Sunday's two-hour MythBusters show at the Ralph Klein Centre (RKC) didn't didn't really resemble a typical television episode of the same name.
It was instead an up-close and personal visit between MythBusters Grant Imahara and Tory Belleci and hundreds of area residents, hosted by radio personality Jamieson Brown of CKFM.
Before going on-stage, Imahara and Belleci had a private meeting with the winners of the “Bust a Myth” contest, sponsored by Science Alberta Foundation.
“We've been working with Science Alberta for about six years – it's just been a great relationship,” said Belleci.
He said they want kids to realize there is science in every field of work.
“It's not just white lab coats in a laboratory.”
“I think we share some of the same approach to teaching science [as Science Alberta],” said Imahara.
“Make it unconventional. Find creative ways to make it fun. On our show, we disguise our science with explosions, and fire, and car crashes. But really there is science underneath all that.”
Both Imahara and Belleci watched the videos that were submitted, and were floored to see the diversity of experiments.
“Their scientific method is quite good. The one with the two boys with the cold water and the hot water to see if it would freeze was my favourite one. The little guy had awesome comic timing.”
“It's great, ‘cause it gets them involved. It's more fun to be interactive than just sit there and watch someone do an experiment,” said Belleci.
Interactivity, the hands-on aspect, is key, they say.
“That's why we love our jobs. We're not just watching people test something, we're testing things. I was naturally curious,” said Belleci.
Belleci encourages parents to stoke the fires of their kids' natural curiosity, as his ability to chase his curiosity is partly the reason he is a MythBuster today.
Imahara refers to the old adage ‘The best way to learn how to fix something is to take it apart.'
“I subscribe to that. Unfortunately many remote controls, my grandfather's pocket watch, and many other things around the house paid the price in order to educate me,” he laughs.
Belleci and Imahara have previously worked for Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), and their work has been seen in such films as The Lost World: Jurassic Park (Imahara), Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (both), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Both), Van Helsing (both) The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions (both), and Bicentennial Man (Belleci).
Imahara and Belleci went on-stage in Olds to thunderous applause, introduced by an explosion-filled video. Large ominous letters filled the large video screens.
“In a world full of questions, they find the answers.”
While the first half was dedicated to discussing what happens behind-the scenes, the second half of the show allowed audience members to ask questions.
Belleci and Tory fielded numerous questions from the sold-out crowd of nearly 700 audience members, which spanned from entertaining to plain ridiculous.
One audience member asked the MythBusters who they would rather be stuck on a deserted island with, Jamie Hyneman, Adam Savage, or Richard Simmons.
“Why isn't Kari [Byron] on that list?” Belleci asked the audience member while chuckling.
Another audience member queried if they will ever run out of myths to bust.
“Thank God that the internet is in existence. I don't think our show would be as popular without it. It's a great kind of fueling place for myths.”
“It's a tremendous source of misinformation,” said Imahara.
They also generate new ideas from their viewers through a link that appears during episodes of MythBusters.
“There are millions of postings on the Discovery website. Of course we can't test all of them, but if even one per cent turns out to be a valid myth, that's a lot to choose from.”
“You know what's great about coming to small towns like this? You see this kids when you walk in and they're like,” he mimes a slack-jawed kid.
“It's like whoa, what we're doing on this show is making a big impact.”
Belleci says it's hard to tell if they're having an impact because of their lack of a live studio audience when filming.
Imahara likes the buzz of a live show like the one in today's venue.
“There's some atmospheric electricity in the building, and that's really cool for us to see,” said Imahara.
So what should students do to get where Belleci and Imahara are?
Belleci advises students to find out what they love to do, and immerse themselves in it.
“Don't give up. A lot of people will tell you ‘You can't do this.' Just hold onto your dreams, and don't listen to those people.”
“College is a great place to discover what it is that you want to do, and to try out different things,” said Imahara.
“There are so many different interests in one area: you can look and explore very easily. If you can find a mentor and get an internship, that's the path.”
“It [the show] kind of came out of nowhere, and nobody saw it lasting this long. As long as people believe in ridiculous myths, the show will go on,” said Belleci.
“So keep believing myths,” Imahara joked.
“We just fell into this – we are some of the luckiest people out there,” said Belleci.
“Small communities are what Science Happens Here is all about,” said Francesca Garigue, project coordinator for Science Alberta Foundation.
“It's important for youth to be curious, to think critically, to be an information seeker, and to be a myth buster too,” said Arlene Ponting, the CEO and President of Science Alberta Foundation.
“So when they hear something in the media, or from friends, and they think ‘How do I know that to be true?' They go out and bust that myth themselves.”
