Subtitles
KS3/4 Science: Big Screen Science: The Perry Pigger Show
0001 10:00:08:22 10:00:10:12
(narrator) Big Screen Science
0002 10:00:10:12 10:00:14:01
was a project which gave secondary
school students around the UK
0003 10:00:14:01 10:00:18:10
an opportunity to explore moral and
ethical issues of biomedical science
0004 10:00:18:10 10:00:20:08
through filmmaking.
0005 10:00:20:08 10:00:22:11
The film which follows
looks at issues
0006 10:00:22:11 10:00:24:14
surrounding xenotransplantation.
0007 10:00:24:14 10:00:26:16
The story revolves
around the question
0008 10:00:26:16 10:00:28:24
as to whether
the main character, Susie,
0009 10:00:28:24 10:00:31:13
should accept a heart from a pig.
0010 10:00:31:13 10:00:33:19
We'll hear from
a group of year 10 students
0011 10:00:33:19 10:00:36:02
from Abraham Moss School
in Manchester
0012 10:00:36:02 10:00:38:03
about their involvement
in the project.
0013 10:00:38:03 10:00:41:14
This will be followed by the
complete ten-minute film they made.
0014 10:00:41:14 10:00:45:10
We chose xenotransplantation
because it was the most interesting.
0015 10:00:45:10 10:00:47:11
Not many people think of this topic.
0016 10:00:47:11 10:00:49:15
We didn't know what it was
at the beginning.
0017 10:00:49:15 10:00:52:04
We're talking xenotransplantation...
0018 10:00:52:04 10:00:54:06
(narrator) The inspiration
for the film
0019 10:00:54:06 10:00:56:01
came from "The Jerry Springer Show"
0020 10:00:56:01 10:00:58:13
and the students
wanted to use this format
0021 10:00:58:13 10:01:02:00
to demonstrate the heated debate
that can often surround this area.
0022 10:01:02:00 10:01:03:13
.."The Perry Pigger Show".
0023 10:01:03:13 10:01:07:10
We talked to scientists, we went on
the internet to find out what it is.
0024 10:01:07:10 10:01:10:05
We got books
to find out more about it
0025 10:01:10:05 10:01:13:24
and then we went to a scriptwriter
to see how do you put it in
0026 10:01:13:24 10:01:17:03
because it's really big
and we had, like, 10 minutes.
0027 10:01:17:03 10:01:19:15
On the very first meeting
I took a script editor
0028 10:01:19:15 10:01:24:24
and she took their ideas and
gave it more form and a narrative
0029 10:01:24:24 10:01:27:15
and talked to them
about character development
0030 10:01:27:15 10:01:30:05
and how it was Susie
who was the central character
0031 10:01:30:05 10:01:31:20
because it was her choice.
0032 10:01:31:20 10:01:34:01
Meet Susie!
She's nine years old
0033 10:01:34:01 10:01:38:09
and got her whole life ahead of her.
Or has she?
0034 10:01:38:09 10:01:40:21
We chose animation
because it was a serious matter
0035 10:01:40:21 10:01:43:00
and we wanted people to watch it.
0036 10:01:43:00 10:01:46:15
(Perry) Imagine the heart
is the engine of a car.
0037 10:01:46:15 10:01:50:17
We could illustrate points, like
if you wanted to get inside a body
0038 10:01:50:17 10:01:55:22
and show how a heart was working
or how you change the heart around.
0039 10:01:55:22 10:02:00:00
It's easier to do it with animation
than it is with live action.
0040 10:02:00:00 10:02:02:16
In an animation, pigs can talk.
0041 10:02:02:16 10:02:05:22
And if we did a documentary
and had pigs, it would be disgusting
0042 10:02:05:22 10:02:09:17
and it would be boring,
and no one would want to watch it.
0043 10:02:09:17 10:02:13:18
Welcome, and what a swine of a show
we've got for you today!
0044 10:02:13:18 10:02:17:03
We got a breakdown
of what the kids wanted to do -
0045 10:02:17:03 10:02:20:13
"The Perry Pigger Show".
We worked out what kind of animation
0046 10:02:20:13 10:02:23:04
we'd be able to do it in
and get it finished.
0047 10:02:23:04 10:02:25:16
(girl) We were designing
different characters.
0048 10:02:25:16 10:02:28:21
We wanted some characters that
were old and some that were young
0049 10:02:28:21 10:02:30:21
because we wanted
different opinions.
