their parents, who are watching from Earth.
But they are not alone in space.
“The Astronauts” is a new Nickelodeon series starring Plano native Bryce Gheisar, Keith L. Williams, Kayden Grace Swan, and Ben Daon. Dean Israelite directs and serves as executive producer along with Marcus Stokes, Jonathan Frakes, and Daniel Knauf who is also the creator, writer, and showrunner. It premiers at 7 p.m. Nov. 13.
“Elliot comes across as confident and rude but is actually more sensitive,” says Bryce, who is 15. “The cool thing about it is that I was actually auditioning for Will, but looked older than the other kids. [So I auditioned] for Elliot and it fit better, more in tune with what they wanted.”
Born in 2004 in Plano, Bryce was a rising star in competitive gymnastics when he first discovered his love for acting. At 8 years old, he didn’t know that you could become an actor. “At first it was very different than I was used to,” he says. “Gymnastics were very sporty and required like practice three hours every day. Very tough. Acting felt like less of a hassle and something fun. Then after a certain amount of time, I realized it could be a career path.”
Bryce enrolled at Cathryn Sullivan’s Acting for Film school in Lewisville. Cathryn “Cathy” Sullivan has been teaching actors and actresses for decades in the Dallas area. Her older son Chad had starred in several films, including 1994’s Frank & Jesse, 1995’s Past the Bleachers, and 1998’s Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack, before his untimely death in 2011. Her younger son Cody Linley played Jack Ryan on Miley Cyrus’s Hannah Montana show.
Cathy offers a variety of acting classes for kids, teens, and adults such as Acting for Camera for 6 to 9-year-old kids and film classes for 10-year-old and up, even until they hit college. Sullivan’s Hall of Fame includes a variety of successful artists, including Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Thomas Mann.
As Devin Way from “Grey’s Anatomy” wrote in a testimonial included on Cathy’s website for her acting school: “The beautiful thing about my experience at Cathryn’s was as much as I knew she cared about my acting, she cared about me more. She cares about her students. Authentically. Then from a place of love and trust, reaches in and transforms their acting ability from the inside out. Once you’re one of Cathy’s kids, you’re hers for life.”
Cathy’s school transformed Bryce, who was originally interested in the comedic side of acting. He loves comedies, but as he grew older, he fell in love with the dramatic side of acting. “And that was one of the things that Cathy helped me discover how to do the emotional state in different scenes,” he says.
For about five years, Bryce took classes from Cathy, reaching the master level before leaving at the age of 13 or 14. In his early days of acting, like many beginning actors, he shot quite a few commercials. In 2015, he landed a short role as Elijah Gutnick in The Bus Stop. A year later, he appeared as Herman in Walk the Prank, and then transitioned into film.
His first feature was A Dog’s Purpose in 2017, starring Dennis Quad, Josh Grad, and several other well known actors. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom, it was based on the 2010 novel by W. Bruce Cameron and told the story of a devoted dog searching for a rightful purpose. Bryce played Ethan Montogermy, a kind-hearted boy who adopts the dog.
From there, he appeared in Wonder with Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, and Clint Eastwood’s The 15:17 to Paris, starring Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler, and Alek Skarlatos. Bryce played a young Alek in the biographical film, based on the autobiography The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes.
“It was really surreal being on set [with Clint Eastwood],” Bryce says. “He is kind of like a guy who sits and instead of calling action says, ‘Go ahead.’ He’s very quiet and [wants it] calm on set.”
Bryce offers this piece of advice for aspiring actors, though it could also apply to other artists such as musicians and writers:
“You have to love it because there is a lot of rejection. I do hundreds of auditions and don’t hear back on almost all of them. You really have to focus and if you don’t, it’s very hard, and don’t take things personally. Just keep at it.”
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From The Province:
Young Bowen Island actor takes flight in new space series
New Vancouver-shot series stars local actor Ben Daon.
Bowen Island’s Ben Daon’s first really big acting break was a two-part exercise.
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| Ben Daon got to sleep in his own bed at night when he played Will Rivers in the new Vancouver-shot Nickelodeon series The Astronauts. PHOTO BY HANDOUT /PNG |
While the 15-year-old West Vancouver Secondary School student was shooting the newNickelodeon series The Astronauts in Vancouver, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and forced the production, like the other 50 or so TV/film productions shooting here, to put a pin in it and shut down.
What happens when a group of kids accidentally get shot into space? Find out when Nickelodeon's new Vancouver-shot series The Astronauts premieres on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. Seen here is the cast of kids from l-r: Kayden Grace Swan, Bryce Gheisar, Miya Cech, Keith L. Williams and Vancouver's Ben Daon.
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| What happens when a group of kids accidentally get shot into space? Find out when Nickelodeon’s new Vancouver-shot series The Astronauts premieres on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. Seen here is the cast of kids from left: Kayden Grace Swan, Bryce Gheisar, Miya Cech, Keith L. Williams and Vancouver’s Ben Daon. PHOTO BY COURTESY OF NICKELODEON /PNG |
Daon went back across the water and waited at home for things to resume on the biggest acting job he has had since booking his first commercial at age 11.
Finally, after a handful of months the $3-billion B.C. film and TV business began to ramp back up. The Astronauts’ cast and crew went back to work and again like everyone else the production had to follow strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols — including increased cleanings, face coverings, social distancing and limited people on set — as they shot the last six episodes of the series.
“It was kind of sad not to be able to high-five and hug your friends, but I would rather not be able to do that and still get to be part of this project,” said Daon over the phone from his home. “It was a necessary sacrifice in order to keep filming.”
Daon said the return to production took a bit of getting used to. Aside from not being able to warmly greet people, the cast and crew had to get used to the new normal. But, as Daon explains, the new normal isn’t that normal for an outgoing kid.
“It was pretty crazy because no one was used to wearing face masks or face covering. Now it has become the normal. It was pretty alien for some people,” said Daon. “It was weird because you couldn’t really see people’s faces. You feel a bit cut off and I love meeting people and talking to everyone and that’s something you couldn’t do once COVID hit. Other than that they had done such a good job of keeping it COVID safe. We didn’t have one case. Everything was done impeccably well. We had COVID tests every 72 hours and it worked out really well.”
In The Astronauts, which premieres on Nickelodeon on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m., five kids (played by Kayden Grace Swan, Bryce Gheisar, Miya Cech, Keith L. Williams and Daon) are accidentally launched into space. What ensues is a huge adventure as the group has to work together to get back home. The kids are all there because, according to Daon, they’re all connected to someone connected to the launch. In his case his mother is an investigative journalist who is on a story.
