PHD Comics hits the big screen

(PhysOrg.com) -- If you are a graduate student, you are more than likely aware of the popular Piled Higher and Deeper, or PHD, Comics created by Jorge Cham. These comics cover the everyday struggles that scientists face while in grad school in a humorous and accurate depiction.

For the last year, grad students around the world have found themselves missing their regular comics, it now appears that creator Jorge Cham had a very good reason for the comic going MIA. He has been working with a team of grad students from California Institute of Technology, or Caltech, to create a live-action film where the characters of his comic strip come alive.

Physorg.com spoke with Jorge Cham and learned that the movie was produced and directed by real-life graduate students from Caltech and the comic characters have been brought to life, not by professional actors, but grad students as well. The movie also features cameos by top scientists and professors including two MacArthur "Genius" Award winners.

For those of you not familiar with the comic, it focuses on the lives of Cecilia, Mike Slakenerny, Tajel and the Nameless Grad Student. The comic and now the film, looks at the everyday life of a grad student. From research and more research to teaching, friendships and love, the movie presents young scientists as interesting characters and introduces the average person into what life is really like for a grad student.

PHD Movie Trailer

Television shows like the Big Bang Theory have increased the popularity of the scientist in recent years. While the Big Bang Theory is not completely true to life, the hopes of shows like this and of the new PhD Comic movie is to break the old stereotypical view of scientists.

Starting September 15, the PhD Comic movie, “Piled Higher and Deeper” The Movie, is being screened worldwide on hundreds of academic campuses and Cham says they plan to send the movie to numerous film festivals as well. To see if the movie will be playing at a campus near you, check out his website for times and locations.

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