The past
and the future
make their wild sweeps
up and down,
while we, the present,
the fulcrum,
keep the illusion
of stillness,
of never really
moving all that
far.
Initial sketches of the meeting.
I am responsible for shooting the video and editing for projection and lighting. Isadora Mapping on my side and working sound with Xingtao. Sound sources from me.
Small performance.
Xingtao, for isadora mapping, and mixing sound.
Tian hong and Zilu for performance.
Based on the poem above, we are expressing the cycle of life through performance and projection combined.
Group - Circle
Members: Tianhong (Yvonne) Yuan, Zilu (Amber) Lin, Xingtao Zhou and Carol Sin Chai Kok
Stage: White raised stage, 15ft x 15ft, mixed by 5, 3 ft across and 3, 5ft across of 2ft x 1ft white panel.
Performers: Yvonne and Amber, Carol as the sweeper
Computer controller and rope tying to audience: Xingtao and Carol
Performers: Wearing white makeup, white costume, bare feet
This performance is about our circle of life. It is a mixture of two performers and two video projections. The colour red is used as a metaphor to blood.
Scene 1
Tungsten flood light on center stage.
Yvonne will walk slowly from the central entrance of the theatre, holding red paint in a bucket on one hand and a mop on the other hand, wearing white costume and make up, red thread on her head, to the nearest center of the stage. She will give the red thread to two persons, and the two persons will tie the audience in groups of 4 -6. When the audience has been directed out of the stage, she will slowly walk clockwise, she draws a circle with red paint and mop on the raised white stage. When she has completed drawing the circle, she will then move out of the stage and fade out to black.
Scene 2
Tungsten flood light on stage.
Amber will then come in on the other side of the stage, with cake on her head and a balloon filled with red paint that signifies virus in her pockets. She has a cake on her hand, walk slowly and dump the cake in the centre of the stage. She then bring the balloon out and walk anti-clockwise on the stage. She teases the audience as if she is going to throw the balloon to them. She then goes to the centre of the stage and squirt the red virus to the cake. Yvonne enters on the other side of the stage and speak in Mandarin, “ What are you doing?” in an authoritative voice. Seeing that Amber got scared, and whimpers back. Fade to black as she walks out.
Scene 3
Yvonne and Amber
Two small spot light on the edge of the stage on the two performers.
One comes in slowly, the other one faster to indicate different personalities. They will stand on the edge of the two corners of the stage. Inhale and exhale dramatically. The video projection will start projecting a girl breathing in and out with a delay of 5 seconds. Fade to black as the video projection ends.
Scene 4
Yvonne and Amber - edge of the stage, move in quickly as they saw the cake. They rushed in, crawl down and consuming greedily and hungrily like animals. As they start eating, light will slowly fade to black. Again 5 seconds delay, projection starts. Audience can see in dim shadows with only the projection light of the performers continue devouring like an animal. Projection stops. Spot light suddenly turn back on them while they are eating in the dark. Once they detect the light, they are shocked and stop eating. Fade to black.
Scene 5
Tungsten flood light on center stage
Yvonne give Amber a rope for her to hold on to. She then moves out to the edge of circle, walking clockwise with Amber as she also moves clockwise. Projection starts 5 seconds delay with the walking sound and projection. Fade to black.
Scene 6
Tungsten flood light on center stage
Yvonne and Amber slowly walks to the center stage and lay down to signify the end of their life.
Projection starts showing the two apricots squished with slow heartbeat sound. From vibrant colour to black and white. Fade to black.
Scene 7
House light on. Carol walks in from the stairs with a broom. She sweeps around the mess towards the centre of the circle. When she has completed the circle, she looks up, and shout to the lighting technician, “ Mark, is that all right?”
END
Final performance pictures and video
After thoughts
It was a bumpy right from concept to performance. But it went quite well as Yvonne and Amber has performed brilliantly. No one seem to mind that my mapping is a bit off though. The second time around, the first scene went blank, Xingtao quickly click on the sound button, I have no feedback that anyone notices? Not at all competent on my side really. I think since it was all new to me, it was rather distracting for me to run down to do a small performance. I felt if I don't have to do that, I would have fix it properly. I am experienced in directing and producing. I've coordinated most run downs in all cases as the rest of the team have no experience. But I felt really uncoordinated to do the performance as well. People have responded almost entirely to the brilliant performances the two girls make, and not so much on our projection and sound. I do think we did the images with sound really nicely? But no one seem to comment on it. They've only ask me what the last images are. I think I am a bit left out on that respect. Or comment on my lighting, because I've directed Chris how to light it. Rather, I got a comment from one of my classmates that she thought my performance was really funny at the end as I look so unhappy cleaning up. In reality, I am indeed not at all happy to be on that stage, but I also know it works and ends better that way. Jane adds that scene there. Too bad Xingtao wasn't allowed to replace my performance, as I feel he really wants to be there, but the girls preferred me... So I have to be the sacrifice. I also feel that Jane pick up the fact I was rather grumpy that I feel that the girls want to make a mess on stage, and I have to clean up afterwards. Not really sure if I really enjoyed it, to be honest. But I got to practice my mapping and did a live mapping. Not perfect and still need to get more experience in the software.