“There’s initial shock but once that wears off we realize we’re in a lot of danger because we are five untrained children on a lethal spacecraft on a mission to an asteroid,” said Daon, explaining the conceit of the show. “We as a team need to learn how to grow and go from strangers who have never met to build emotional connections and become a family and keep each other alive. In that journey it’s really, really important that each and every one of us is present and participates because we all bring something different to the table but that’s exactly why we succeed.”
What Daon’s character Will Rivers brings is levity. He says Daon is the spaceship clown.
“Will is definitely the glue of the group. He is the comic relief and he will always be able to find the light and the joke in everything,” said Daon. “He really helps to keep the group sane up there.”
Daon says he and Will share a love of cracking wise. For Daon that pull toward a punch line was something that he developed to help him get through some tough times.
“Being able to crack a smile and find the light in something is something I have been taught from a very young age,” said Daon. “I dealt with some bullying and my dad has always told me that there is always something to smile about, you just have to look for it and that’s what I do and I brought that to Will.”
Vancouver actor Ben Daon is seen here as the character Will Rivers in the new Nickelodeon Vancouver-shot series The Astronauts.
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| Vancouver actor Ben Daon is seen here as the character Will Rivers in the new Nickelodeon Vancouver-shot series The Astronauts. PHOTO BY COURTESY OF NICKELODEON /PNG |
What he also brought was some serious stunt skills thanks to seven years of competitive gymnastics that included three all-around provincial championships to his name.
“I was really lucky to be cast as Will because Will does the most flying,” said Daon, who added he did every stunt that production would let him do. “I was quick to learn, I mean it was a weird feeling to learn, but it was such a cool experience. I definitely brought some of the stuff from gymnastics, like how to activate my core.”
To look weightless Daon said the one instruction he got that really helped him was to imagine two balloons were sitting right under his armpits.
“It was really, really cool. I felt proud that I was able to do my stunts and act at the same time,” said Daon. “It proved to myself I am capable to do that and that made me happy because I want to do the best work that I can.”
The Astronauts, like many TV series, has multiple directors. In this case three of them. One of those at the helm was happy to highlight Daon’s eagerness and work ethic.
“Ben has great commitment to every scene he’s a part of. He understands the nuances of the script and his character in every moment, and makes bold, smart choices. He’s not afraid to take risks,” said director Dean Israelite in an email. “As with this whole cast, it was rewarding to see him evolve as an actor and as a kid throughout the show.”
The new series comes with some impressive backing in the form of Ron Howard’s and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Kids+Family production company. Not a bad start for a child.
“This was my first big anything,” said Daon. “Everything just clicked. I met four awesome kids. I love all of them. They are all so cool and I got to do this in my hometown, Vancouver. I got to still see my friends and family which wasn’t a privilege the other kids enjoyed.”
Right now Daon is busy doing online auditions and going to school. School these days means he’s in a cohort of 15-20 kids and will be for the year.
He said school is OK for him because he had a bit of leg-up, some extra training if you will, heading into this unusual fall.
“I heard a lot of complaints about masks. I didn’t feel the same way because there wasn’t a choice for me. I couldn’t not wear it while working,” said Daon. “It didn’t bother me too much. I had that pre-school training for mask-wearing.”
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From POPSUGAR:
Why Parents Will Actually Enjoy Watching Nickelodeon's The Astronauts With Their Kids
We partnered with Nickelodeon to gear up for the launch of their new show, The Astronauts, premiering Nov. 13.
Houston, we have a problem. Parents today are 24/7 caretakers, babysitters, teachers, and so much more. With all this added responsibility, managing screen time has basically gone out the window — TV time has turned into family time, and finding a show that's both educational for kids and entertaining for parents can take a bit of digging.
That's why Nickelodeon's brand-new show, The Astronauts, should be at the top of your queue. It's an ambitious story filled with space adventures and valuable life lessons, which follows a group of kids who sneak onto a spacecraft called the ODYSSEY II and mistakenly get launched into space. From the relatable character dynamics to the hyperrealistic graphics, there's something for every member of the family to enjoy. Keep reading to learn why The Astronauts is bound to become a family favorite.
The Show Promotes Women in STEM
Samy Sawyer-Wei is the daughter of the ODYSSEY II's commander. Ever since she could remember, Samy has followed in her mother's footsteps, studying her space training. Samy's curiosity and courageousness make her the natural-born leader of the group, guiding the crew through the ups and downs of space travel.
Doria Taylor, another astronaut on board, has always been interested in medicine and dreams of becoming a neurologist. Her ambition is infectious and demonstrates that kids can achieve any goals they set.
It Showcases Relatable Family Dynamics
Doria and her brother, Martin, are polar opposites; she's outgoing and creative, while he's more reserved and detail oriented. As the older brother, Martin is fiercely protective of Doria — sometimes more than she'd like. And although their differences can cause arguments, their bond always remains strong.
On the other hand, Elliot Combs is the only child of the spacecraft's billionaire owner. Throughout his life, Elliot has lived in his father's shadow, seeking his approval. Elliot sees his time on board the ODYSSEY II as an opportunity to finally prove his worth to his father.
The Visuals Are Out of This World
The Astronauts includes all of the classic space thriller elements: the mystery of outer space, possible alien life, fear of survival, and of course, stunning visual effects. With its action-packed plot, this show is the perfect weekly watch that won't have parents counting down until bedtime.
The Astronauts premieres Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on Nickelodeon.
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From BSCkids:
Keith L. Williams Talks Role On Nickelodeon Series The Astronauts – Exclusive Interview
We have been eagerly anticipating hour-long premiere event of The Astronauts on Nickelodeon Friday, November 13th and we were lucky enough to get a chance to talk with Keith L. Williams.
In The Astronauts, the spaceship Odyssey II is set to launch to investigate a mysterious asteroid passing by Earth. Keith leads the ensemble cast who gather to watch the lift-off and sneak onto the empty ship with their parent’s security clearance before the event, accidentally initiating the launch sequence.
BSCKids: Tell us a bit about your character Martin on the upcoming Nickelodeon series, The Astronauts?
Keith L. Williams: Martin Taylor is the fun-loving and protective big brother to Doria. He brings a healthy dose of common sense, heart, and loyalty to the group.
Do you feel like you have anything in common with your character? Would you sneak on to an empty ship?
I feel like I have a lot in common with my character Martin. We both like gardening and are protective of our family. I would definitely sneak on a ship, as long as it didn’t launch into space.
So how technical are you? Do you feel like you could pull this off in real life?
I would say I’m very technical. I love fixing and building things and with the right team I could definitely pull this off.
Last summer, Keith was the breakout in Universal’s #1 comedy film, Good Boys, earning rave reviews from critics, including Deadline praising his performance as “…the real scene stealer here is the irresistible Williams, who not only is the one with common sense, but also an actor who already has mastered perfect comic timing and line delivery.”
