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Calling All Earthlings (2018) movie poster

Timeline

Calling All Earthlings (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 74 min · English
Echo score 62
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Directed by
Jonathan Berman
Starring
Eric Burdon, Daniel Boone, Desiree Hurtak, J.J. Hurtak, Ted Markland, Teddy Quinn

In 1950s California, George Van Tassel, a confidant of Howard Hughes, claims to channel alien guidance and draws upon Nikola Tesla's inventions to build the Integratron, a mysterious dome-shaped structure. As followers gather in the desert, the FBI investigates, suspecting potential unrest. The story explores the intrigue surrounding the Integratron's construction and purpose, ultimately questioning the fate of humanity and revealing unexpected secrets.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Calling All Earthlings
  6. 6 Categories
  7. 7 Every angle
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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Calling All Earthlings Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Calling All Earthlings (2018) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. George Van Tassel's Relocation

    In 1947, George Van Tassel, disillusioned by his life in postwar Los Angeles, decides to move to the Mojave Desert with his family. They establish their home beneath a massive boulder, seeking solace away from the city's chaos and anxiety.

    When
    1947
    Where
    Mojave Desert
  2. Discovery of Joshua Tree

    As Van Tassel settles in the Mojave, he finds tranquility in the stunning landscapes of Joshua Tree. The area's serene environment becomes a retreat for him and his family, allowing them to embrace a more peaceful lifestyle.

    Where
    Joshua Tree
  3. Encounter with Extraterrestrial Beings

    During a full moon in August 1953, Van Tassel has a transformative encounter with extraterrestrial beings. They present him with a blueprint for a rejuvenation device, which he later names 'The Integratron', leading him to believe he is chosen for a greater purpose.

    When
    August 1953
  4. Inspiration from Solganda

    The extraterrestrial being, Solganda, speaks to Van Tassel, inspiring him deeply. Solganda's voice resonates with Van Tassel and catalyzes his ambition to create a structure that merges human ingenuity with advanced alien technology.

  5. Vision for the Integratron

    Emboldened by the alien encounter, Van Tassel embarks on an ambitious project to build a massive dome. This structure is intended to unlock portals through time and space, blending insights from Tesla and other great minds.

  6. Postwar Artistic Movement

    The 1950s witness a convergence of artists, innovators, and adventurers in the Mojave Desert. They escape the pressures of postwar America, seeking new lifestyles that align with Van Tassel's vision and the growing alien contact culture.

    When
    1950s
    Where
    Mojave Desert
  7. Establishment of Interplanetary Spacecraft Conventions

    Van Tassel initiates the Interplanetary Spacecraft Conventions to garner support for the Integratron and spread his anti-nuclear sentiments. These conventions draw affluent audiences from Los Angeles, intrigued by the promise of rejuvenation.

    When
    1950s
  8. Support from Howard Hughes

    Van Tassel receives significant backing from former employer Howard Hughes, who shares concerns about nuclear contamination. Their alliance propels the development of the Integratron, merging their hopes for a utopian future.

  9. Community Involvement

    To realize his dream, Van Tassel enlists the help of local neighbors, including followers of Yogananda. This collective effort not only advances the construction of the dome but also ignites a movement centered on peace and alternative science.

  10. Challenges with the Location

    The Integratron's location presents challenges as it lies next to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. This proximity raises tensions between the ambitions for the dome and military operations, complicating Van Tassel's vision.

    Where
    Twentynine Palms
  11. Electromagnetic Principles of the Integratron

    As Van Tassel and his team work on the design of the Integratron, they encounter complexities with its electromagnetic properties. While some principles exhibit promise, there are dire warnings that improper calibration could lead to catastrophic outcomes.

  12. Diverse Interpretations of the Integratron

    As the project nears completion, the Integratron takes on varied meanings for different people. Some view it as a tool for global colonization, while others see it as a hub for companionship or as a center for cultural and artistic expression.

  13. Cultural Exploration in 'Calling All Earthlings'

    'Calling All Earthlings' documents the multifaceted narratives surrounding the Integratron. The film features perspectives from Joshua Tree locals, historians, and musicians, providing a rich tapestry of voices that highlight the area's unique history.

