Opensource {videodance} 2007

Another week full of things to think about and consider both practically and academically. Being a scribe at the event really helped focus my mind on what I was listening to and the openspace structure allowed for a lot more involved in discussions than may have been possible in another set up.

The thing that really caught my imagination was Becky Edmunds' talk about 'in camera' editing. She explained that if you film 4 hours of footage you then need 4 hours to review it - time consuming, expensive and slightly boring. Her technique is to press record only when something really interests her and to stop when it stops being interesting. This really appealed to me as I always know the footage I'm going to use at the moment I'm filming it, yet I continue filming anyway. When it comes to capturing the footage I ignore most of it and got straight to the points that I've already recognised I'm interested in. It seems to me that the next logical step would be just to stop recording when that moment is over.

As Becky pointed out, I will inevitably miss things but there will always be something else that engages me. Over the holidays I'm going to practice this skill in everyday life using the video camera on my mobile phone. Results to follow..

Something to think about...

Anonymity & Freedom - I feel this may still be creeping into my work, the multi-screen idea may give the viewer this impression.

Multi-screen projection - How? What types of screens? What types of cameras? How to link up?

Dancer - Maximum of 3 in a large space or 1 in a small space. Emphasis on emptiness, visually.

Live film feed - Simple from static cameras, will need wireless transmitter for moving cameras.

Pre-recorded film - To be incorporated into piece, I'd like to have a presence in this as well as the dancers performing live.

Space to develop - Arches, exact details to be confirmed but likely one day a week with performance opportunity.

Installation style performance - Informal audience setting, freedom to move around screens and dancers.

Scratch night - Arches, every 2 months. Chance to show 10 mins of work in progress to audience who then give instant feedback.

Projection onto dancer - What sort of effect? What sort of costume?

Arches Space

After a meeting with LJ, one of the programmers, at the Arches, Glasgow this morning they have agreed to support my work with space to develop it on a weekly basis. I will be given use of one of the practice rooms to begin with then as the project develops I will be allowed to develop the work in one of the performance spaces. I'm really excited about this as it's a big development for me both as part of my coursework and professionally. Part of the reason LJ is supporting me is because of my growing reputation in Glasgow as a choreographer.

I aim to do a series of movement experiments in the practice space, involving a dancer as the work progresses, and trialling the technical side of the work before moving into the performance space. LJ has given me the option of developing a full performance piece with support from the Arches which I intend to do as I feel it will give me even more focus on creating a 'piece' as opposed to a series of research experiments.

Student Seminar

Group responses and feedback

- How will I give impression of movement to non-movers?
- What sort of screens to I intend to use?
- How do I intend to capture the movement of a dancer?
- Where and when will I be developing the practical work?

Itch

My first attempt at Final Cut Pro didn't go so badly, particularly once I stopped using iMovie keyboard shortcuts! I'm not sure I explored the full range of possibilities but I like the fact that even if you split a clip into tiny, minute sections, reverse them, speed them up, slow them down, whatever there is still a copy of the clip in it's original form. So much easier than having to undo things and remembering to make duplicates all the time.

After I'd got the hang of capturing the film, naming it and marking in and out points it seemed very straightforward and the film was completed very quickly. I never have to spend long going through the clips after I've filmed them as I always know at the time I'm filming which sections I'll use and which I won't.

For this film I decided to work with the found audio rather than editing to a soundtrack. Again, because of my previously less advanced equipment I've always worked with a soundtrack in mind. It was interesting working with the found audio and finding a natural rhythm in the movement and it's something to consider for future work but I think I'll try to combine both a soundtrack and found audio to add texture.