What are two things you would not want to go to space without?
I would not want to go into space without my pet gecko Leo, and my mom.
What would you say the hardest part about filming was and do you have any fun behind the scenes stories you can share?
The hardest thing about filming was leaving my family behind and due to COVID-19, we had to be very careful. Everyone involved in the production of our show made safety the number one priority on set. One of my favorite stories was when I had to wear my spacesuit outside the ship and pretend to run when the ship was in trouble. I didn’t think I would ever catch my breath.
Tell us something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I am very passionate about antibullying and civil rights.
Best known to television audiences for his memorable role as Jasper on FOX’s The Last Man on Earth; other notable credits include Jason Reitman’s celebrity-filled The Princess Bride reboot for Quibi, TV Land’s Teachers, Showtime’s Kidding, and ABC’s Selfie and The Goldbergs, among others.
If you could guest star on any Nickelodeon show past or present which one would it be and why?
It would definitely be Game Shakers because I would get to learn how to code.
Why should everyone tune in to The Astronauts on November 13th?
Everyone should tune in because it’s an exhilarating show for all ages and is nothing like you’ve seen on Nickelodeon. With Ron Howard and Brian Grazer as executive producers, you know it will be an incredible series. I can’t wait for everyone to see it!
So looking forward to this show and grateful for the opportunity to speak with Keith L. Williams about his role!
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From The New York Times:
Paige Howard has a special role in new Nickelodeon show ‘The Astronauts’
Actress Paige Howard is used to being in front of the camera — but it’s her voice that takes a co-starring role on Nickelodeon’s new series “The Astronauts.”
Howard, 35, plays Matilda, the AI-powered onboard computer interacting with five teens accidentally launched into outer space. The 10-episode live-action series premieres Friday at 7 p.m.
“It’s a different ballgame and an exciting field to dive into,” Howard says of her role as Matilda. “I’ve really fallen in love with voiceover work … and would love to continue with this.”
“The Astronauts” centers around Samy (Miya Cech), Elliott (Bryce Gheisar), Martin (Keith L. Williams), Doria (Kayden Grace Swan) and Will (Ben Daon) — who are trying to navigate their new world aboard the Odyssey II spacecraft and are undecided whether the robotic-sounding Matilda is a friend or adversary.
Daniel Knauf (“Carnivale,” “The Blacklist”) created and wrote and the series. He’s also an executive-producer, along with Imagine Entertainment — run by Paige’s father, Ron Howard, and Brian Grazer — and Imagine Kids+.
“They sent along a little character breakdown [for Matilda], which was very similar to what they would have sent if she was an onscreen character,” says Howard. “That was really helpful, and then they gave me a couple of scenes and I auditioned on-camera. It was a very typical auditioning process.
“Matilda was described as being assertive and Alexa-like, but open to growth and evolution,” she says, alluding to Amazon’s ubiquitous interactive virtual assistant. “Initially she’s a little cooler [in her tone] but, as the series progresses, we see more of her colors … and she starts to shift pretty quickly.
“That’s the vibe.”
Howard says the industrywide shutdown impacted the way in which she recorded her role.
“I was hired at the start [of production] and when I came online they had gone to Canada and filmed four episodes,” she says. “I literally got a call that they were going to bring me into the studio to start work … and that same week everything went down with COVID and quarantining.
“Nickelodeon and the Imagine production teams got super-creative and innovative and together they managed to set up a pretty fantastic recording studio in my little New York City closet,” she says. “I got some of the footage from the first episode and then over the next few episodes it was me…recording it at home… with the director over Zoom.
“I was laying down lines, and then they would see how they fit into the episode and would come back and ask me to do it again,” she says. “Then we’d move on.”
Howard says that, due to this recording process, she has yet to meet her five co-stars — at least in-person.
“Even when you’re making a film you go to the premiere and it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re in this movie too!’ If you don’t have scenes together or a big chunk of screen time together it’s like ships passing in the night,” she says. “I’ve been fan-girling them like crazy all over Instagram. They’re all so talented and impressive and intelligent.
“They were on my mind a lot — and a little part of me feels like I know them already.”
She says that getting the role of Matilda wasn’t a lock — despite the involvement of her father’s company.
“I’ve been auditioning for a while and I’ve auditioned for Imagine and Nickelodeon before,” she says. “It’s one of those things where if it fits, it fits. If it doesn’t, no one is going to stretch it for me…and this one was a really good fit.
“Honestly, I don’t know if my Dad got involved with [the series] at all,” she says. “One thing that we’re really good at in our family is having strong boundaries between work and what happens in our family life. Of course we’re really supportive of each other, like ‘Give it your best shot,’ but we don’t get involved [in each other’s careers] beyond that.”
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From Cynopsis Media:
Imagine That: Ron Howard Lifts Off for Nickelodeon With The Astronauts
The Astronauts, the debut series from Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Kids & Family, is slated to blast off on Nickelodeon Friday, November 13 at 7p. The action follows a group of kids who sneak onto a spaceship and accidentally initiate a launch sequence—with no adults onboard. Imagine co-founder Ron Howard spoke with Cynopsis about the live-action show’s aesthetic—think Apollo 13, not SpongeBob—what it’s been like creating during Covid, and other projects percolating at Imagine.
Cynopsis: The Astronauts doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen in children’s television.
Ron Howard: It really exceeded my wildest hopes for what it could be. The whole notion of these kids going on this particular kind of adventure… it captured everyone’s imagination who was involved in the show. I think they wanted it to compare to these real big-screen adventures, and they made it happen.
This seems to be another project that spiraled from your fascination with space. What was the genesis of project? It definitely isn’t just a show for kids.
It isn’t, by design. It was really a collaboration between Nickelodeon and Imagine. This is our first project for Imagine Kids & Family and I have to say, it was one of those ideas that immediately made sense and you wonder why it hasn’t been done already. At this point there’s been enough done about space adventure that you could flip the script, and that was part of the fun of it. You’ve seen these scenes in other films in a different way, but you’ve never seen it this way. And it’s just infectious and fun. It deals with the thematics of not underestimating kids and their own ability to learn to cooperate. It’s not always a pretty picture, but they get it done. It’s a wishful for kids, but I also hope empowering.
Definitely empowering. There’s a line in the second episode where the commander says, “They’re not kids, they’re astronauts.” And their parents have to trust them.
As a parent and now a grandparent, that’s a hard one. Grownups are going to want to watch this show. In our household, we’ve all gathered around. There is a message: Don’t underestimate those kids. This is really them throwing themselves in the deep end.
Family viewing seems to be top of mind here. What made Nickelodeon the right outlet for the show?
