Scroll down to watch the Big Screen Science film winners.

Big Screen Science, supported by The Wellcome Trust and NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts), was a nationwide project that enabled secondary school students to produce films focussing on a range of issue-based biomedical science topics from Xenotransplantation to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

First Light collaborated with six UK Science Centres to host Info-Labs that brought together teachers, scientists and filmmakers to explore how science and the arts could collaborate. Back in their classrooms, the teachers worked-up proposals for biomedical science films with their students. Over 300 students and teachers returned for workshops where they wrote and edited TV news items, working with professional scriptwriters.

“It made science cool…, it was a brilliant way for them to learn” teachers involved in the project

Finally six schools from across the UK were chosen to make the Big Screen Science films and allocated £7,000 budget as well as the help and advice of professional filmmakers and scientists.

Pip Eldridge, Chief Executive of First Light said, “Big Screen Science has been such a worthwhile project, its success can’t simply be measured by the finished films alone. The ‘Info-Labs’ and workshops were fabulous events, clearly demonstrating how filmmaking can be beneficial in teaching complex biomedical science topics.

“The filmmaking process itself has proved hugely engaging for the schoolchildren, teachers and even the filmmakers and scientists too. The evaluation process for this project has been comprehensive and well supported by the schools. There has also been an excellent resource book to accompany the project, providing an insight into the filmmaking process and the strong curriculum links the project has had.”

“By developing the story, the students had to really understand and be able to argue a particular point of view based on the science.” Dr. Iain Price, cell biology research fellow.

Movies

• 

  Facing up to Life

  This drama features a boy, Tyler, who has a large birth mark or ‘port wine stain’ covering half his face. He wants to go out with Emily but her friends tease him over his appearance.

  Another boy, Danny, is new at the school. He examines his face as if unsure about something. Danny asks Emily out. Emily declines but says he reminds her of someone she used to know, someone she never had the nerve to ask out because her friends ‘thought he was weird’.

  The science of transplants is introduced in a dramatised lesson and as part of a surgical flashback sequence. The production plays with the timeline of events, so it emerges towards the end that two stories are running simultaneously. Danny is in fact Tyler, having undergone surgery. The film’s conclusion leaves the viewer considering the importance of appearance.

• 

  Lab Rats

  The drama follows the antics of five ‘Lab Rats’ in a Big Brother style house. In a presenter voiceover at the beginning we learn that they ‘will have their powers of persuasion tested to the limit when they discuss and then vote on the Lab Rat question of the day.’ And just like Big Brother, the rats can get evicted.

  The contestant’s interests range from biology to animal rights so it’s clear there will be conflicts when they vote on whether the government should support embryonic stem cell research.

  The science is integrated into the script through the dialogue, with the main initial argument between Linda, whose views are shaped by her religious beliefs, and Patrick, who’s in firmly in the science camp. A drama student, Helen, sees both sides of the argument.

  Things get more interesting with the introduction of Mark, Helen’s former boyfriend. Mark is now in a wheelchair. Stem cell research could help him. As to the big question, Helen ends up with the casting vote – but what will she decide?

• 

  The Boy Who Would be Good

  The drama centres on Jordan, a schoolboy with ADHD. His behaviour appears antisocial, abusive and irritating. Except, that is, when he’s drawing: then he concentrates to produce impressive results.

  Although he’s prescribed medication, he hates to take it. A confrontation on a bus brings things to a head and he goes back on his tablets. They calm him.

  But what other effects are the pills having? Is Jordan still Jordan when he takes them? “I’ve got a problem but I’m still me,” he says when he throws them away. But can he address his behaviour without resorting to medication?

• 

  The Law of Averages

  The Law of Averages tells the story of the very ordinary Bloggs family. “Every week’s the same,” narrates 15 year old Joanna Bloggs whose mother, Joan, brushes her teeth the recommended three minutes, “no more, no less.” She even has a special tooth-brushing timer. But their lives change forever when Joanna’s brother Joe is diagnosed with a serious kidney disease and requires a transplant.

  The film explores the angst and frustration the family goes through as Joe’s parents are found to be unsuitable as donors and his sister is rejected as a donor for being too young. Unless a suitable donor kidney is found from someone who has died, Joe will die too.

• 

  The Perry Pigger Show

  “What a swine of a show we’ve got for you today”, beams the host of the Perry Pigger show as he calms his audience’s chants of, “Perry…Perry…Perry.” The audience is made up of a mix of pigs and humans and, as the lights go down, the spotlight falls on Susie.

  Susie needs a heart transplant to save her life but is having to wait for a suitable donor. Perry then introduces someone who could help called Roger…who’s a pig.

  Later we hear from Doctor Porkins who outlines some of the science.

  The comic elements of the plot and the jokes about people being ‘pig-headed’ are mixed in with serious points about the ethics of cross-species transplantation and practical issues such as organ rejection.

• 

  The Stem Cell Controversy

  This is very much a personal story. Following his rugby accident, Craig wants to gain a greater degree of independence but is accepting of his condition. He believes he can use his disability to inspire others and, as a practising Baptist, spread his faith. He does not have a strong opinion on stem cell research.

  The film starts with Craig competing in a dramatic wheelchair rugby game to demonstrate how his life has changed. It features Craig being examined by a consultant who talks about his condition and explains the treatment options.

  Craig interviews Dr Janet Johnston who explains stem cell research using microscopic images of flowers dividing. Craig also speaks to a Baptist Minister who raises several of the moral issues concerning the science. The film ends with Craig’s thoughts on the treatment and his hopes and concerns for the future.