0050 10:02:30:21 10:02:33:20
Some characters were Asian
and some were Christian
0051 10:02:33:20 10:02:35:19
so we had different religions.
0052 10:02:35:19 10:02:41:02
Perry Pigger, for example, was old,
and we gave him grey hair for that,
0053 10:02:41:02 10:02:45:00
but we also made him wear a suit
to make him look formal and posh.
0054 10:02:45:00 10:02:47:17
I took the designs.
Some of them were scanned in.
0055 10:02:47:17 10:02:50:13
Used the outlines in the computer
0056 10:02:50:13 10:02:54:15
and built models
based on those outlines.
0057 10:02:54:15 10:02:58:14
Pigs are dirty creatures. It's just
too gross. It shouldn't be allowed.
0058 10:02:58:14 10:03:01:11
- You ignoramus.
- How dare you?
0059 10:03:01:11 10:03:03:23
Now it's over to our viewers at home
to decide.
0060 10:03:03:23 10:03:05:13
What should Susie do?
0061 10:03:05:13 10:03:09:03
We were considering different
issues, like religious issues.
0062 10:03:09:03 10:03:13:11
I looked at what I felt and what
my religion felt at the same time.
0063 10:03:13:11 10:03:16:17
So it was a bit confusing
and I'm still really not sure
0064 10:03:16:17 10:03:19:20
if I'd actually take a pig's heart.
0065 10:03:19:20 10:03:23:05
(teacher) Right. Watch carefully.
What is going to happen?
0066 10:03:23:05 10:03:26:00
What is the magnesium powder
0067 10:03:26:00 10:03:30:01
going to be able to do
to the copper outside?
0068 10:03:30:01 10:03:32:14
(girl) People have
different ways of learning.
0069 10:03:32:14 10:03:36:11
Some can just read and learn,
but some people need to see things
0070 10:03:36:11 10:03:39:06
and it's easier to learn
if you see something.
0071 10:03:47:05 10:03:50:04
I'm more interested in science now
than I was before.
0072 10:03:50:04 10:03:53:14
It was a lot of fun
and possibly you have learned a lot
0073 10:03:53:14 10:03:55:10
about xenotransplantation.
0074 10:03:55:10 10:03:57:15
I thought it was
a really good experience.
0075 10:03:57:15 10:03:59:21
I've never done
nothing like this before.
0076 10:03:59:21 10:04:02:10
I have found science
to be more interesting.
0077 10:04:02:10 10:04:04:05
Doing all the drama
and all that
0078 10:04:04:05 10:04:08:11
was more fun than opening a textbook
and copying out.
0079 10:04:08:11 10:04:10:06
(audience cheering)
0080 10:04:14:10 10:04:19:11
(audience chanting)
Perry! Perry! Perry! Perry! Perry...
0081 10:04:19:11 10:04:21:17
Thank you, thank you.
Welcome, welcome.
0082 10:04:21:17 10:04:24:18
And what a swine of a show
we've got for you today!
0083 10:04:24:18 10:04:27:16
(audience chanting)
Perry! Perry! Perry!
0084 10:04:27:16 10:04:30:03
Meet Susie!
She's nine years old
0085 10:04:30:03 10:04:33:23
and got her whole life ahead of her.
Or has she?
0086 10:04:33:23 10:04:35:14
Tell us your story, Susie.
0087 10:04:35:14 10:04:40:05
A few months ago I found out
I needed a heart transplant.
0088 10:04:40:05 10:04:43:09
Tell these lovely folks what's wrong
with the heart you've got.
0089 10:04:43:09 10:04:47:20
It's called cardo-my-ooh...
0090 10:04:47:20 10:04:50:14
Cardiomyopathy, isn't it, sweetie?
0091 10:04:50:14 10:04:52:10
Yeah. That's what I said.
0092 10:04:52:10 10:04:55:20
It means my heart muscle
is getting weaker as I get older
0093 10:04:55:20 10:05:00:01
and eventually it won't be able
to pump the blood around my body.
0094 10:05:00:01 10:05:02:05
- (audience) Oh.
- What will happen then?
0095 10:05:02:05 10:05:08:15
The doctor said I'm going to die
if I don't get a new heart.
0096 10:05:08:15 10:05:12:11
And Susie isn't the only one waiting
for a transplant to save her life.
