Sibusiso Mamba aka Sibu

 

Director, Actor and Writer

 

I was very skeptical about Sibu initially, because where I work in film, peple can't be all in one.  You can only be one or the other.   After taking his class, I really like him.  He was super polite and humble, and say thank you to each of us, which I thought was that necessary?  But I guess that is how he interact with people, which works, and he is an excellent teacher.  He is also a very mellow and patient man.  

 

Narrative, which proves to me as the hardest task so far.  I never thought I have to write an script, or tell a story.  Sibu mentioned repeatingly about finding the spine of the play or story.  That was interesting.  I realised I never really think thoroughly about it whenever I read anything...

 

Finding the verb, and the central metaphor.  We were then giving an exercise and separate into a group and read a play that Sibu gives us to read.  And find the spine of that play.  It is useful to be in a group, because we can interact and discuss with each other.  

 

We were then ask, " why do I want to do my installation?" The answer I wrote down at the time is, "It was because I want to explore what happens between your conscious and subconscious mind. What is really going on in your brain when searching for sothing that you don't know or understand.  Scientists have still not able to figure out despite of advanced technology we think we have."

 

A short lecture of the arch-plot, multi-plot, and non-plot.  And every narrative is using divided into 3-5 acts.

 

We then come back on the 5th March to present our narrative.  There was about a month gap between the narrative, it was extremely challenging for me, as of all the past years that I am working, there is only a visual.  A visual of a split second of life which is suspended in my head. There is no beginning or end.  After several Dick Straker's sessions, I managed a small storyline when presenting.  I drew sketches of scene change.  But Sibu said I still need a quest. It can be however, Who do you think you are before entering the installation.  And writing down my story, to figure out my quest.  So here it is...

 

Before you enter,  Flashing led light, "Do you know who you are? Follow the red dots." 

A blinking red arrow on the floor will lead you in.  

Once the audience enters in through the door, pitch black for 1 minute, slowly a starlight scene slowly appears.  There seems to be an object in the middle.

There is three blinking spots on the floor,  the performer enters from the stage right and gets closer to the object on the left hand side, a burst of light will blind the audience, and patches of light will appear on all four walls and the object.  The object will move and face the performer. 

As the performer moves to the second spot which will be blinking,  the troll king or creature follows the performer's direction and reveals itself and speaks to you, "Hello, who are you?" The performer will then say, "But what are you?" "What is this?" Troll king: "You have to try to catch yourself before nightfall" The performer moved to second position and the projection will change, a scene of the moving train scenery will show, or a time-lapse of day to night scene at the background.  There will be a small spot of the performer blinking in various places in space, and the performer is trying to catch it, but to no avail.  

The performer goes to the third spot, and suddenly it is all a reflection of himself, he/she stares in awe, then a burst of light again blinds the audience. Abruply the stage turns pitch black. 

End