    Where
    Joshua Tree
  14. Musical Score Enhances the Narrative

    The documentary showcases a celestial score crafted by Elliott Sharp and Harmonia, enhancing the enigmatic atmosphere of the story. The creative collaboration brings a dynamic auditory experience to the exploration of Joshua Tree's culture.

Last updated: October 25, 2024 at 09:41

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Timeline questions answered

Calling All Earthlings Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Calling All Earthlings (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did George Van Tassel leave Los Angeles for the Mojave Desert?

George Van Tassel left Los Angeles in 1947 because he was disillusioned with his mundane life in the city, which was filled with postwar anxiety. He moved with his family to the Mojave Desert seeking solace and tranquility away from the chaos of city life. They established their home beneath a massive boulder in the Joshua Tree area, where he found peace in the serene desert landscape.

  • george van tassel
  • mojave desert
  • joshua tree
  • move
  • postwar
Q2

What was the Integratron supposed to do?

The Integratron was a dome-shaped structure designed as a rejuvenation device capable of opening portals through time and space. Van Tassel claimed it could reverse aging and harness unlimited energy for the world. The design combined alien technology blueprints he received with principles from Nikola Tesla and other visionary scientists.

Foreshadowing: The full moon encounter in August 1953 provided the original blueprint that launched the entire project.

  • integratron
  • dome
  • rejuvenation
  • time
  • space
  • energy
  • tesla
Q3

Who was Solganda and what happened during the alien encounter?

Solganda was the extraterrestrial being who contacted George Van Tassel during a full moon in August 1953. Solganda shared with Van Tassel the blueprint for the Integratron and convinced him he had been chosen for a greater purpose. Interestingly, Solganda's voice was said to resemble that of actor Ronald Coleman, adding an unusual detail to this alien communication.

  • solganda
  • alien
  • extraterrestrial
  • encounter
  • channeling
  • chosen
Q4

How was Howard Hughes involved with the Integratron project?

Howard Hughes, who had previously employed Van Tassel, became a significant financial supporter of the Integratron project. Hughes shared Van Tassel's concerns about nuclear contamination and believed in the project's potential. Their alliance provided substantial funding that helped advance the dome's construction during the 1950s.

  • howard hughes
  • funding
  • support
  • nuclear
  • contamination
  • financial
Q5

What danger was warned about regarding the Integratron's electromagnetic principles?

While some of the Integratron's electromagnetic principles showed promise, they required extremely precise calibration. One participant warned that failure explicitly to properly adjust the device could lead to catastrophic consequences, cautioning that 'Southern California could be blown off the map.' This added an element of potential disaster to the project.

  • electromagnetic
  • calibration
  • danger
  • warning
  • catastrophe
  • california
Q6

Why was the Integratron's location near a military base significant?

The Integratron was constructed near Twentynine Palms, directly adjacent to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, one of the largest military installations in the world. This proximity created tension between Van Tassel's utopian vision and ongoing military operations, raising questions about the project's feasibility and security implications in this sensitive area.

  • marine base
  • twentynine palms
  • military
  • location
  • tension
  • conflict
Q7

What were the Interplanetary Spacecraft Conventions?

The Interplanetary Spacecraft Conventions were events organized by George Van Tassel during the 1950s to promote the Integratron and spread his anti-nuclear sentiments. These conventions attracted affluent individuals from Los Angeles who were interested in rejuvenation and alternative futures. The events became a gathering point for the growing alien contact culture movement in the desert.

  • conventions
  • interplanetary
  • alien contact
  • movement
  • anti-nuclear
  • 1950s
Q8

Why did the FBI investigate the Integratron project?

The FBI investigated the Integratron project because they suspected potential unrest among the growing group of followers gathering in the desert. With the community attracting diverse people including alternative scientists, eccentric individuals, and others drawn to Van Tassel's vision, authorities were concerned about the possibility of cult-like behavior or other activities that might pose a threat to public order.

  • fbi
  • investigation
  • surveillance
  • unrest
  • followers
  • government
Q9

What happened to the Integratron? Did it work?