I have to give Nickelodeon credit, because they brought us the notion. They were saying to us, “We’ve always wondered if this could work.” That’s all they had, that sentence, but they said, “Ron you’ve done a lot in this world of space, you and Brian and Imagine.” And we started brainstorming, and [creator/exec producer] Daniel Knauf came in. He’s a very sophisticated writer and producer and he threw himself into this as a full-on, real-world adventure story. A realistic sci-fi. And I think that’s been the key. From the beginning our ambition has always been not to make a kids show, and therefore cut corners and believe it will all be good enough. That wasn’t in our production manual. It was, We’re competing with From the Earth to the Moon or Mars or Apollo 13 or The Martian. We do want it to be that kind of experience that sure, speaks to kids first and foremost, but really is watchable, and takes them as a sophisticated audience.
Is that the aesthetic we can expect from Imagine Kids going forward? Can you share anything about other projects you’re working on?
There are many projects we are working on, and they all take on the voice of our collaborators, the subjects. We have animated projects, we have projects with animals involved, and some are very whimsical and very fantastical and some are very much grounded in reality. All we care about is excellence. That’s what Brian and I have always tried to achieve, whether it was the Grinch or Parenthood or Liar, Liar or Apollo 13 or 8 Mile or A Beautiful Mind. It’s about, How do we best serve that story an the audience its most intended for?
You’ve got your hands in so many other projects right now. What has it been like creating during lockdown?
Of course it’s been an adjustment, and psychologically its’ been challenging at times. But we’ve had a huge advantage in that so many projects have been ongoing. Astronauts was actually our first physical production that restarted, and of course here we have a show with a lot of kids and we felt an unbelievable burden of responsibility to do this safely. We may have gone a little further than the guidelines that most productions are using, given the age of our cast, but the cooperation was there. We didn’t have a single misstep and we made it through, breathed a huge sigh of relief and helped set some examples for other shows. Now Imagine has other projects back underway.
For me personally, it has given me some creative focus because I don’t have the option of jumping on an airplane and going around. My days are… it’s almost like I’m in school. I have a certain amount of time to devote to projects, but it’s extremely dedicated time and I’ve been able to find that this remote communication is working. It’s not what I would choose, but it’s effective. Whether it’s Hillbilly Elegy, which I have that comes out on Netflix at the end of November, or finishing up Astronauts or some of our documentary projects or finishing up scripts or preproduction… we’ve been able to do all of it.
I was just reading about Imagine Impact and the new app you launched to help cultivate industry talent. Can you talk a little bit about that?
It began with my partner at Imagine, Brian Grazer. He observed these start-up accelerator programs, one in particular called Y Combinator in Silicon Valley. We’d always talked about ways, and experimented with ways, to give writers more power and develop more projects faster and more efficiently, but at the end of the day trying to empower writers and their creativity. And he saw in this, that the entrepreneurs were a lot like screenwriters. Every project is a startup. And we began to use some of their theories and put together our own version of an eight-week boot camp. We were able to get financing to do it and now we’ve taken on partners and now there is an app which is allowing us to not only begin to communicate with writers but the entire entertainment community and let people feed in their availabilities. Eventually over the next year or so we plan to roll it out and make it kind of a LinkedIn for entertainment people. On the creative side and also below the line on the technical side. We really think it’s a way to bring filmmaking teams and television-making teams together faster with more transparency, cutting out the middleman.
Sounds like a way to bring democratization to the business.
That’s the plan. And we’re seeing the evidence of that already. I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
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From moms:
Nickelodeon’s ‘The Astronauts’ Is The Ultimate In TV For Kids & Tweens
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| THE ASTRONAUTS: Episode 101: Martin Taylor (Keith L Williams), Will Rivers (Ben Andrusco-Daon), Doria Taylor (Kayden Swan), Samantha Sawyer (Miya Cech) and Elliott Combs (Bryce Gheiser) in THE ASTRONAUTS on Nickelodeon. Photo: Michael Courtney/Nickelodeon (c) Viacom Internation Inc. |
Nickelodeon's new show 'The Astronauts' is set to premiere on November 13, 2020 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
In the new Nickelodeon series, The Astronauts, a spacecraft that is set to travel to outer space on a mission, launches prematurely when five curious middle school tweens sneak onboard the space ship using their parents’ security clearances. Unbeknownst to them, the space craft is controlled by highly-sensitive voice-activated Artificial Intelligence that employs face recognition and beyond.
It is all intriguing, exciting and fun until a member of the tween crew, Elliot Combs, mistakenly triggers the premature launch by saying a code word. By the time that the adults and Aeronautics professionals realize what is actually happening, it is too late. The Artificial Intelligence that is programmed to assist the spacecraft arguably has a mind of its own. Though only tweens, the youth must summon the courage to survive in their newfound responsibility as accidental astronauts while the adults try to figure out a solution.
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| THE ASTRONAUTS: Episode 102: Samantha Sawyer (Miya Cech) and Martin Taylor (Keith L Williams) in THE ASTRONAUTS on Nickelodeon. Photo: Ricardo Hubbs/Nickelodeon ©2020 Viacom, International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Helmed by showrunner, writer, and executive producer Daniel Knauf, this new Nickelodeon series provides many powerful lessons while showcasing the power of technology, the resilience of children, the intersection of humanity and AI, and so much more.
Produced in partnership with Imagine Kids +Family’s Ron Howard (Apollo 13), Stephanie Sperber, and Brian Grazer, ‘The Astronauts’ does not succumb to expected stereotypical tropes about reckless teenagers and tweens who know nothing about life. On the contrary, in this series it is the adults who learn a thing or two from the tweens about: bravery, teamwork and trusting your own instincts.
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| THE ASTRONAUTS: Episode 102: Samantha Sawyer (Miya Cech) and Martin Taylor (Keith L Williams) in THE ASTRONAUTS on Nickelodeon. Photo: Ricardo Hubbs/Nickelodeon ©2020 Viacom, International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
It is evident from the very beginning that this group of friends are not your typical set of middle school friends. This group of zealous, curious and bright minds are the offspring of smart professionals in the science world respectively.
The writing in this series is very strong, and there are many powerful lessons embedded within the plot of each episode. Oftentimes, adults like to assume that they alone are the ones sent to teach, and that it is their job as the ‘adults’ to keep everything under control. In each episode, it’s quite interesting to see what happens when parents and adults get out of their own heads, and allow their kids to trust themselves.
