Next Big Thing: Doc follows Vancouver duo aiming for moon in Google’s space race

By David Friend, The Canadian Press

The weekly Next Big Thing column highlights what’s bubbling under the surface in entertainment with a look at rising stars in the world of music, as well as standout TV shows, movies and web series that would be a shame to overlook.

LUNAR AMBITIONS

Why reach for the stars when you can go to the moon?

That’s what Google hopes to do in a new competition to land the first robotic spacecraft on the lunar surface.

The challenge is being captured in “Moon Shot,” a new web series executive produced by “Star Wars” director J.J. Abrams.

Sixteen teams are vying for the Google Lunar X Prize, valued at US$30 million, which will be awarded to the first one to have a robot send back high-definition images from the moon.

“Moon Shot” focuses on nine of the teams and highlights what motivated them to join the space race.

“Team Plan B” includes a family of math and computer science experts from Vancouver.

Ukrainian couple Sergei and Andrei Dobrianski moved to Canada with their son Alex nearly 20 years ago. Together they hope to capture the Lunar X prize in a truly Canadian way — by delivering a hockey puck to the surface of the moon.

You can see their story in episode four of “Moon Shot,” which is available on Google Play and YouTube.

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‘FADED’ INTO FAME

Alan Walker’s year is shaping up to be one he’ll probably never forget.

The Norwegian producer is only 18 years old but he already has one of 2016’s biggest global viral music hits.

“Faded” spent nearly two months on Spotify’s Canadian viral chart earlier this year, and now it’s breaking into the streaming service’s global viral chart.

But the song isn’t exactly a new track.

Walker reworked the electronic dance song from an hour-long instrumental released as “Fade” back in 2014.

The shorter version, which includes fresh vocals from singer-songwriter Iselin Solheim, almost instantly took off.

You can watch the music video for “Faded” on YouTube: http://bit.ly/1WvRd4z

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SLEEPER COMEDY

You might not know him by name, but Mike Birbiglia is quietly building a reputation as one of independent cinema’s standout directors.

The comedian grabbed heaps of attention at the South By Southwest film festival this week with rave reviews for “Don’t Think Twice,” about the tribulations of a New York improv team.

If you haven’t seen Birbiglia’s work yet, there’s plenty to watch at home.

As an actor, he plays one of the more reasonable prison managers in the latest season of Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black.”

“Sleepwalk With Me” was his first effort behind the camera. The semi-autobiographical film tells the story of a comedian struggling to dig himself out of a personal and professional rut, all while trying to overcome his relentless sleepwalking affliction.

You can watch “Sleepwalk with Me” on Netflix or on DVD. Here’s a link to the trailer for “Sleepwalk with Me” on YouTube: http://bit.ly/1R3atGr

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