digitalis media

science inspired filmmaking

So what does 'science inspired' mean? Well, it could be a documentary about something important happening within the scientific arena. It could be a vox-pop film, capturing public attitudes towards a contemporary scientific issue - an issue you may be about to have an event about. It could even be more artistic - an abstract video piece tailor made for your event or to accompany an installation; a film that captures the scientific flavour and feel of your chosen theme. Show your new film in its full digital glory on your web site, a TV, or projected onto a lovely big screen.

With my own professional filming and editing equipment to hand (standard definition or high definition options), I can help you generate more interesting and engaging spaces. Contact me!

If you want to know more about my filmmaking approach, motivations and inspirations you can watch me here, being interviewed by Channel Four's FourDocs team...

MEDIAOGRAPHY

In Production - a series of 4 short films for Channel Four's 3 Minute Wonder slot for new talent, another 3 Minute Wonder film spawned from the Channel Four, BFI and Mosaic Film's Britain Recut competition, plus a commission from Current TV exploring the myths and reality of cyborgs... stay tuned.

Life Support Working together as part of the Wellcome Trust's unique Science on Film project, myself and scientist, Dr. Pilgrim, are making a short film about the hidden - and very necessary - life within the soil beneath our feet - see Creative Science for more detail. March - May 2008. Watch it here.

We Have Ignition* This year marks the launch of Ignite's exciting 3 year project, Ignition*, to stimulate creative approaches to STEM - and I'm proud to have been at, and filmed, that launch at Greenwood Junior School, Nottingham. Largely funded by emda, this promises to be an incredible & far-reaching project - and a lot of fun for the children involved. March 16th 2008. Watch it here.

Faces of Manchester digitalis acted as creative consultant in the latter stages of development of this wonderful visual tribute to the people of Manchester (funded by the Wellcome Trust). Find out more here.

You Can. Doves Can't is my latest viral starring Gill Hicks of Peace Direct, launched to coincide with the UN Day of Peace, 2007. What does peace have to do with science? Everything - it's what we sacrifice when our minds give in to our more primitive selves... Watch it here.

...and love inspired by the work of Gill Hicks and Peace Direct, "...and love" is an archive mash-up. It's themes are peace, conflict and how both children and adults manage their tempestuous emotions. Watch it now on FourDocs.

A Peaceful Protest a short documentary about how North London residents reacted when science clashed with religion and sex. Currently being prepared for Current TV. Watch it now.

The Forgotten Orphan is a short documentary for the Alkaptonuria (AKU) Society (shown at a special reception within the House of Lords, June 15th 2007). AKU was the first genetic disease to be characterized. This film features those with the condition - a rare and largely ignored 'orphan' disease - and those who are fighting to cure it. This can be downloaded directly from the AKU website.

The Rough Guide to the Brain is now being shown on Sky Channel 229 and Virgin TV 155 (pictured) . In what could be a first, digitalis media, Current TV and Rough Guides have teamed up to produce a short film to inspire viewers about their grey matter. Watch it online here.

The Life Cycle of Technology is the result of a collaboration with Greenwood Junior School, Nottingham (via Creative Partnerships, Ignite! and EMDA). Together, myself and 27 primary pupils created a short film revealing their thoughts about Information & Communication Technology - past, present and future. They produced, directed, starred and partially edited the final film. It can currently be seen here (March 2007).

Doors The first microscience film from digitalis media, this is a new form of science film in which big subjects are tackled in small periods of time. ‘Doors’ is a noir’ish examination of the mind. That behind the powerful illusion of an intact reality, lies a functionally fractured brain, tirelessly working to weave our perceptions together into a whole. Watch it here.

MicroDoc_Guide Channel Four's short documentary strand, FourDocs, launched a pitching competition in November 2006 for a filmmaker to create a 59 second online guide to making MicroDocs - films lasting less than one minute. digitalis media won the pitch, delivering a film in which the birth of the universe is used as a powerful metaphor for how much it is possible to achieve in a very, very short space of time. Watch it now.