The documentary leaves the ultimate purpose and fate of the Integratron open-ended and ambiguous. While the structure was completed, the summary mentions 'unexpected twists' that threatened Van Tassel's vision. Different people came to view the Integratron in various ways, as a tool for global colonization, a source of companionship and guidance, or simply a vibrant hub for culture and art, without revealing whether its intended rejuvenation capabilities were ever realized.

  • integratron
  • fate
  • ending
  • outcome
  • ambiguous
  • completed
  • working
Q10

What were the jack-rabbit shacks and how were they related to the Integratron story?

The jack-rabbit shacks were simple dwellings built on plots of land allocated by the government through the Small Tract Act of 1938. During the 1950s, artists, innovators, and adventurers fleeing the pressures of postwar America flocked to these desert plots near Joshua Tree, creating a community that aligned with Van Tassel's alien contact vision. Many of these early settlers became his neighbors and helped construct the Integratron.

  • small tract act
  • jack-rabbit shacks
  • community
  • desert
  • settlers
  • neighbors
Q11

What happened to George Van Tassel after building the Integratron?

According to the documentary's context, Van Tassel worked tirelessly to complete the Integratron and prepare it for activation, believing he was chosen by extraterrestrial visitors. The documentary follows his journey through the 1950s and beyond, documenting how his ambitious project attracted followers and supporters while facing challenges from military proximity and the complexities of his visionary invention.

  • george van tassel
  • death
  • fate
  • after
  • project
  • continued work
Q12

What role did Yogananda's followers play in building the Integratron?

Yogananda's early followers in the Joshua Tree area became part of Van Tassel's community and helped him realize his dream. These neighbors provided essential labor and support for constructing the dome. Their involvement exemplified how Van Tassel's project brought together diverse groups, including spiritual practitioners, alternative scientists, and eccentrics, all united by the pursuit of a new utopian future.

  • yogananda
  • followers
  • spiritual
  • community
  • help
  • construction
  • neighbors

Movie threads

More Movies Like Calling All Earthlings, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Calling All Earthlings tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Quirky Conspiracy Documentaries like Calling All Earthlings

Documentaries exploring eccentric figures and their otherworldly utopian visions. If you enjoyed the eccentric story of the Integratron in Calling All Earthlings, you'll find more movies like it here. This section features documentaries about real-life visionaries, utopian schemes, and mysterious investigations that have a similarly whimsical and inquisitive feel.

  • quirky
  • inquisitive
  • atmospheric
  • eccentric
  • nostalgic
  • speculative
  • Tone: whimsical, inquisitive, mysterious
  • Pacing: steady, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow an investigative path, uncovering the history and motivations behind a peculiar idea or individual. They often juxtapose earnest believers with skeptical authorities, creating a gentle tension between hope and reality, and frequently leave the central mystery tantalizingly unresolved.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together for their shared focus on quirky, real-world mysteries and the charismatic figures who champion them. They possess a unique tonal blend of nostalgic curiosity, light speculative wonder, and the atmospheric tension of being watched or doubted.

Movies about Postwar Utopian Visions like Calling All Earthlings

Stories of postwar society searching for hope through radical ideas. For viewers who liked the postwar setting and utopian themes of Calling All Earthlings, this section highlights movies with a similar feel. These films explore the tension between societal anxiety and the hopeful pursuit of radical futures, often with an ambiguous or thought-provoking conclusion.

  • nostalgic
  • utopian
  • speculative
  • inquisitive
  • atmospheric
  • thoughtful
  • Tone: speculative, nostalgic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, reflective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves characters or communities reacting to the pressures of a conformist society by embracing radical, often scientifically-tinged, alternative visions. The conflict arises from the friction between their hopeful ideals and the skeptical establishment, leading to journeys that are both personally transformative and socially resonant.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific historical mood—postwar anxiety—coupled with themes of utopianism and scientific pursuit. They are united by a sense of speculative hope emerging from a backdrop of societal tension, creating a uniquely bittersweet and inquisitive viewing experience.

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Categories

Movie Lists Featuring Calling All Earthlings

Calling All Earthlings appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

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Every angle

Calling All Earthlings (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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