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| THE ASTRONAUTS: Episode 102: Samantha Sawyer (Miya Cech) and Martin Taylor (Keith L Williams) in THE ASTRONAUTS on Nickelodeon. Photo: Ricardo Hubbs/Nickelodeon ©2020 Viacom, International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
With this series, viewers also get to witness how evident it is that kids really absorb what their parents give emotionally and socially. This series really shows the many benefits that come along with having parents that are smart and intuitive doers who are out making a difference in their respective professions and in the world. While not all of the parents in the series are science geniuses, they are all actively involved in the world of science in their own unique way.
With casting by Sheryl Levine, this series is inclusive and showcases a unique cast. Not only is the cast culturally and ethnically diverse, there are many valuable nuances that really show the great attention to detail when preparing to bring this script to life. With the deliberate casting choices, it is more than evident that the casting and production teams were sensitive to the social and cultural narratives and shifts happening currently as it pertain to representation onscreen that reflects humanity-- and their choices worked beautifully.
It is to be noted that these are not your average tween television casting choices, and the character development of these tween characters is to be noted. Samantha ‘Samy’ Sawyer-Wei (Miya Cech), Elliot (Bryce Gheisar), Ben Doan (Will Rivers), Martin Taylor (Keith L. Williams) and Doria Taylor (Kayden Grace Swan) all make for a power-packed, believable tween ensemble.
Miya Cech (Marvelous and the Black Hole, Are You Afraid of the Dark?) in her role as Samy does not depict the perfect Asian child or student. She brings depth and nuance to the role as an academic genius and natural leader. It’s refreshing to see a tween protagonist depicted as Afro-Asian in this series. Not only does she have a Black mother, Rebecca Sawyer (Bethany Brown) who possesses style and grace as a high-ranking professional in her field, their on-screen relationship also denotes the impact that successful mothers can have on their daughters as well as some of the drawbacks to being highly successful in a parent-child dynamic.
Bryce Gheisar (Wonder, A Dog’s Purpose) as Elliot Combs truly personifies what it means to have privilege coupled with vulnerability. Ben Daon (A Child's Play) as Will Rivers is the perfect personification of youthful zeal coupled with child-like wonder. In one scene, when the crew of friends are literally being thrust into outer space, he enthusiastically yells out, “We’re actually blasting off in space!” As Will, Daon has a natural joy and zeal that truly translates onscreen.
His character’s ability to live in the moment despite the circumstances clearly denotes the beauty in having a child’s imagination and zeal for life. Keith L. Williams (Good Boys, The Princess Bride) in his role as Martin Taylor is quite intriguing to watch. Williams’ ability to be both comedic and astute definitely shows off his range. It is to be noted that Martin as a tween Black boy does not fall into the negative trope of playing sports, but rather he’s a lover of mathematics and solving equations.
Kayden Grace Swan (Queen Sugar, A Black Lady Sketch Show) as Doria Taylor, younger sister to Martin, is perfectly cast as Doria. From her natural hair, neatly styled in bedazzled Afro puffs to her love of fashion and her need to get the perfect shot is just loads of fun to watch. However, she's so much more than a fashionista. She's an aspiring neurologist. In a very interesting scene in one of the first episodes, she perfectly depicts the current generation's co-dependence on cellphones and the need to find the perfect picture for social media. The hair and make-up departments did a fabulous job styling the cast's hair, and Doria's hair jewelry is everything.
The costume design team does a wonderful job of styling the modern and chic tweens authentically, and each have their own unique styles of dress. The production and set design are very detailed, and truly reflect some of the genuine nuances of places like Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida and California Science Center amongst others. The visuals are stunning.
The series music is quite fitting, and the cinematography and CGI are awesome. Overall, this series is really interesting, action-packed and definitely provides positive representation onscreen in various ways. There are no negative stereotypes depicted, and the narrative themes presented lend themselves towards encouraging tweens to aim for higher intelligence, being a team player and being courageous even when circumstances seem insurmountable.
While this series is definitely a great watch for the youth, there are some lasting lessons carved into the narrative for adults as well. One major takeaway for adults is the notion that it’s dangerous to underestimate the intelligence and inner strength of kids. While the adult actors cast are a superb lot, the tweens and teenagers cast in this movie far outshine the adults.
The Astronauts series is a definite must see for kids, tweens, science-loving teenagers and parents too. Besides, nothing beats seeing a group of tweens pontificate about gravity and shifting weight in outer space in order to survive. Cheers to resilient children and teens, and content that encourages the next generation to embrace intelligence and the ability to endure when under pressure.
The Astronauts will premiere on Nickelodeon on November 13, 2020 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
Creator & Showrunner: Daniel Knauf Executive Producers: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Stephanie Sperber, Daniel Knauf and Dean Isrealite Stars: Miya Cech, Bryce Gheisar, Keith L. Williams, Kayden Grace Swan , Ben Daon and Paige Howard
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From Den of Geek:
Ron Howard Returns To Space With The Astronauts For Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon's new live action space series, The Astronauts, comes from executive producer Ron Howard, who spoke to us about why telling stories about exploration is so important to him.
Since its inception in 1979, Nickelodeon has been forward thinking with its programming. Yet it took over 41 years for the network to go after the final frontier, a live action space travel show for kids. To make an ambitious show like that happen, they needed the right co-pilot, landing the director of Apollo 13, Ron Howard.
Howard serves as executive producer for The Astronauts, a new live-action kids series coming to Nickelodeon on Nov. 13. It’s the first kids series to come from Howard and Brian Grazer’s production company, Imagine Entertainment, which launched a new division in 2019 called Imagine Kids+Family, headed up by Stephanie Sperber. In early meetings between the network and production company, the prospect of doing a space show for kids was exciting to both parties.
“They said, ‘We don’t know quite how to do it, but maybe you guys do because you seem to like space, but we think kids and space would be interesting.’ We took that and ran with it because immediately I felt there was an opportunity, especially if we could do it realistically,” Howard tells Den of Geek. “If we could give you a real sense of adventure, there was a way to flip the script on the conventions of many shows, many movies that we’ve seen, some of which we’ve done as a company.”
The Astronauts is likely as close to a traditional drama as Nickelodeon can get. Howard was quick to use the term “cinematic” to describe the look of the series, but anyone with even a passing knowledge of Nickelodeon’s past live action series will be surprised to see that the footage looks like it belongs on premium cable or a streamer. The series, which is written and executive produced by Daniel Knauf (Carnivàle, The Blacklist), follows a group of kids who “embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they are mistakenly launched into space.”
“We wanted to make it plausible, wanted to make you believe it could happen, and that it would be all the more empowering and all the more fun to watch if kids were looking at this and saying, ‘Yeah, I guess this is kind of how this might go down,’” Howard says, “So that became our mantra and Nickelodeon supported that.”
In meetings with Nickelodeon, network execs often referenced Howard’s Apollo 13, as well as a more recent Imagine Entertainment project, the National Geographic docu-drama series Mars, as touch points.
