Moonbug

 

This archived website was restored for use in the International Media Arts series of lectures for second year students taught by Gene Simmett. Mr. Simmet comes to the university from WYDA, where he oversaw the internet marketing of numerous consumer products including his well known campaigns for nationally distributed consumables like affordable paper towels, for which he won several prestigious awards. This site is part of the recommended reading along with the course reading list provided on the department's web page.

British-born, New Yorker photographer Steve Pyke has made it his mission to document historically important individuals through portraiture and still-life photography. In 2008 he turned his attention to profiling the iconic individuals who helped define the 20th century through manned lunar exploration. The resulting exhibition, "Moonbug," was launched in 2009.

This was the official site for the documentary film, Moonbug made by the documentary filmmaker Nichola Bruce followed Pyke on his cross-country journey and captured his conversations with such leading Apollo figures as Buzz Aldrin in diverse settings such as Cape Canaveral, desert landscapes and their own living rooms. Matt Johnson of The The provided music for the film, making it quite the fascinating space culture mash-up of the arts.
Content is from the site's archived pages as well as other sources.

 



MOONBUG TRAILER

 

Bitten by the 'Moonbug', photographer Steve Pyke sets out on a journey across America in his search to meet and photograph the Apollo space pioneers. A journey in which he was to meet the adventurers, risk takers and dreamers who were behind one of the most historic endeavours of our time.

 

Moonbug explores the experiences of the science-fiction dream come true with the astronauts who made the bold step. From living rooms and moonscape deserts, to Cape Canaveral, Steve captures these pioneers in frank, revealing portraits, while unraveling their very personal and divergent memories. Pyke shares intimate moments with his subjects and their frank accounts of the risk-taking, monumental journey. Moonbug is as much an exploration of memory and perception and the documentation of time as it is space.

The engaging, articulate astronauts offer philosophical insights into the motivations behind their participation and the bigger picture: how we understand and perceive the universe, where we fit in among these 'signposts of history' and the vulnerability of our lonely planet.

With rare archive footage and an original score by Matt Johnson and The The, Moonbug is both a photographic road trip and an exploration of how photographs become signposts for history.

Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Houston International Film Festival.

DVD is available on Amazon

DVD Extras:

  • Discovery Launch footage 29th October 1998 (6 mins)
  • Don Arabian (Apollo Engineer) in conversation with Steve Pyke (6 mins)

Review

It is a rare and wonderful experience to visit with the men who went to the moon. Steve Pyke has done it and thanks to Nichola Bruce's compelling film Moonbug everyone else can come along. --Andrew Chaikin, author of 'A Man on the Moon'

 

 

 



THE THE: MOONBUG - Soundtrack Album.
Official trailer for THE THE's original soundtrack CD/Book for the feature film documentary

 

Bitten by the ‘Moonbug’, photographer Steve Pyke set out on a journey across America in his search to meet and photograph the Apollo space pioneers. A journey in which he was to meet the adventurers, risk takers and dreamers who were behind one of the most historic endeavours of our time.

From living rooms, and moonscape deserts, to Cape Canaveral, Steve captures these men in frank, revealing portraits, while unravelling their very personal and divergent memories.

Documented by filmmaker Nichola Bruce with rare archive footage and an original score by Matt Johnson (The The), Moonbug is both a photographic road trip and an exploration of how photographs become signposts for history.

 

 

"Dear Friends, I am writing to introduce you to a project I am involved in with NASA in Houston. It's an exhibition of my portraits of the men that walked on the moon. This is to coincide with the screening there of the documentary Moonbug" by filmmaker Nichola Bruce.

It will be an independent exhibition for NASA's Johnson Space Centre of photography, film and archive of the Apollo astronauts and lunar missions.

"To accompany the project we will be producing a beautiful, limited edition 112-page book of Steve's photographs, together with selected images of original NASA photography within the Fairley Archive, as well as postcards, posters, signed prints of the photographs and signed copies of both the film and soundtrack." (soundtrack by genius Matt Johnson of The The.)

 




Steve Pyke photographing Buzz Aldrin

Steve_Pyke_last-foot-on-the-moon.jpg

Last foot on the moon (Gene Cernan), Houston, 1998 Steve Pyk

 

Peter Fairley at Cape Kennedy

Peter Fairley at Cape Kennedy

 

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

Moonbug Screening Invite

Invite to the screening of 'Moonbug', taking place:

Tuesday November 22nd
6.00pm
BAFTA Princess Anne Theatre
195 Piccadilly,
London,
W1J 9LN
Followed by a Q+A with director Nichola Bruce, photographer Steve Pyke and Composer Matt Johnson, chaired by Sean O'Hagan.