0097 10:05:12:11 10:05:15:24
We've uncovered a few facts
that might surprise you.
0098 10:05:15:24 10:05:19:13
In the UK, 6,000 people
are waiting for an organ transplant.
0099 10:05:19:13 10:05:24:20
But while 2,850 life-giving
transplants took place last year,
0100 10:05:24:20 10:05:29:00
tragically, 443 people
died while waiting
0101 10:05:29:00 10:05:31:20
due to the critical
shortage of donors.
0102 10:05:31:20 10:05:36:24
Watching things like that
makes me feel so sad. (sniffles)
0103 10:05:36:24 10:05:40:15
But don't despair, Susie, because
here at "The Perry Pigger Show"
0104 10:05:40:15 10:05:43:19
we found someone who could help.
Let's meet him.
0105 10:05:43:19 10:05:46:03
(audience chanting) Perry! Perry!
(gasp)
0106 10:05:46:03 10:05:49:22
Yes, that's right, folks.
We're talking xenotransplantation -
0107 10:05:49:22 10:05:53:15
the transplantation
of interspecies organs.
0108 10:05:53:15 10:05:56:02
That's disgusting!
Get him out of here.
0109 10:05:56:02 10:05:59:15
Now, don't be pig-headed. Let's hear
what he's got to say for himself.
0110 10:05:59:15 10:06:01:18
Welcome to
"The Perry Pigger Show", Roger.
0111 10:06:01:18 10:06:04:02
Thanks, Perry.
I'm happy to be here.
0112 10:06:04:02 10:06:06:14
I think you can tell
from our audience's reaction
0113 10:06:06:14 10:06:08:18
they weren't expecting a pig.
0114 10:06:08:18 10:06:10:20
So, tell us why you're here.
0115 10:06:10:20 10:06:13:10
Well, Perry,
it's this or a bacon butty.
0116 10:06:13:10 10:06:16:13
Most pigs lead
a really uncomfortable life.
0117 10:06:16:13 10:06:20:23
At least this way, I'm being looked
after and doing my bit for humanity.
0118 10:06:20:23 10:06:22:18
You want your brains tested, you do.
0119 10:06:22:18 10:06:26:18
Well, Susie, would you accept
a heart transplant from Roger here?
0120 10:06:26:18 10:06:31:15
- Um, I'm not sure, Perry.
- What does our audience think?
0121 10:06:31:15 10:06:35:14
Pigs are dirty creatures. It's just
too gross. It shouldn't be allowed.
0122 10:06:35:14 10:06:38:12
- You ignoramus.
- How dare you?
0123 10:06:38:12 10:06:42:13
I'd never accept a pig's heart,
even if I had to die!
0124 10:06:42:13 10:06:44:06
That's easy for you to say.
0125 10:06:44:06 10:06:46:18
You don't have to make
the decision for yourself.
0126 10:06:46:18 10:06:50:12
I have to go to the hospital
every week for kidney dialysis.
0127 10:06:50:12 10:06:54:05
That's where you get your kidney
cleaned so it works longer, right?
0128 10:06:54:05 10:06:57:18
Right, Perry. It's keeping me alive
while I'm waiting for a donor.
0129 10:06:57:18 10:07:00:00
I have two kids and a pregnant wife
0130 10:07:00:00 10:07:02:23
and I'm scared my kids
are going to lose their dad.
0131 10:07:02:23 10:07:07:09
I'd take a pig's kidney, even
if I had one more day with my kids.
0132 10:07:07:09 10:07:09:00
Thanks for sharing that.
0133 10:07:09:00 10:07:12:20
Why aren't there enough
human organs that are suitable?
0134 10:07:12:20 10:07:14:07
Humans are just too selfish.
0135 10:07:14:07 10:07:17:11
They never give anything.
All they're interested in is gain!
0136 10:07:17:11 10:07:19:11
I think we should focus
on the animals
0137 10:07:19:11 10:07:21:11
instead of just what humans need.
0138 10:07:21:11 10:07:24:11
Is it right to breed pigs
just for human consumption?
0139 10:07:24:11 10:07:27:01
- We breed them for eating.
- Would you eat your pets?
0140 10:07:27:01 10:07:29:16
- That's different.
- How's it different, exactly?
0141 10:07:29:16 10:07:32:19
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
pigs and pigesses,
0142 10:07:32:19 10:07:35:02
let's hear from our next guest.
