How Apple TV+ Space Series ‘Constellation’ Pulled Off Those Zero Gravity Scenes

variety.com:

Carolyn Giardina Some imperfect iPhone video shot by retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly while he was commander of the International Space Station was the primary source of inspiration behind the visual style of the space-set scenes in Apple TV+’s “Constellation.” As the sci-fi series begins, astronaut Jo, played by Noomi Rapace, survives a disaster at the ISS and returns to Earth to find that things are not the same.

Kelly was a key adviser on the ambitious production. Director of photography Markus Förderer (“Red Notice”) relates that after seeing Kelly’s video, the team aimed to “replicate” as close as possible “that feel of a camera operator floating in zero gravity but it being handheld and grounded — and not like it was shot [on] a crane.” This was achieved, he says, by switching filming techniques, as magicians do to sell their illusions, with teamwork from multiple departments, including production design and visual effects.

For live-action filming, an intricate ISS set was built in sections on the largest stages at Studio Babelsberg outside of Berlin, led by production designer Andy Nicholson, who was Oscar-nominated for Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity.” Lighting controlled by dimmer boards was built into these sets.

A second proxy set was built to allow the actors, stunt performers and camera team to rehearse. Kelly provided details, such as advising that the actors should avoid the “Superman pose” in the zero-G set scenes. “They float as much as they can upright.