In 2010, there was a genetics and film competition in Vancouver called Gene Screen BC. As an organizer, I (genegeek) couldn’t comment on the films but did have my favourites. I can say that I was impressed by the range in just 12 films and the different approaches to science communication. One of the film-makers, Ben Paylor is sharing his experience with the competition – and his film!
[button link=”” color=”purple”]Guest post by Ben Paylor[/button]
Last summer a short-film competition was hosted in Vancouver, titled GeneScreenBC, and it challenged two traditionally separate castes, the incommunicable scientists with the inaccurate film-makers (again generalizing) to create a short films which would serve to engage and excite the public about current topics in science. If you’re reading this blog, you’ve probably already read some enthusiastic quips about the success of the GeneScreenBC competition or the dynamic and creative entries they didn’t expect they would receive, so there is no need to reiterate.
For me as an entrant, it served a different purpose, forcing me to step outside what I had previously done or known and try something new (a whole blog in itself, is this common when blogggging?). One of the advantages of not knowing very much about very many things is that this “virgin” experience is waiting around so many corners. 6 months after finishing the film, co-ordinating its mini-e-publicity campaign, screening it at GeneScreenBC and a couple other science media related events, I’m definitely in a different position. I suppose part of the learning process is gaining the perspective to realize some things you thought or did before could definitely have been done better. That being said, the piece is what it is, and like so called gateway drugs, this gateway competition has captured my attention and got me very interested in the field of science communication. Working on the sequel to the movie ended up taking me to a bee colony in Gambia on the coast of West Africa, but maybe we’ll save that for another post.
Check out the first installment of Epigenetic Landscapes:
[box type=”bio”]This post is written by Ben Paylor. Ben is working on his PhD at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada[/box]
Lisa says
I love this film. The ideas in it, the way it actually explains a bit about epigenetics but in a fun, approachable way, the story. Such a great film. It could benefit so many people! Anyone wanting to learn, teachers explaining these concepts to students, motivation for other people to get out there and communicate science. Thanks for the film, and for posting it!