New video about how SARS-CoV2 spreads

 

I worked with Brandon Ugbunu, Senay Yitbarek and Olivia Pham to make this video about how the SARS-CoV2 virus, which causes COVID19 spreads.

Hope it’s useful!

 

How I made a whiteboard movie

Several people have asked me how I made the whiteboard movies about my work (see here and here). So here is a brief explanation.

1. First, I make drawings on paper and write a text that will go with the drawings.

2. Next I make the drawings on a small whiteboard and record it with my iPhone.

Here is a picture of my set-up for making the whiteboard movie. The pink thing is my iPhone 4, which takes the movie. I need several light sources to reduce the shadow from my hand (but they shouldn’t leave a reflection on the whiteboard).

The iPhone is mounted on a tripod with a special iPhone part. Maybe a different camera would be even more convenient, because with the iPhone I cannot zoom, and thus the height of the camera isn’t flexible.

My set-up for making a movie on the kitchen table.

3. After I shoot the movie I import it to iMovie, where I can cut it, speed it up and add a voice-over. I use a simple plug-in microphone for the voice-over. 

4. When everything is done, I ask someone else to look at it and I realize that the story has to be told in a slightly different way, so I start again at step 1!

Making a whiteboard movie is a lot of work, but it is lots of fun too.

If you make one about evolution, consider sending it to the NESCent film festival. You can win a $1000 travel award. Last year my movie about slavemaking ants was the winner: