My IML Project is going to focus on developing multimedia performance art.
While multimedia is very chic for the theatre world right now, very few artists are successful in their attempts to fully integrate it onto the stage. The novelty of these new forms rarely supports creative content. In response, many theatre companies are chucking new media and embracing the manifestos of physical artists (such as Grotowsky)
Using an original script, I intend to produce a full length play that integrates multimedia into the artistic language of the stage. In addition to that, I mean to create a smaller scale (yet more multimedia reliant) performance that focuses primarily on one character's 15 minute monologue.
At this point, the piece is conceptually simple. Three hanging scrims with multimedia tableaus as a means to articulate the emotional landscapes of the piece. The key will be to find a way in which the actor can interact with the media instead of relying on it (or worse, ignoring it).
By December I hope to have the smaller-scale piece prepared as well as the pre-rehearsal arrangements for full-scale production.
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9 comments:
I am excited to see how this turns out! It may seem simple in concept, but it is a very ambitious undertaking and very innovative. As for my questions: What type of content you plan on projecting on the scrims? Will they be props or set design? Can the actor interact with the content to actually manipulate it?
this sounds awesome, I'm really interested to see how this turns out.
In what ways do you think that your performance piece will succeed when, as you said, others have not been very successful.
In response to Olivia, you can actually get a feel for content at my Youtube page:
http://www.youtube.com/lethargychick
I did a 10 minute multimedia concept piece that is available in chunks online.
The material will, essentially, illusrate the emotional and psychological landscapes of the characters/piece. The play is inside someone's mind anyway.
I think it would be AMAZING if an actor could interact with scrim content. I don't think it's necessarily feasible for me to make happen though.
In response to Ash,
The novelty of multimedia tends to wear away at the artistic content of shows. I want to get beyond the "wow cool" factor and really create something emotionally resonant.
The most advanced multimedia performance in the country was one of the worst shows I saw. Yeah it was cool, but the story and the acting was terrible. I was painfully bored for an hour.
My job is do do something interesting AND effective.
like olivia i am curious about how the actors will interact with the multimedia - will it be like an extension of them? sounds neat!
also, i saw the peter sellars version of tristan & isolde (the wagner opera) at the disney concert hall freshman year, and there were giant scrims with "emotional" multimedia art that changed with every scene. maybe that might be an interesting jumping off point?
Elissa,
Looks like the multimedia for that was deisgned by Bill Viola. He has all these interesting clips on Youtube.
Thanks!
This sounds really interesting, and is definitely different from every other performance I've seen. Due to time constraints, it might be wise to narrow your topic down to either the one performance and omit the 15 minute monologue.
Tiffany,
Actually, I considered that! I've already created most of the material for the 15 minute piece (as it began as a concept piece anyway). Now it's just a matter of creating the physical scrims (that I'll need for the full scale production).
sounds awesome! can't wait to see it!
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