“We learned a lot with our Mars series about how to create space in a very realistic, connected way,” he says, “I mean, it had to be as authentic as we could make it look and that carried over.”
The experience on Mars helped the production company learn new visual techniques to capture the realism of space travel. Howard’s filmmaking experience on Apollo 13 also proved invaluable for the cast and creatives behind The Astronauts.
“We did some real weightlessness [on Apollo 13], which we don’t have to do [for The Astronauts]. We wouldn’t do real weightlessness today probably if we were making Apollo 13. Too risky, too difficult, and too many question marks. But I was able to talk about some of the things that Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton learned and I was able to give those tips to [director] Dean Israelite who passed it along to the actors, again, to try to make the audience connect with what they’re going through to make it really visceral.”
Howard hopes that realism attracts both kids and their parents to The Astronauts.
“The show has really exceeded my wildest hopes in terms of the way it could entertain and who we could entertain because I know when I looked at a cut, the grownups in my family wanted to watch it too. It’s not just the kids, they want to watch it with me.”
This year marks the silver anniversary of Apollo 13, which earned nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Howard says he returned to a space project for the younger generation because of his belief in exploration.
“I think it’s ingrained in the human spirit. I think it stimulates the human consciousness,” Howard says. “I think it makes us perform at our best. I think that society benefits from everything that is learned, not just the tangibles of actually getting to space, but all the knowledge that comes from it.”
In the first episode of The Astronauts, a spacecraft called Odyssey II is set to launch on a mission to retrieve a foreign object that could potentially save humanity. When five untrained kids swipe their parents’ security clearances to sneak on board, they accidentally get launched into space and assume their parents’ mission. To Howard, that sense of exploring the unknown is an important pillar for a kids’ series.
“Human beings also need the adventure. They need to know there is a frontier. They need to believe in the possibility of Star Trek and a journey, a horizon to reach. That’s been part of the human experience from the beginning when you understand the way the species spread out and traveled. I think it’s among the noblest of undertakings that human beings can engage in and I love celebrating it.”
The Astronauts premieres with an hour-long event on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
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From io9:
Nickelodeon's Astronauts Takes Us Inside the Kids' Stolen Spaceship
None of us are heading into space anytime soon (except maybe Tom Cruise), so it looks like space is coming to us. io9 has an exclusive first look inside the set of Nickelodeon’s The Astronauts, a sci-fi series about kids who find themselves on the unexpected journey of a lifetime.
In this video tour, director and producer Dean Israelite ventures inside the set of The Astronauts, a co-production with Imagine Kids+Family. In the series, a group of kids who’ve gathered to watch the launch of the spaceship Odyssey II end up sneaking inside the abandoned vessel, only to accidentally initiate the launch sequence. They end up trapped, forced to work together to survive and find their way home. As you can see in the video tour, there are a lot of places (and details) the kids have to manage.
In an interview with io9, Israelite said the ship’s design was partially inspired by The Martian, Interstellar, and the International Space Station. However, they wanted to make sure it was unique: “While there is a familiarity to an aesthetic grounded in existing technology, [production designer] Geoff Wallace and I endeavored to make the ship look unlike anything that has come before.”
There was one detail they made sure wasn’t skimped on: Making sure the ship wasn’t kid-sized. Even though they were working with younger actors, the idea was that they were using a ship that didn’t belong to them. As a result, everything is just a bit bigger than they are. “Nothing was designed to be kid-size,” he said. “Our guiding principle was to throw the kids into a realistic adult world, and framed by this design, literally and figuratively, illustrate their coming of age.”
The series stars Miya Cech (Are You Afraid of the Dark?) as Samantha “Samy” Sawyer-Wei, Bryce Gheisar (A Dog’s Purpose) as Elliott Combs, Keith L. Williams (The Last Man on Earth) as Martin Taylor, Kayden Grace Swan (A Black Lady Sketch Show) as Doria Taylor, and Ben Daon (Child’s Play) as Will Rivers.
The Astronauts debuts with the first two episodes on November 13.
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From CBR.com:
The Astronauts Cast Talk Their Characters in Upcoming Nickelodeon Sci-FI Series
During an exclusive interview with CBR, the cast of the upcoming Nickelodeon series The Astronauts talked about the ambitious show.
Nickelodeon's Astronauts centers around five young preteens-- Samy, Elliott, Martin, Doria and Will. The children of the crew of an upcoming shuttle flight, the group inadvertently ends up within the rocket instead as it launches early -- forcing the five to put aside their differences and work together if they want any chance of successfully navigating the ship safely back to Earth.
During an exclusive interview with CBR, the cast of The Astronauts spoke about what brought them to the series and what it was like to take on such an ambitious project.
Miya Cech plays Samy in the series, the daughter of the ship's chief astronaut, and something of a leader among the kids who are trapped aboard the shuttle. Cech described her character, saiying, "I personally really feel a connection to Samy because we're very similar in ways, such as like we can both be very stubborn, very tough, very strong. I'm also in love with space myself, so it was really exciting to finally get to be this super smart, tough, into space, girl.
"When we started filming, when I realized that Samy had to take that leadership role, it was interesting because I personally have never really been," Cech continued. "I've been more of a follower in my friend groups. I've always been the one that follows all the trends. I've never really been one to really lead the group. So to get to be a leader was super amazing."
"I was really excited," Cech continued. "I heard about the series when I was filming another Nickelodeon series called Are You Afraid of the Dark? [...] I heard that Ron Howard was behind it, I heard a bunch of other people who were behind it: Dean Israelite, who I worked with on Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Marcus Stokes, who did 911, and Jonathan Frakes -- who did Star Trek: Discovery and Picard. So I was really intrigued by it. Personally, I love anything having to do with space. I was so excited to do it."
For Ben Daon (who plays the jokester and outsider within the group, Will), the series appeared on his radar in a much more unexpected fashion. "It was like just one of my auditions," Daon said. "I got it, and I fell in love with the character. I feel a really strong connection with it because [Will and I] have so much in common. We're both very excitable and nerdy and geeky, and so just being able to really portray that made it easier to be natural. And I ended up getting the role and once I got here it was like, I didn't think it could get any better, and it did. All the props and the flying, it's just so, so, so cool."
Bryce Gheisar plays the haughty Elliot, and his attraction to the show came out of a natural desire to see how the story would play out. "It was whenever I first read the script for the first episode," Gheisar explained. "I was pretty blown away. It seemed more like a movie script, like the first act of a movie script and ...[Daniel Knauf wrote it], he's done a lot of other TV shows and he's amazing. Just being in space overall, I wanted to see how that kind of show would work. So that's what gravitated me towards the show, I guess."