0143 10:07:35:02 10:07:39:19
He joins us live from his lab
in Swinton, Dr Stephen Porkins.
0144 10:07:39:19 10:07:41:04
Can you hear us?
0145 10:07:41:04 10:07:45:00
Loud and clear, Perry.
Loud and clear.
0146 10:07:45:00 10:07:47:22
So, Dr Porkins... tell us more.
0147 10:07:47:22 10:07:49:07
OK, Perry.
0148 10:07:49:07 10:07:53:11
Let's take you back and show you
how we got to this point.
0149 10:07:53:11 10:07:57:02
Imagine the heart
is the engine of a car.
0150 10:07:57:02 10:08:01:14
A car has pistons and spark plugs
to help make it work.
0151 10:08:01:16 10:08:05:17
The heart has valves
that lets the blood flow around it.
0152 10:08:05:17 10:08:08:10
Sometimes the pistons
and spark plugs
0153 10:08:08:10 10:08:11:13
become clogged with oil and grease
0154 10:08:11:13 10:08:13:15
and need replacing,
0155 10:08:13:15 10:08:15:11
or they were damaged to start with.
0156 10:08:15:11 10:08:21:05
Sometimes, valves become clogged
with cholesterol and fatty foods,
0157 10:08:21:05 10:08:22:20
and need replacing,
0158 10:08:22:20 10:08:25:10
or they were damaged to start with.
0159 10:08:25:10 10:08:26:08
Sure.
0160 10:08:26:08 10:08:30:16
So, just like a mechanic
will change a spark plug in a car,
0161 10:08:30:16 10:08:34:22
we will change the valve in a heart.
0162 10:08:34:22 10:08:37:03
- Thank you, Hilda.
- You're welcome.
0163 10:08:37:03 10:08:41:02
Now this is a heart valve
from a pig.
0164 10:08:41:02 10:08:45:17
We've found that these valves
would fit into human hearts.
0165 10:08:45:17 10:08:50:02
With this little thing, we can
save thousands of lives every year.
0166 10:08:50:02 10:08:55:24
Pop it in, and off the patient trots
for another 10,000 miles. Smashin'.
0167 10:08:55:24 10:09:00:07
- Sounds great.
- It is. Until you hit 10,000 miles.
0168 10:09:00:07 10:09:02:13
Then you have to lift
the bonnet again.
0169 10:09:02:13 10:09:06:02
- People don't have bonnets!
- Exactly.
0170 10:09:06:02 10:09:09:23
The body's not a car. You can't just
lift the bonnet every few months
0171 10:09:09:23 10:09:12:19
and change a valve
when you feel like it.
0172 10:09:12:19 10:09:16:11
What we wanted to do
is change the whole engine -
0173 10:09:16:11 10:09:19:02
give them a pig engine, as it were.
0174 10:09:19:02 10:09:22:13
Extraordinary -
a pig engine in a human chassis!
0175 10:09:22:13 10:09:26:03
Why a pig, though? Why not something
closer to a human like an ape?
0176 10:09:26:03 10:09:27:13
Two reasons, Perry,
0177 10:09:27:13 10:09:30:22
and I'm not sure you're going
to be happy with either of them.
0178 10:09:30:22 10:09:33:22
First of all, pigs are cheap.
0179 10:09:33:22 10:09:37:13
I'm sure some are! But I think
you'll find this suit is Hamarni.
0180 10:09:37:13 10:09:40:09
No, no, no, no, no.
Not like that.
0181 10:09:40:09 10:09:42:13
I mean there are lots of them
0182 10:09:42:13 10:09:47:16
living locally, on farms,
waiting to be sold.
0183 10:09:47:16 10:09:49:22
Your average ape lives miles away.
0184 10:09:49:22 10:09:51:23
The cost of airfare alone
is cripplin'.
0185 10:09:51:23 10:09:56:03
OK, I wouldn't mind the air miles,
but point taken. And number two?
0186 10:09:56:03 10:09:58:20
People are less sentimental
about pigs.
0187 10:09:58:20 10:10:01:10
I'm very highly regarded
in the human community.
0188 10:10:01:10 10:10:05:03
I'm sure you are. But I never
heard of a boar's buffet.
0189 10:10:05:03 10:10:09:09
A chimpanzee's tea party, on the