The Tree of Life

LOGLINE
After years of neuroscientific research and many successes, Lauras dream to help millions is becoming even more real, with the development of a new drug. What is neuroscience and who does it help? The story of a scientist and her team alongside the life stories of whom they help.

SYNOPSIS
After years of research and successes in the field of Neurosciences, Lauras dream to help millions could become even more tangible. Along with her team in the prestigious Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia of Genoa, she has developed a molecule that will start undergoing the tests to become a drug, something that could revolutionise the pharmacological industry and turn the lives of millions for the better. What is neuroscience and who does it help? The story of a scientist and her team, the life stories of whom shes trying to help. Well go inside the laboratories, see firsthand the life of the researchers, an heterogeneous and diverse group, see the challenges they face and what it means to devote ones life to such a field. We follow Claudio, Emanuele and their friends, a glimpse in the daily life of a person with Down Syndrome. How does a brain work, how much do we really understand? Art, music and philosophy references will help us throughout this intricate maze.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
We are passionate about this project because it’s about a dream, Lauras dream to help people be the best version of themselves, with a good chance for happiness and well being, it’s about hope followed by concrete actions. I spent a few hours with Emanuele and Claudio, they are great, spontaneous and kind. I was told the issues they face, what their families go through. Research can help Emanuele and Claudio and other millions be as happy and foolish as we are, thus levelling the playing field.
The more I talk with Laura, the more I face sciences’ main socratic truth, we know nothing. The brain holds all our secrets, how we see and interpret, how we hear but don’t listen, how we isolate, sadness, happiness, the mystery which is life, but a few small discoveries can make a huge difference to millions, this is The Tree of Life, taking a stroll in in our guests shoes, people trying to make a difference with knowledge, passion and love, trying to be the best version of themselves.

DISTINCTIVE ELEMENTS

• National or international talent, episode introductions and interaction with the characters.
• Unreleased interviews with the protagonists, professional outlooks and life stories.
• Description of the locations and laboratories, an inside look.
• Graphic design to interpret cultural links with neuroscience, artistic renditions.
• Photorealistic 3D reconstruction of neuron forest and other parts of the brain with animations and infographics.
• Simulations and display real scientific data.

The main scientific topics will be:

• What is neurodevelopment
• How neurons can be studied
• How behaviours related to brain development can be studied.
• Why Neuroscience, a mini history of Neurosciences
• What links exist with other fields of study e.g. medicine, computer engineering
• Why study Neurophysiology?
• Why study neurons and the behaviour related to brain development?

EXTRA ELEMENTS
The photorealistic 3D elaborations of the brain and neurons can become the basis for the development of a series of edutainment VR 360 immersive videos.

sodos