Photo Synthesis (acquired by Current TV, 2007) can be viewed here on Channel Four's FourDocs site ("BEST OF 2006"). A response to the awe and magnificence of the simple, astonishing fact that all life originates from the Sun's energy, the FourDocs editors said: "This is a completely brilliant little film about the sheer wonder of photosynthesis. Appropriately, the film itself is a sophisticated process of synthesis that gobbles up creaky old archive, some stills, a bit of location shooting and a few musical effects to regurgitate it as a delightfully smooth and entertaining narrative. Clever stuff."

Screened by FourDocs at SEE: The Brighton Documentary Film Festival, November 18-19 2006, runner-up at the Sci-Film Festival 2007, screened at Rushes SOHO SHORTS Festival 2007.

Science.Remix can be viewed here on Channel Four's FourDocs site. An old educational doc targeted at the youth of its day, 'Why Study Science' is literally torn apart. By re-editing its content, the goal was to create a new, amusing and contemporary doc revealing the rather disturbing subtext of the original film - women need science to cook for their future - inevitable - family, while men need science to conquer the Universe! What the FourDocs editors said: "what happens to clunky old documentary when clever film-makers get their hands on it. To say it is all in the superb editing would be an understatement. It's really all in the bravura idea - and what a great idea this is" (October 2006).

FactFactory: bird flu An experiment in video podcasting (above) dealing with contemporary scientific issues can be viewed here on Channel 4's FourDocs section. What the editors said: "A wonderfully high-octane 'science' documentary" (September 2006).

Bootful of Bass (specialist contributor): This radio documentary (Radio 4's 'Pick of the Week') for the BBC's digital radio channel, 1Xtra, can be heard here. Entertaining and insightful, the listener is introduced to the world of powerful car stereo systems while I provide scientific details about the effects such music may be having on the ears and brain (July 2006). Produced by Sony Award winner, Peregrine Andrews. A short film about Peregrine's approach to making this documentary can be seen here.

EXoRCISE: Screened at the National Film Theatre, Friday 21st July 2006, as part of the judges selection for the Hayward Gallery's "60 Second Surreal" competition, this diminutive movie explores the reasons people are driven to exercise...

In My Blood: A short documentary about artist, Ben Wilson, available to view here on Channel 4's Four Docs web site. Ben, an extraordinary, sensitive man, roams North London taking requests from passers by. He turns these requests into miniature painted masterpieces on the flattened chewing gum beneath our feet. In doing so, he provides an outlet for local creativity while acting as a form of 'social glue', uniting the community through art (July 2006).

In My Blood has also been selected for showing as part of the Barnet Open at artsdepot: "a group show from some of the borough’s most compelling artists, exhibited in artsdepot’s gallery from 8 September – 5 October 2006." Visitor's comment: "Fantastic film and great show – look forward to next year’s too!"

My Climate is Changing: March 2006 - a different approach to public engagement, co-developed by digitalis media and artist, Zev Robinson, hosted by the BA within the Dana Centre. A variety of highly personal short films from a broad range of filmmakers was screened prior to encouraging the audience to share their own feelings about how the shifting climate is altering their day to day behaviour.

Power of Five: October 2005 - a 15 minute installation video, with music, for Making Sense, a live event from the British Association for the Advancement of Science and Science Museum in which our 5 senses are explored.

ZeroCarbonCity: April 2005 - a short vox-pop film commissioned by the British Council. It takes a snapshot of concerns and opinions within London concerning climate change. ZeroCarbonCity is a large British Council project to engage people and stimulate discussion about climate change and the challenges we all face. The ultimate aim is to engage 8 million people in 60 countries all over the world. Available on request. Now showing in Yemen.

Stem Cells: This film was made for the British Association for the Advancement of Science's forum for popular science discussion: the x-change, November 2004. It features members of the public voicing opinions alongside one of Britain's pioneering scientists in stem cell research. Stem Cells has been used by the British Council in Brazil to help promote discussion around the issues of using human embryonic stem cells for medical research. Available on request.

Global Heartbeat: This highly successful Valentines event was held in February 2005. A 30 minute video piece was specially created for this Wellcome Trust funded evening. The video combined moving imagery, stills and the sound (recorded live!) of a heart operation. The theme for the event was our heart: its meaning, symbolism, and cultural significance. The photographs were taken by professional photographer Mike Shiel.