Client
The Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney, and Professor Alexander Wendt from Ohio State University.
Brief
To produce a video to explain and promote the ideas presented in Professor Wendt’s book, Quantum Mind and Social Science‘.
Audience
Primarily academic, but also inclusive of anyone in the general public interested in the concepts of quantum mechanics, and how they may apply to the macro social level (and vice-versa).
Solution
We shot Professor Wendt in front of a green screen in a beautiful old theatre at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, utilising four cameras. Professor Wendt delivered a lecture related to his book, by speaking directly to the camera using an autocue. Once we returned to Australia, we workshopped the ways in which we would simplify the complex ideas through the use of animation. We then produced a comprehensive storyboard to illustrate exactly how we would animate the processes and theories described.
After sign-off from the client, we commenced the animation component – with various stages of approval throughout. Once finalised, we had produced a complete lecture video that involved a variety of animation techniques to help explain highly complex information in an engaging way.
Result
A highly polished explainer video that illustrates very complex ideas in a visually engaging way. The video received many thousands of views on YouTube, and has encouraged discussion about venturing out of our disciplinary silos to consider the importance of quantum physics for the social sciences.
In addition to the finished lecture video, we also produced: a trailer of the lecture video; a video documenting an interview with Professor Wendt before he delivered his lecture; and a behind-the-scenes video utilising the abundance of footage we had shot on the four cameras. The client was very happy with the results.