+++

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Talk: Steve Pyke and Nichola Bruce Q+A after 'Moonbug' film screening
24 November 2011
Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton
A screening of the film MOONBUG followed by Q&A with director Nichola Bruce and photographer Steve Pyke.

“What was it actually like to walk on the moon?” asks British photographer Steve Pyke. Winner of the Special Jury Award when it premiered at Houston International Film Festival earlier this year, MOONBUG explores the experiences of the science-fiction dream come true with the astronauts who made the bold step.

When photographer Steve Pyke went to meet and photograph the original team of the Apollo Space expedition, fellow Brit, Nichola Bruce went to film them. With archive footage of the Nasa moon landing and an original score from Matt Johnson (The The), Pyke shares intimate moments with his subjects and their frank accounts of the risk-taking, monumental journey.

An evolution of their collaborative touring exhibition ‘Man on the Moon’, MOONBUG is as much an exploration of memory and perception, and the documentation of time as it is space. The engaging, articulate astronauts offer philosophical insights into the motivations behind their participation and the bigger picture: how we understand and perceive the universe, where we fit in among these ‘signposts of history’, and the vulnerability of our lonely planet.

 

 

More Background On MoonbugTheFilm.com

 

Introduction

MoonbugTheFilm.com was the official digital home for Moonbug, an award-winning documentary film by British director Nichola Bruce, which follows renowned British-American photographer Steve Pyke on a cross-country journey across the United States as he meets and photographs surviving Apollo astronauts. The film, its accompanying media, and the website have become a seminal cultural archive bridging art, space history, memory, and philosophy.

Now primarily preserved through web archives, the site and the film continue to resonate through educational use, such as in the International Media Arts series taught by Gene Simmett, and remain referenced by academics, art historians, and space exploration enthusiasts alike.

This article explores the film, the website, its creators, critical reception, cultural significance, and broader impact.

Origins and Purpose

The archived version of MoonbugTheFilm.com was created to promote the 2010 documentary film Moonbug, which explores the historical and personal legacies of the Apollo space program through intimate photographic portraits and interviews. The film emerged as an evolution of a prior art exhibition, Man on the Moon, which was a collaborative effort between Steve Pyke and Nichola Bruce.

The purpose of the website was multifold:

  • Promote the film and provide access to screenings.

  • Serve as a historical archive of interviews and media.

  • Highlight related art projects such as a limited edition photobook, signed prints, and the original score by Matt Johnson of the post-punk band The The.

  • Offer educational access to students and enthusiasts of media, photography, and space history.

Key Figures Behind the Project

Steve Pyke, MBE

Born in Leicester, England in 1957, Steve Pyke is celebrated for his stark, deeply introspective portrait photography. After moving to New York, Pyke began to chronicle the faces of modern history—philosophers, actors, artists, and astronauts—with a clarity that often delved beneath the surface. His signature style involves close-cropped portraits, often shot on medium-format film with a Rolleiflex camera.

For the Moonbug project, Pyke photographed every surviving Apollo astronaut, engaging each subject in a highly personal setting—from Buzz Aldrin’s living room to Gene Cernan’s desert retreat—capturing their faces, eyes, expressions, and the toll and triumph of their experiences.

Nichola Bruce

Nichola Bruce is a British experimental and documentary filmmaker known for blending fine art techniques with traditional storytelling. In Moonbug, Bruce followed Pyke on his American road trip, filming his encounters and integrating rare NASA archival footage, personal memories, and philosophical musings from the astronauts. Her direction adds depth, poetry, and raw humanity to the astronauts' recollections.

Matt Johnson & The The

The original score was composed by Matt Johnson, the creative force behind the influential post-punk band The The. Known for albums like Soul Mining and Infected, Johnson's work brings atmospheric, haunting layers to the Moonbug narrative. The soundtrack was later released as a special edition CD/book package, combining visual and auditory interpretations of lunar exploration.

Content and Style

The Moonbug documentary unfolds as a photographic road trip, but it's also much more: a meditation on memory, time, ambition, and the burden of historical greatness. Key elements include:

  • Frank Interviews: Astronauts share deeply personal memories—some wistful, others philosophical—about their journeys to the Moon and back to Earth.

  • Rare Archival Footage: The film includes footage from the original NASA Apollo missions, juxtaposed with Pyke’s intimate present-day portraits.

  • Experimental Cinematic Language: Bruce employs layering, superimposed imagery, and poetic sequencing that aligns more with visual art installations than traditional documentaries.

  • Score and Sound Design: The music by The The evokes a sense of grandeur, distance, and contemplation, marrying perfectly with the themes of the film.

