How to describe serious and often arcane science in a way that's sophisticated enough for the initiated and comprehensible to laymen in black tie? This was the challenge to be met for the Franklin Institute's awards gala in April 1999. Sometimes described as the American Nobels because they are the country's highest international scientific honor, the Benjamin Franklin Medals have, for over 100 years, been given annually to recognize contributions to science.

The renowned 175-year-old Philadelphia institution gave out nine medals and we were asked to produce a video introduction for each laureate. In only two minutes per segment, we had to explore each medalist's life at the farthest reaches of science.

Complicating the job was a dearth of existing footage on many of the subjects and the client's request that we not use filmed interviews because the laureates would be appearing in person onstage.

A handsome and compelling combination of archival and new footage on the groundbreaking work, still photographs, animation and video effects. We unified the segments with a smart script and music. Peter Thomas's narration wrapped them into an authoritative whole.

Results
The audience loved its short course in Noam Chomsky's linguistic theories, the Sagnac effect as applied to gyroscopes, the destruction of the ozone layer, quantum mechanics, Dr. Barry Marshall's work on the bacterial cause of ulcers and Dr. Walter Kaminsky's work on metallocene catalysts (e.g., tough plastic that you need a knife to tear). And beyond the audience, the press was able to understand what the awardees had done. www.fi.edu