Thanks to the surging popularity of the new film Project Hail Mary, audiences everywhere are rediscovering the kind of engineering‑thriller storytelling rooted in NASA’s Apollo era, which reached its peak with the failure-is-not-an-option Apollo 13 mission.
Next Tuesday, relive that exciting moment in history when The North Bend Theatre launches its next Science on Screen® event: Houston, We Have a Treehouse, featuring master builder Pete Nelson of TV’s Treehouse Masters and Fall City’s Treehouse Pointe, followed by a screening of Ron Howard’s Oscar-winning film Apollo 13.
Before the film, Pete will take the stage to describe the real‑world engineering challenges of building houses on living trees as their only support. From adapting to trees to solving structural puzzles high above the ground, Pete’s work embodies the same spirit of ingenuity and calm problem‑solving that defines both Apollo 13 and Project Hail Mary.
“Pete’s approach to design, one problem at a time, solve what’s in front of you, mirrors Apollo 13 beautifully,” said Beth Burrows, owner of the North Bend Theatre. “It’s a perfect Science on Screen pairing: the engineering challenges of Earth’s treetops leading into one of the greatest real‑life engineering stories ever told.”
Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton, dramatizes the true story of NASA’s most famous near‑disaster and the extraordinary teamwork that brought three astronauts safely home. The film remains the standard for engineering‑driven storytelling and a cultural ancestor to Project Hail Mary.
This event is part of the national Science on Screen® initiative, which pairs classic, cult, and documentary films with presentations by notable figures from the worlds of science, technology, engineering, and medicine. The program is an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with major support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Event Details
Title: Science on Screen: “Houston, We Have a Treehouse” with Pete Nelson + Apollo 13
Date & Time: March 24 at 6:30 PM
Location: North Bend Theatre, 125 Bendigo Blvd N, North Bend, WA
Tickets: northbendtheatre.com
About Pete Nelson
Pete Nelson is a world‑renowned treehouse designer, builder, author, and longtime host of Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters. His work blends creativity, engineering, and environmental sensitivity, resulting in some of the most iconic treehouses in the world.
