Monday 28 March 2011

Treatment, Transliteracy & Innovators Elastic Brain Loops

I am getting on with writing various types of material to be generated , synopsis, a treatment to communciate exactly what the show is how it works, and what it looks like and what audience will see and experience e.g. key moments in performance and technical events etc. There is also the poetic text that drapes around this architecture . This all brings me back to the 'transliteracy' (a term I'a not not keen on as it makes me always think of that which is written whether e.g. words, or code etc) idea. I have taken for granted the fact that I do alot of different things. Always have done (often discoverd through adversity ) and they have been well received or performed to a high level. In particular I have enjoyed being familiar this time round with all the different processes involved . Plus the all the new ones my elastic brain loops around happily. Music Acoustic & Digital Electronica Literature Dance/Physical Theatre Visual Art Mixed Media (film & photgraphy ) Make Up/Fashion & Style. Working on this project gives me a great opportunity and much enjoyment , to bring all these different things together in a unique way. To find the interstices ,the cracks , spaces between them as well as what cuts across/ through them . Yet having some kind of holistic vision of it all. Technolgy is to play with, to explore and even take liberties with. For me the body and human experience its myriad of expressions is paramount. This has always lead and informed my use of technolgy..Working within a space of the creative tension in discovering the very real limitations of a piece of technology - as well as its potentialities . Celebrating the happenestance and the unlooked for discoveries (all the wrong or incorrect ) things found when fully engaged, in the 'zone' so to speak. I feel like someone who speaks so many different languages in arts multi - media etc,. So that I can be heard and understood get the best of of kit etc, and vice a versa . But that I have an approach , a way of being and communicating that people, often find hard to actually understand fully and/seem remote stand offish rather than engaging. Am I experiencing a sort of cultural 'lock out' because of it, am I a notional threat in some way,as I have such a different background to them maybe ? Surely that is what diversityis all about isnt it . A I am so conversant or transliterateif you prefer . Due to the fact, that I have often made my own discoveries and continue to do...We shall see if I am able to communciate my own cultural perspective and natural ability that I have developed on, to others - including, peers in the coming weeks ....

Thursday 24 March 2011

Give Me The Lights & the Magic Mirror ....

I had a brilliant time today, doing a guided tour of a digtial media centre with Sean and myself, of the excellent equipment and studio facilities (some mac some pc kit audio visual etc.). We envisage using over the summer, to pilot the creative digital visual ideas for the project. In our subsequent meeting together, it became clear, that what was needed was a joint (myself and Sean) presentation, to the various groups associated with this digital media centre, to explain the project. To present its vision and its innovative collaborative nature to them . This way we maybe able to access the resources that we would require. they would benefit from a being involved in a very exciting innovative collaborative project that would benefit student learning and experience.

The deadline for this is the next three weeks. It would also help to get on board also, possible MA students to work with us as a summer project. As part of the creative digital team. With another more experienced person in the field of film/technical etc. to work alongside Sean. This is a bigger creative digital team than previously planned, to create and test the performance platform for the piece . Further decisions are to be made, as to whether we have the correct amount and type of equipment to buy- in order to tour with. In addition - what equipment we would use in-house in theatre venues (we would need very detailed information of equipment , layout , power points etcc here ), arts venues in phase 2 of the project (i.e. installations).

Importantly, we agreed on a combination of classic theatrical lighting techniques with state of the art creative digital still & moving images, to work seamlessly woven into the narrative drama and movement. In particular to move the dramatic character between locations and time zones in a very sutble way. For strictly limited use of interactive software for particular dramatic moments . Other modes of interactvity are possible with other digital moving visuals. Importantly to use the dressing room of the diva character - as a core theatrical transformative device - of still & moving images of multiple projections. However we agreed to ensure the work is fully lead by the performance of live literature and physical theatre.

Sunday 20 March 2011

Chuffed Choked & Charged - Forward with Breakthroughs

Where to really start with the last few weeks ... Chuffed to have a made quite a positive meeting with a big iconic theatre in my region.The Executive producer there requires a project plan & budget (so timely now) also a script - to nail an offer,of 2 night performance dates early in 2012 , plus rehearsal space, professional advice support- leading to a sharing/work in progress end of august 2011. More cream on the cherry, comes in a possible offer of digital media studio technical facilities for the project - opportunities for legacy work and education young people and other artists . I am looking forward to Apples & Snakes Creative Producer , also Peepul Centre this week meeting for further partner /support deals . I have learnt and cannot emphasise enough , how important it is, to be very confident in your planning/ the use of constructive feedback , the creative technical people you choose to work with and most importantly your own proven skills, experience, ideas/vision YAY !!!

Ntzake Shangwe's For Coloured Who Have considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf Hollwywood Film (lionsgate) - has not reached my fair city of Leicester as yet ....I am choked because I wanted to see it as part of my r & d. I am all charged up , after I had watched a great interview and excerpt of Benji Reid's last performance piece and was very inspired. He was definitely the right choice for an artist like me for so many reasons. The work with Simon, all pens & paper approach to setting out- devising staging ideas, has lead naturally to the first draft script version evolving splendidly.

Another of these important breakthroughs after my session with Simon e.g. involves putting into practice my original idea, of the key importance of the number 5 in the piece. The lead characters speech is in 5 lines verse in a 5 beat rhythm (non european) . This in turn leads to writing in the characters' natural voice - to flow beautifully. Location and setting for the entire piece , dramatic key points in the narrative structure are mapped out and its likely length. This technique has created all these important artistic breakthroughs . Finally I must praise the brilliant project plan (in colours at a glance I see all ) our funding goddess has prepared, dispaying her marvellous project management skills.