The first day of the workshop. Sixteen participants from around the world (Hong Kong to Switzerland) with a wide range of experiences. We began by focusing on the nature of composition with two exercises: one object oriented and the other combining video assets with a live performer. Through these exercises we established the primary challenge to our work for the next two weeks: The body is analog – it changes – it is flexible – it adapts. Digital assets are fixed - in their raw form they don't change, they are inflexible, they do not adjust to the analog performer. The challenge is in making them work together. How do we get the digital assets to "respond" to the variances of the live performer? We also discussed the aspects of media as it related to live performance: Projection as Environment - creating scenery for the live performer, Projection as Character - the media as an active participant in the scene, Projection as Light - a source of illumination highlighting the performer, an object, or the space itself, Projection as Cinema - where the asset is a scene unto itself with no need of the live performer.
We spent the afternoon exploring Isadora and learned a few attributes that I was unfamiliar with from my previous work. The latest version of the program is also more robust allowing for four video inputs.
We were given our first composition assignment which we will produce tomorrow - Create an interactive piece that explore the interrelationship between the screen of a laptop and a live performer. I worked on a proof of concept for my piece after dinner and tomorrow during the workshop I will create the actual video assets. In an absurdist way, my piece is an absurd salute to Sam Beckett. Hope to post video of it tomorrow.
About Me
- George
- George H. Brown has worked in the professional and university theatre for over 26 years filling a gamut of positions from Director to Actor to Fight Choreographer. He has directed over 85 productions in theatres across the U.S., Caribbean and Europe. Within the field of intermedial arts, his research and creative production has focused on several areas including live video integration, multi-screen and non-traditional surface projection techniques, mediated performance, and, most significantly, telematic performance, which takes advantage of high bandwidth Internet2 connectivity to join artists and technologists from around the world to collaborate and present theatre events that push the technological and creative envelope. George joined the Department of Theatre Arts at Bradley University in 2002, where he serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts. George holds an MFA Degree in Directing from Penn State. You can see more about George's work at www.georgehbrown.com.
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