Experiencing Interruptions?

What Goes Wrong in Cancer?

Our first official Peter Mac animation reveals the invisible molecular world within our cells and how this finely tuned world can occasionally become disrupted, leading to cancer. Peter Mac is also showcased as a world leader in cancer research, treatment and diagnostics and allied health, always employing the latest available technologies. As such, Peter Mac is Australia's only hospital solely dedicated to the overarching theme of cancer.

  • Dr Maja Divjak
    Director
    Inflammation and Type 2 Diabetes, Insulin Receptor and Type 2 Diabetes, Bordetella pertussis and Whooping Cough, Clostridium tetani and Tetanus
  • Dr Maja Divjak
    Animation
    Inflammation and Type 2 Diabetes, Insulin Receptor and Type 2 Diabetes, Bordetella pertussis and Whooping Cough, Clostridium tetani and Tetanus
  • Dr Maja Divjak
    Writer
    Inflammation and Type 2 Diabetes, Insulin Receptor and Type 2 Diabetes, Bordetella pertussis and Whooping Cough, Clostridium tetani and Tetanus
  • Dr Clare Fedele
    Writer
    ABC Melbourne breakfast radio
  • The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
    Producer
    The Peter Mac Story: Breaking New Ground. Changing lives, What is CAR-T Cell Therapy? Peter Mac's Prehabilitation Program
  • Adam Hunt
    Sound Design
    Winchester, Creswick, Crawlspace, The Neon Spectrum
  • Talia Raso
    Sound Design
    The last Man in Vegas, Black Garden, Paper Champions, The Bikes of Wrath
  • Dr Clare Fedele
    Narration
    ABC Melbourne breakfast radio
  • Reuben Street, Blueprint Studios
    Cinematography
    Fringe Dweller, Inside Syria, The Dury's Out, Once Upon a Mountain
  • Frank Guarnaccia, Blueprint Studios
    Cinematography
    Fringe Dweller, Inside Syria, The Dury's Out, Once Upon a Mountain
  • Prof Ricky Johnstone
    Scientific Advisors
  • Prof Rick Pearson
    Scientific Advisors
  • Dr Clare Fedele
    Scientific Advisors
  • Dr Elaine Sanij
    Scientific Advisors
  • Prof Ygal Haupt
    Scientific Advisors
  • Prof Mark Glover
    Scientific Advisors
  • Prof Kum Kum Khanna
    Scientific Advisors
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    biology, biomedical animation, documentary, science, technology
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 37 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 22, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    HD 1080
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • What Goes Wrong in Cancer? Bioanimation and Sci-Art Launch
    Melbourne
    Australia
    December 6, 2019
    Australian Premiere
  • Raw Science Film Festival 2020
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Jury Award, Professional Animation, Short
  • World-Fest Houston International Film Festival 2020
    Houston
    United States
    Platinum Remi Award
  • Doctors Without Borders Film Festival 2020
    Nassau
    United States
    Award of Exceptional Excellence, Science
  • Doctors Without Borders Film Festival 2020
    Nassau
    United States
    Award of Exceptional Excellence, Animated
  • Doctors Without Borders Film Festival 2020
    Nassau
    United States
    Award of Exceptional Excellence, Health
  • Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
    Melbourne
    Australia
    July 1, 2020
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Dr Maja Divjak

Dr Maja Divjak is a Biomedical Animator who recently took up the inaugural role of Biomedical Animator at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, where she is creating animations about cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to cancer. Prior to this, she was resident Science Animator at the Gene Technology Access Centre. She was also privileged to undertake a fellowship with world-renowned Biomedical Animator Dr Drew Berry, at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. The fellowship was part of the VizbiPlus project, which aimed to train three new animators to communicate cutting edge research at their host institutions, using visually stunning and engaging 3D animation.

After completing her PhD analysing tumour necrosis factor in asthma, Maja spent quite some time in scientific sales, but was keen to bring together her love of art and science in some shape or form. This led to studies in 3D Animation at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. Thereafter, she developed her skills on personal animation projects and commercial projects for life sciences company Promega Corporation.

Her first animation for the VizbiPlus project detailed how inflammation causes type 2 diabetes, via a unique structure known as the ‘inflammasome’. She also created a companion piece focusing on the insulin receptor structure and what might be happening in insulin resistance. Her subsequent animations for the Gene Technology Access Centre about whooping cough and tetanus have highlighted the importance of vaccination. Her creations have twice been exhibited at the Vivid Festival of Light, Music and Ideas and have won awards, including the Warren Sturgis Motion Media Award at BioImages 2017 and several Awards of Excellence at the Doctors Without Borders Film Festival, 2017. The first official flagship animation for Peter Mac ‘What Goes Wrong in Cancer’ is an ambitious project designed to showcase the invisible molecular world within our cells and how this finely tuned world can occasionally be disrupted, leading to cancer.
You can view the complete animation on the Peter Mac YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8GxvVrnF38

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I work at the interface between art and science, using animation for the purposes of scientific education and illustration of biological processes. Many people are frightened of science, both the ideas and the language. I wish to remove this fear by making science accessible, through the use of visual, 3d representations, rather than abstract concepts. The ultimate aim of my animations is to help people appreciate the beauty and drama going on in their own bodies at any given moment.