The cast is rounded out by the sibling's Martin and Doira, played by Keith L. Williams and Kayden Grace Swan respectively. Both of them found themselves drawn to the project for the chance to experience sci-fi settings in their early careers -- and to the chance to play characters they inherently related to. "What attracted me to the show was that it was taking place in space," Swan explained, "and the fact that the character I auditioned for was just so much like me. So much like me, I fell in love with her instantly."
Williams agreed, pointing out that "like what Kayden said, my character was exactly like me, supposed to be the tallest out of the friend group and ... Like, kind of scary, like really scared. Because I would definitely be really scared if I got shot into space accidentally. And I feel like the first time I saw the script, it really made me happy to be on a space show because before I found out about the script, I and my Mom were like, 'I want to be on a TV show.' And then that next month, I get the script and then I booked it and it was amazing."
As befitting a sci-fi setting, the series features some genuinely impressive stunts and action-beats. Cech and Daon were quick to talk about how much fun that part of the experience had been like. "I think it was always really exciting," Cech said. "We had the pleasure of doing our own stunts, not only did we have movement coaching to teach us how to appear weightless, but we also get to go 10, 20 feet up in the air on wires and really like embody that flying. And that's been one of my favorite [...] like my personal favorite experiences of being on set is flying through these massive sets on wires, so high up in the air. That's definitely been one of the favorites. The wire stuff is so much fun. And it's like my first time ever doing wirework like that. So it's been really, really cool to get to see the entire process behind that."
Gheisar described how "we had an amazing stunt coordinator whose name is Sluggo, a great guy. He was a professional skateboarder and we also had somebody come to the set to teach us about the physics of anti-gravity, and how we would look in anti-gravity. So we got that down and then along with each stunt coordinator. Together it was as well ... the perfect puzzle piece that was missing from the puzzle.
"I went full geek, oh yeah," Gheisar continued. "This is the first time Nickelodeon's partnering with Imagine Kids and Family, and people who are behind that are Ron Howard. And he was the director on Apollo 13, which is one of the best space movies ever created. So I did a lot of research on that and I think that's why this TV show has a very cinematic feel. There's a lot of directors behind it who have done very like larger than life, movie kind of things. So bringing that to a Nickelodeon TV show is just kind of ... it's pretty cool to see it happen."
Cech described how "just by watching the trailer, you can definitely tell that it's different than any other kids' show, let alone a Nickelodeon show, that you're going to see out there. It feels a lot like a movie, not only when watching it, but when you're filming it as well. It feels like this huge production. It feels very cinematic, which is awesome." Daon explained how "I feel like the show is going to appeal to a wider audience. It's not just going to be for the kids. It's not just going to be for the adults. I feel like everybody would be like ... if you're a family and you're watching the show, I feel like everybody's going to enjoy it because there's something in it for everybody."
Check out the trailer [above].
The Astronauts, starring Miya Cech, Bryce Gheisar, Keith L. Williams, Kayden Grace Swan, Ben Daon and Paige Howard, is set to premiere on Nov. 13 on Nickelodeon.
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From Just Jared Jr.:
The Astronauts' Kayden Grace Swan Reveals 10 Fun Facts About Herself (Exclusive)
Kayden Grace Swan is taking over television screens in the new series The Astronauts!
The actress stars as Doria in the Nickelodeon series, which follows five kids who embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they are mistakenly launched into space.
Here’s a synopsis: The spaceship Odyssey II is set to launch to investigate a mysterious asteroid passing by Earth. When a group of kids use their parent’s security clearance to sneak onto the empty ship, the launch sequence is accidentally initiated.
Blasting off into space with no proper training, a malfunctioning onboard AI system, and their parents watching from Earth, the kids embark on a journey of survival using only their smarts and friendship as tools.
“Being cast as a lead in The Astronauts is more than just my wildest dreams coming true,” Kayden told JJJ. “It is the YES that changed my life.”
We got to know more about Kayden with an exclusive 10 Fun Facts. Check them out below!
Be sure to tune in to The Astronauts TONIGHT (November 13) at 7/6c on Nickelodeon!
1. I was born with Distichiasis (double eyelashes), a condition where you have two rows of eyelashes. People always ask me if my eyelashes are real because of the length and amount of lashes I have.
2. I’m super fascinated by celebrity birthdays.
3. I lost my teeth 3 times as a child.
4. I have been a Girl Scout since I was 6 years old and am currently working on my Silver Award.
5. I have played Lacrosse since I was 9 years old.
6. My favorite movie is the Twilight series and I’ve read every book.
7. My favorite era is the 80’s. I love the music, fashion and tv shows.
8. My biggest pet peeve is what I call “louching.” Loud chewing!!
9. My secret passion is to be the babysitter to celebrity kids!
10. I am a horror film fanatic and hope to play in a horror film one day.
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From Fort Worth Magazine:
Mansfield Actor Keith L. Williams Lands Out-of-This-World Role in Nickelodeon's 'The Astronauts'
Talk about adventure of a lifetime. Five kids blast off into space — on accident — aboard the Odyssey II and must take on the role of astronaut while working together on this malfunctioning spacecraft.
That’s the plot of “The Astronauts,” a new TV series that premiered on Nickelodeon on Nov. 13. But perhaps the better adventure is the one that took place in real life — Keith L. Williams, a 13-year-old actor from Mansfield, stars in the show as Martin Taylor. It’s yet another major role added to Williams’ resume, following last year’s film “Good Boys,” produced by Seth Rogen.
He took a moment to chat with Fort Worth Magazine about his latest gig.
FW: How does it feel to be an actor for Nickelodeon?
KW: Well, it feels really good to be an actor for Nickelodeon because when I was growing up, I used to watch Nickelodeon TV shows literally all the time. To actually think, “Oh, that’s actually me on that TV screen,” it’s amazing.
FW: What is your favorite thing about your role on “The Astronauts”?
KW: My favorite thing about my role on “The Astronauts” was living on a spaceship and studying the constellations every day. That was a dream come true. But my all-time favorite was being able to put on my space suit and walk alongside the spaceship. It’s one of the most amazing things in the world.
FW: How does this role differ from your role on “Good Boys”?
KW: This role doesn’t really differ from my role on “Good Boys” because both my characters are similar to myself. They’re both kind, sweet-natured, loyal, and comical. The only difference is that they were two different projects.
FW: How do you balance being a professional actor with just being a kid? When you’re not acting, what do you like to do for fun?
KW: I balance being an actor with being a kid by valuing my free time to practice hobbies, learn new crafts, and virtually hang out with my friends. A few of my hobbies are drawing, singing, and I just started longboarding. When I’m not acting, I’m sitting at home drawing, or I practice my new hobby, which is longboarding. I longboard every day when my little brother gets home from school. I go out with him and go to the park.