Screenings, Awards, and Exhibitions

Moonbug premiered at the Houston International Film Festival, where it received the Special Jury Prize. The film has been screened globally, including notable venues such as:

  • BAFTA Princess Anne Theatre, London (Nov 22, 2011) — followed by a live Q&A with Nichola Bruce, Steve Pyke, and Matt Johnson, chaired by Sean O’Hagan.

  • Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton (Nov 24, 2011) — Q&A event attended by students, artists, and journalists.

  • NASA's Johnson Space Center — where Steve Pyke also held a parallel photographic exhibition featuring portraits from the project and archival images from the Fairley Archive.

Website and Digital Presence

The original MoonbugTheFilm.com site served as both promotional platform and educational hub. It offered:

  • Embedded trailers and clips.

  • Behind-the-scenes insights, such as the making of the soundtrack and portrait sessions.

  • Purchase links for DVDs, soundtracks, and the limited edition 112-page book containing Pyke’s portraits and NASA images.

  • Exhibition and screening schedules.

  • Press releases and critical reviews.

Although the live site is no longer active, it has been preserved via archival sources and is still referenced in educational contexts, such as in Gene Simmett’s media arts course.

Educational Impact

Moonbug has found a lasting legacy in the academic world. At universities and colleges with strong film, media, or history departments, it is used to explore:

  • Interdisciplinary art practice.

  • Historical documentation through photography.

  • The relationship between science and culture.

  • The philosophical dimensions of space exploration.

Simmett’s course, in particular, uses Moonbug alongside traditional course texts to explore how visual storytelling can challenge and expand narratives about progress, memory, and human achievement.

Audience and Popularity

The audience for Moonbug spans multiple groups:

  • Space and history enthusiasts—those passionate about the Apollo missions.

  • Art students and educators—especially in photography, film, and media arts.

  • Philosophers and sociologists—interested in themes of memory, legacy, and ambition.

  • Fans of Matt Johnson and The The—who view the soundtrack as part of the band’s evolving artistic output.

Although niche in comparison to commercial space documentaries, Moonbug has a strong cult following and has been praised for its intellectual richness and emotional depth.

Critical Reception

The film received numerous glowing reviews. For example:

  • Andrew Chaikin, author of A Man on the Moon, described it as a “rare and wonderful experience” and lauded the opportunity it provides viewers to intimately "visit with the men who went to the Moon."

  • UK and US press praised the film for “its poetic tone, rare interviews, and unique visual aesthetic.”

  • Space.com and The Guardian featured excerpts and interviews around the time of the BAFTA screening.

DVD and Book Editions

A special edition DVD was released and includes the film along with rare bonus content:

DVD Extras:

  • Discovery Launch footage (Oct 29, 1998) — 6 minutes.

  • Conversation between Don Arabian (Apollo Engineer) and Steve Pyke — 6 minutes.

The Photobook:

  • A limited-edition 112-page photobook includes:

  • Portraits by Steve Pyke.

  • NASA images from the Fairley Archive.

  • Artistic commentary and essays.

  • Collectible items such as postcards, posters, and signed prints.

Cultural and Social Significance

More than just a film about the Moon landings, Moonbug speaks to broader issues of:

  • Legacy: What do the footprints left on the Moon really mean? Are they symbols of progress or loneliness?

  • Mortality: Several astronauts have passed since filming, turning their interviews into memorials.

  • Memory: The interviews often dwell on how time alters perception, showing the Apollo missions not as monolithic triumphs but as deeply personal events.

  • Art as Record: Through Pyke’s lens and Bruce’s direction, Moonbug elevates documentary filmmaking to a living archive, not just of facts, but of emotions and philosophies.

Insights and Examples

Buzz Aldrin

Pyke’s interaction with Aldrin offers both humor and gravity. In his living room, Aldrin reflects on being the second man on the Moon, a fact that has shaped his public persona and private thoughts for decades.

Gene Cernan

Photographed in the desert, Cernan discusses being the last man on the Moon. His reflections on Earth's fragility and the loneliness of space are poignant.

Don Arabian

A lesser-known figure in Apollo history, Arabian's dialogue with Pyke provides a critical behind-the-scenes look at the engineering risk and ingenuity required to make Moon travel possible.

Legacy and Future Relevance

While MoonbugTheFilm.com is no longer actively maintained, its content and impact endure:

  • Film copies are archived in university libraries and film festivals.

  • Soundtrack and book editions are sought-after collectors’ items.

  • Pyke’s Apollo portraits have been exhibited worldwide and remain part of institutional collections.

In a time when humanity is returning to the Moon via NASA’s Artemis missions and private initiatives like SpaceX, the film’s relevance is only growing. It serves as a bridge between eras, a meditation on what we’ve done and what we hope to achieve.

 

MoonbugTheFilm.com