For seven years now the Florida Museum and Creative B have hosted FREE movie screenings to explore the balance between science and art. On July 6th we watched The Dark Knight (2008) after a panel discussion about it with scientists, artists and special effects experts.

Many thanks to our panel speakers:

• Demetria “Dee” McBride – Keeper and marketing coordinator for the Lubee Bat Conservancy
• James Coats – Body armor manufacturer and CEO of Phalanx Defense Systems LLC
• Ian Breheny – Florida Museum exhibit designer
• Terry Harpold – UF associate professor of English, film and media studies
• Tim Lawrence – ILM creature shop supervisor for “Ghostbusters 2,” concept sculptor for “Jurassic Park” and character effects crew and puppeteer for “Gremlins 2” and “Harry and the Hendersons”

Visitors watch The Dark Knight on the big screen in the main gallery during our summer Creative B movie series. Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage

Ian Breheny introduced some body armor inspired by movies like The Dark Knight. Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage

Demetria “Dee” McBride from Lubee Bat Conservancy spoke about bats and bat behavior on the panel, accompanied by James Coats and Terry Harpold. Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage

While speaking on the panel, Tim Lawrence holds up a plaster mask used to design the makeup worn by the Joker in The Dark Knight movie. Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage

James Coats speaks on the panel with Dee McBride prior to watching The Dark Knight. Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage

Buttons inspired by The Dark Knight were available to guests who attended the Creative B movie showing. Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage

Visitors enjoyed light snacks before the panel discussion and movie showing of The Dark Knight. Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage

Find out more about the University of Florida’s Creative B program…