FW: How do you manage school and acting at the same time?
KW: I’ve always had a healthy balance managing my schoolwork and acting, and with COVID-19, it’s been an adjustment taking the necessary precautions when working alongside my classmates. I am home-schooled, so that helps.
FW: Has COVID-19 affected your acting work?
KW: Well, COVID-19 has not only affected our way of living but also acting. It’s definitely something to consider working alongside other people. However, it’s been a top priority to take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and those around us. On set, it was about 50 people. It’s not affecting any future productions at the moment.
FW: What other new projects are you working on?
KW: I’m currently working on a few projects but very excited to share that I’ll be an executive producer on a project with Houston native and author, Tonya Duncan Ellis, and my all-time favorite “Sophie Washington” book series. Sophie Washington and her friends are inspirational role models who are coming-of-age. They show self-respect, friendship, teamwork, and also leadership. I find them to be very similar to “The Astronauts” gang. It’s going to be really cool.
Special thanks to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and Harris Costumes for providing the locale and astronaut helmet for the photo shoot.
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From Variety:
‘The Astronauts’ Producers on Putting Kids in Peril in Space
At a time when climate change is ravaging Earth and real-life interest in space organizations from NASA to SpaceX has been renewed, there is no shortage of television shows delivering interesting and informative takes on such travel. But while series such as Disney Plus’ “The Right Stuff” goes for the nostalgia play and Netflix’s “Away” contemplates the sacrifice made to leave family behind, it is Nickelodeon’s “The Astronauts” that delivers the truly unique picture of unequipped, untrained children accidentally being launched into space, now thrust together as a makeshift team to survive.
“We are being presented — especially in 2020 with all that’s happened — with portraying a future as a hopeful thing. I think people are really hungry for that — ‘if we all set aside our differences and work together toward a common goal, then we have a very bright and hopeful future,'” “The Astronauts” showrunner Daniel Knauf tells Variety. “It’s kind of like during the Depression when you’d go to the movies and it was Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing around. Filmmakers want to present hope.”
“The Astronauts,” which is the first series from Imagine Entertainment’s Kids & Family brand and premieres on Nickelodeon on Nov. 13, starts when five kids use their parents’ security clearances to sneak onto the spacecraft Odyssey, which is being prepared for a mission to retrieve a mysterious foreign object that might be able to save mankind. But once they board, the AI system triggers the launch sequence, and they literally blast off, leaving their parents behind them on the ground to figure out what caused the premature launch and how to not only keep their kids safe when they are “literally millions of kilometers away,” as Knauf puts it, but also how to bring them home.
“The children are in a dangerous place and we really wanted to play that. This is more ‘Apollo 13′ than a kids’ show,” Knauf says. “There’s always the chance that one or more of the kids could perish — and they know that and they talk about that. We play it for laughs sometimes, but we also have very serious discussions about, ‘If we don’t work together we’re going to die up here.’ And so Nickelodeon has let us take some really deep, existential dives with this one.”
Executive producer Ron Howard, who has worked on space projects from the dramatic adaptation “Apollo 13” to the fictional scripted “Mars” to the docudrama “From the Earth to the Moon,” knows how the extreme environment of space can test a person’s character, and he didn’t want “The Astronauts” to shy away from that, even if the characters in questions were kids.
“All of these stories of space and travel are exciting on one hand but what they really mean on a human level, whether it’s going back to ‘The Odyssey,’ is what you learn about individuals and what they learn about themselves going through this. The realism was something we always wanted,” he explains. “You get to use it in a way as almost an allegory because these young people are discovering themselves [and the] parents are understanding what their kids are capable of. I love what that says about empowerment and how they were underestimated.”
Knowing that “audiences around science and technology are demanding” but also “curious,” Howard says there was a feeling of not wanting audience members to wonder why they know something about space travel that the show, and specifically the adult characters within the show who do have careers in that line of work, do not. At the same time, though, the show is not out to shove science lessons down anyone’s throat.
“If it fits inside the teamwork, great; if it’s a natural explanation of things,” says Knauf. “That comes up every once in a while, for instance when the ship goes into its cruising mode and the outriggers deploy and we explain centripetal force and how it would mimic gravity.”
The character of Will (Ben Daon), who Knauf calls a “fan boy” with an “encyclopedic knowledge of sci-fi and genre stuff,” gives the show a chance to bring up certain facts, but the adventure in the show lies in the young team figuring things out as they go. “They’re not trained but they’re also blank slate because they’re kids, so they’re going to recognize, ‘OK the ship is out of balance, and it’s two tons out of balance and there’s two tons of stuff there, so we’re going to try to figure out how to get some of it from there to here,'” Knauf says.
The other titular astronauts are Samy (Miya Cech), who is the commander’s daughter and takes on the leadership role on the ship. “There’s a giddiness. She knows it’s dangerous, but it’s fantastic,” Knauf says of her outlook on the situation. Elliott (Bryce Gheisar), who has been raised and is expected to be a leader ends up slipping into the “first mate”or “No. 2” spot, Knauf notes. And then there are siblings: Martin (Keith L. Williams) is the older brother and protector to Doria (Kayden Grace Swan) who is explicitly told by his father to watch out for his sister as they are taking off.
“Each character has their role and they fall into it or find their way there during the course of the voyage,” Knauf says.
But even as they are tasked with growing up immensely in a short amount of time, including learning that the old adage about being able to do anything if you just work hard enough is actually just a “benevolent lie or half-truth,” says Knauf, they are still young at heart, and he wanted the show to reflect that, too. “I went to our set dresser and I said, ‘With each episode I want to see more scuff marks on the walls, more torn cushions, spilled Coke stains,'” he says.
The majority of the show (85-90%, according to Knauf) takes place on the ship with the kids, but both Howard and Knauf note the show is really designed to be multi-quadrant viewing. “I wanted to create something that really celebrated values like sacrifice and courage with these aspirational characters,” Knauf says, noting that is something he always admired from Imagine’s work.
“The Astronauts” is not only the first series to launch from Imagine’s Kids & Family slate, but it is also a tentpole title, says Howard. “Whether this is the escapism you need or these are the themes that [you] can really benefit from by watching right now — or in the best of both worlds you get both the escapism and also some ideas to chew on,” he says, he considers the space race “among the noblest activities that human beings can engage in.”
“Trying to look beyond the horizon to what else is possible and what else we could achieve, I think society always benefits from that kind of effort and what we can learn from it, so I think it’s great that that dream is alive again,” he continues.
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Originally published: Friday, October 09, 2020 at 19:17 BST.
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