“The magic of becoming a child again”, the first short film on the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa
A distinguished and elderly gentleman looks out in front of the Certosa di Pisa in Calci, enters the Natural History Museum, crosses its rooms and galleries and dwells on some specimens until, immersed in the wonders of the Wunderkammer, magically returns, rediscovering himself as a curious and passionate explorer of the infinite beauties kept in that location. This is the simple and elegant plot that inspires the first short film made on the Museum of the University of Pisa, entitled “The magic of becoming a child”, created to tell, promote and enhance its history, its collections and exhibitions, with its ability to arouse emotions in the visitor at the center.
Using a language that combines images and music, the story unfolds over a day, from the morning – when the man arrives at the Museum – until the late afternoon, when he leaves it. The place, the people, the finds, the rooms, everything is presenter as in a journey, within which he is led to identify himself with the visitor and to perceive the Museum both as a container of precious finds, and and above all as a treasure chest of unique and personal impressions.
The idea of the short film was born inside the Museum which took care of the design and the script, and saw the collaboration of different people and structures. The Center for Innovation and the Diffusion of Culture (Cidic) played an important role, coordinating the direction, shooting and editing and creating the original music, testifying how the various already professional realities converge in a single Center operating in the University in the multimedia, music and communication fields, as well as publishing, can favor the creation of quality cultural products. Great willingness to be part of the project was ensured by the interpreters, voluntarily and always with great enthusiasm.
“The Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa is one of the most important tourist resources, as well as scientific ones, in our area. – commented the rector Paolo Mancarella – Promoting it at this time is essential to give greater solidity to the restart of the Pisan economy. The fact that this commercial was born from a collaboration entirely internal to the University, between two University Centers – the Museum of Natural History and the CIDIC – seems to me a further positive sign. Only by relying on a cohesive community capable of collaborating, in fact, can the excellence of a university like ours be kept high “.
“The Museum – added the director Damiano Marchi – collects a heritage of great historical and scientific importance, the result of over four hundred years of naturalistic research by the Pisa University. In addition to being a cultural reference for the community, today it welcomes visitors with an immersive and meaningful experience. We hope that the video, in addition to narrating the exhibitions, can convey the emotion that a visit to the Museum can arouse in visitors of all ages “.