When it comes to Endeavour time-lapse videos, the best was definitely saved for last.
"Mission 26" is the result of a collaboration of local time-lapse filmmakers Matt Givot, Joe Capra, Chris Pritchard, Brian Hawkins, Andrew Walker and Ryan Killackey. The group started planning the film six weeks before Endeavour's trek began last Friday, and it took four days of non-stop filming to get the final result.
Released Wednesday, the film covers the space shuttle's entire three-day journey from LAX airport to its final destination at the California Science Center, capturing local landmarks like the Randy's Donuts sign and the Forum, as well as thousands of Angelenos who waited for hours to see the shuttle roll through their neighborhood.
In an email to The Huffington Post, Givot emphasized a bond among friends that only grew stronger as they worked to complete the film. "It was a project that was too big to undertake myself," Givot wrote. "I couldn't have done this without this group of time-lapsers that I also call my friends."
The collective decided that Givot should upload the final video, in part because it was his connections with Inglewood police that gave the group access to unique vantage points which allowed them to capture Endeavour in a way no other time-lapse video did. And while Endeavour is ostensibly the star of this film, viewers will no doubt be inspired by the massive crowds that came together to watch the spectacle -- as was Givot.
"I couldn't wait to see the space shuttle up close," Givot told HuffPost. "But once it started to move, it was the citizens of Los Angeles that I noticed the most. Parents were lined up with their children, sometimes waiting for up to ten hours in the heat of the day."
Indeed, dozens of Angelenos had to be treated for heat-related injuries on Saturday.
"You would think that they would become impatient and go home, but they didn't," Givot continued. "It was truly inspirational to see their resolve and how much Endeavour meant to them."
Killackey, creator of the beloved time-lapse video, "A Day In California," said the film was created as an expression of gratitude to the space shuttle crew and to all Los Angeles residents. "I couldn't think of any better way to salute Endeavour and to tell all those people involved with its construction, design, and space missions 'thank you,'" wrote Killackey in an email. "Thank you for Endeavour and thank you for inspiring a generation."
In addition to creating "Mission 26," the collaboration led to the formation of a time-lapse film collective called CineOps. The group says it has a few more projects planned for release before the end of the year, so stay tuned.
Check out community photos of Endeavour's journey through LA and add your own!
