Unique Work Depicts DNA Strands, Chromosomes and Genes
Pixeldust Studios, an Emmy Award-winning digital animation and visual design company with studios in the Metro D.C. area and New York City, has produced eight minutes of original animation sequences which will be featured within a one-hour special episode of the NOVA series, Cracking Your Genetic Code. Set to air on March 28th, this PBS special examines the medical benefits and moral dilemmas posed by new technologies that decipher and analyze an individual’s genetic makeup. nnnTo view a preview of this work online, click here.nnPixeldust Studios produced original animations depicting the workings of DNA strands, genes, chromosomes and cells within the human body for the Cracking Your Genetic Code presentation. The company also animated sequences depicting how the introduction of drugs into the human body binds those drugs with certain proteins in the bloodstream, in efforts to help battle against a variety of illnesses.nnSarah Holt, Producer for NOVA/PBS & Holt Productions, said, “Pixeldust did an amazing job coming up with creative ways to visualize the human genome. Their animators skillfully took the audience inside a human cell, past human chromosomes, and into DNA that is coiled inside the nucleus. The animation was sophisticated and artistically gorgeous to look at, but also helped the audience grasp difficult concepts in genomics. The Pixeldust team labored to ensure the accuracy of the scientific details, and dealt gracefully with last minute narration changes. They are a wonderful group, and a joy to work with.”nnRicardo Andrade, Founder/Executive Creative Director of Pixeldust Studios said, “Our goal with these animations was to present a highly futuristic yet contemporary style for the depiction of the medical information this NOVA episode was presenting. To give our work a more organic look and feel, we used warm colors for the internal cells and organic tissue of the human body. This warm and bright color palette was contrasted with a shiny and reflective bluish palette for illustrating the medicine and DNA strands. While we always kept an eye on medical accuracy, we allowed ourselves a good bit of artistic liberty with our lighting, shading and 3D modeling along the way.” nnAdds Tim Mrozek, Pixeldust Studios’ Lead Animator on this project, “To best prepare ourselves before producing our animations, we consulted with a noted cell biologist to ensure that our representations of DNA strands, genes, cells and chromosomes would be medically accurate. Our work within this show was also presented at multiple levels of magnifications, often moving from cells to chromosomes to DNA strands, so our animation team used microscopic imagery as source material behind the organic modeling of our creations. We also used a proprietary plug-in to help us portray molecules that had been previously scanned as guide material. Our Senior Designer Harry Castleton worked closely with me on this unique and challenging assignment.” nnAbout Cracking Your Genetic CodenCracking Your Genetic Code premieres on March 28th at 9PM/8c on PBS (check local listings). The program illuminates technological advances in genetic sequencing and what this will mean for the future of healthcare administration; the treatment of chronic, genetic diseases; lifestyle choices; and medical ethics and information accessibility. The show continues NOVA’s medical and genetic exploration, from the historical discovery of DNA to interviews with experts, experiments, educational features and more.n nA description of the show is as follows: “What will it mean when most of us can afford to have the information in our DNA — all six billion chemical letters of it — read, stored and available for analysis? In Cracking Your Genetic Code, NOVA reveals that we stand on the verge of a revolution. The show presents cancer patients who have returned to robust health, and a cystic fibrosis sufferer who now breathes easily because scientists have been able to pinpoint and neutralize the genetic abnormalities underlying their conditions.” The program also addresses the question: “What are the moral dilemmas raised by such new technology?” For more information, visit here.nnAbout Pixeldust StudiosnFounded in 2004, Pixeldust Studios is an Emmy Award-winning digital animation and visual design firm with studios in the Metro D.C. Area and New York City. Pixeldust Studios specializes in creating innovative motion graphics, animations and visual effects for television, film, new media and corporate clients. For more information, please visit www.pixeldust.tv or call 301-656-0050.
Contact:Media Contact: Dan Harary The Asbury PR Agency Beverly Hills, CA 310/859-1831 Contact Dan via email
“Ǝvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of Ǝvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? Ǝvolution suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence, Ǝvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating —in the blink of an eye— the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called “progress” may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscar®... Read More