iGEM | Creative Video Production
I produced large-scale visual content for iGEM, one of the world’s largest synthetic biology organizations. Across a typical year, I delivered five major stage videos and roughly twenty supporting productions, reaching an audience of 4,500 participants from over 50 countries at the organization’s flagship event in Paris.
Several of these productions continue to be featured across iGEM’s public-facing platforms, becoming long-term assets for the organization’s storytelling and outreach efforts.
Working between Paris and Budapest, I led projects ranging from scientific explainer videos, brand videos, to large-scale show production, handling concept development, scriptwriting, and end-to-end post-production.
Explainer Videos
Role: Direction, Concept, Script, Editing, Storyboarding, Sound Design
In 2022 I served as the sole person on the video team, taking ownership of concept development, scripting, editing and sound design and final delivery across the entire video production.
I produced nine cinematic explainer videos and three act-transition videos for the award show. These videos explored how iGEM teams were applying synthetic biology to tackle global challenges such as the climate crisis, environmental cleanup, and food security.
Three videos were transitions between the three acts of the final day award show: Planet, People, Technology, creating a more cohesive viewing experience.
The goal was to incorporate three elements:
- define what global challenges are
- how synthetic biology is used
- iGEM team projects
Challenges
Translating highly scientific language into a script that could carry the runtime was an obvious challenge. Sometimes this required the tone to be more cinematic so that the narration didn’t turn into definitions.
Adding team visuals was another challenge. I wanted to feature as many teams as possible, however many teams submitted videos that were simply not usable. For cinematic visuals, I turned to stock video but it was still a long process to find great looking clips that didn’t feel generic.
Sound design played a core role in making the videos as cinematic as possible.
I developed the visual style by incorporating influences from Ron Fricke films Samsara and Baraka, especially the famous food sequence.
Outcomes
These videos were widely celebrated and laid the groundwork for the cinematic award show. The leadership and the board loved it, as it was a new form of communication for the company. It was a whole new experience for the audience - it was not just another science expo, but a cinematic show. I received a personal commendation from the CEO in the form of a trophy.
Live Show & Stage Production | The Biobrick Trophy
Role: Concept, Editor, Cinematographer, Sound Designer, Color Grading, VFX
This video was designed to elevate the closing ceremony from a traditional science expo presentation into cinematic award show experience. The success of the video is illustrated by the fact that it is the format that iGEM aims to recreate each year.
The goal was to exceed the expectation of the audience and create a show that is enjoyable, informative, and that creates group identity. It features several live elements, where the pre-recorded video feed switches to a live one, keeping continuity.
To maximize engagement, the video featured a surprise comedic sequence with the iGEM mascot, Gemy. Gemy was introduced to iGEM the same year, and in the video Gemy arrives to Paris by boat, and as the video goes live appears at the venue, carrying the brick.
The Bricks
The video tells the story of the Biobrick Trophy (The Grand Prize of the Jamboree) and how it arrives to Paris each year. The Trophy is accompanied by glowing LEGO bricks that represent the core values of iGEM.
Staged live elements became integral in the final day show.
The pre-recorded video was showing the brick all around the place - in Boston, Shenzhen, Mexico City, etc - and then it showed them arriving to Paris. To create an on-site spectacle, the bricks lit up real time in the audience and the video feed went live, the cameras showed staff members holding the bricks.
3D printed and rigged with LED lights, the bricks were custom-built by the team for the video and the live show.
While the filming took place in Paris, many scenes were set in different parts of the world. Combining these locations with location appropriate color grading and aerial stock footage created the effect of the bricks being all around the globe.
The LED lights coming from the bricks had to be compensated for in post-production. This involved advanced color grading and VFX work.
The titles of the values were added to the bricks in post.
Outcome
This video turned the show into a spectacle and resulted in a standing ovation from the audience. The video became a reference point in iGEM’s storytelling about award shows.
Story & Brand Videos
These projects focused on communicating the vision, values, and cultural identity of iGEM and the broader field of synthetic biology.
The challenge was balancing scientific accuracy and cinematic storytelling that is accessible to broader audiences.
iGEM | The Heart of Synthetic Biology
Role: Scriptwriting, Editing
I came up with the idea for this video when the Award Show exclusively featured explainer videos. This video introduced the broader vision of synthetic biology: a field that applies engineering principles to genetic engineering and has the potential to transform manufacturing, medicine, agriculture, and sustainability.
The key challenge of this project was scientific accuracy that is communicated cinematically without feeling trite.
I wrote the first draft of the script which then the creative team developed. I edited and produced the video and it premiered at the Grand Jamboree 2024. After the event I adapted the video into a 16x9 web version.
The video was praised by the board and the stakeholders and it became a reference point in the storytelling and communication of iGEM. It is currently featured on iGEM’s landing page.
Tools & Techniques
Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, Storyboarding, Scriptwriting, Sound Design, Motion Graphics, Color Grading, Live Event Production, Multi-Screen Content Design, VFX