The Science Show

To create and exhibit--called Tess-curator at the California Science Center in Exposition Park, which opens this week, worked with more than 200 people: a director, a scriptwriter, animators, computer artists, programmers, software and lighting designers and a company specializing in themed entertainment production for parks such as Disneyland and Universal Studios.

Putting it All Together

* Defining the message: The museum curator and staff want to explain homeostasis--how the body keeps its systems in balance--to fifth, sixth and seventh grades, the most frequent museum visitors. Most life science exhibits tend to be small, even microscopic, but they want something with a target impact.

* Designing the space: Designers specializing in science and technology museum exhibits corrdinate the project with the architect.

* Writing a script: Scriptwriter and museum curator develop the show. To test the script’s effectiveness, the museum’s science theater enacts it for audiences of children.

* Directing the show: An event director who has worked with the Democratic National Conventionand other large programs oversees the show. Media technology experts create special lightning effects; programmers work with the computer system that controls the theater, and set designers furnish Tess’ environment with oversize dials and gauges. A Warner Bros. animator creates Tess’ sidekick, Walter, who will be projected on a screen behind her head.

* Building the exhibit: A Valencia-based theme park designer begins building Tess. After testing is complete, the parts are disassembled, bubble-wrapped and trucked to Los Angeles for final installation.

The Theater

A control panel allows a presenter to animate individual parts of Tess, such as the heart or face, so the Body Works theater can also be used by museum staff as a science theater program.

* Lighting: Computer system controls strobes, chaser lights, theatrical lighting and effects for Tess’ nervous system.

* Screen: A high-powered projector is used to display the animated portion of the show.

* Alternative stage: A small stage for presenting other science programs.

* Seating: The theater seats 120, show are every 30 minutes.

* Tess: 50 foot form stretches out in an 8-foot deep pit.

The Technology

Much of the technology used to create Body Works has been used by theme park designers and the entertainment industry for years. Entering into the competition for scare leisure time, the Science Center hopes the same technology will keep its audience glued to their seats for science.

The head: Animatronics create the head’s facial movements in sync with Tess’ voice. Lights flash inside her translucent brain.

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Heart and lungs: A pneaumatic piston pumps the latex heart at the rate of a human heartbeat. The lungs similarly expand ad contract.

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Nervous system: Lights flash along the nerves and blood vessels to show circulation and electrical activity.

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Muscle structure: Muscles and bones, sculpted from giant blocks of foam and coated with fiberglass, are anatomically accurate.

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Heavy hand: A counterweight system keeps Tess’ 4,000-lb. arm in balance as it moves during the program.

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In Calender Weekend: Students experience the new Science Center, and what’s on tap at L.A.’s first 3-D Imax theater.

Source: The Los Angeles Science Center, Attraction Services and West Office Exhibition Design; Researched by REBECCA PERRY / Los Angeles Times