Filmmaking for Researchers

I seem to have spent more time making short films for people than anything else in recent years. I really like it. It’s never one of those skills that many researchers feel is necessary to getting through their PhD. The research kind of takes priority. But when they are tasked with public engagement, few want to talk to people in person. This leaves filming a good substitute.

To help them along, I deliver hands-on training on how to make films. Over the years, I’ve taken all the collected experience and notes and jumbled it into a document. It began as a document for undergraduates to use, has become updated, and has now become a giant of a thing. That said, the way tech moves on, it’s probably already out of date.

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IR Hacking Development

So, in a fevered dream the other day, I was wondering whether I could streamline the tech required to deliver my most recent show. The element that fell under investigation was the live feed of the IR camera to the audience. Firstly, let me explain what that workflow looks like.

At the business end of the chain, there is the camera, which has had its infra-red lens removed. I wrote about how to do that here, so take a mooch if you want to explore that first. However, to get this live feed on to the projected screen, so that the audience can see it and become immersed in the experience, requires a little work.

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World Book Day 2025

There are many flavours of science communication. The question is, what do you want to do? I’ve met people who describe science through dance, whether a traditional ceilidh or more interpretive. I’ve worked with artists using textiles, or sound and vision. Filmmakers are all over the shop, and everybody has a particular style; it’s hard to pick a favourite, but some people you should look at include Steve Mould, Epic Spaceman, Huw James, and the amazing Michelle Dickenson. Even I’ve had to develop skills in filmmaking; they are pretty essential in this age.

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