Suitcase to Briefcase. The final installation.

 Our final piece for Claudius involved a lot of letters of emotions and guilt. Through writing our letters there was a mixture of those two feelings as well as a few soliloquies from the play We felt that the letter represent the feelings and emotions of Claudius and that there should be masses of letters which were able to have been read by the viewing audience.

At first the letters were collected together and stuck onto a piece of paper. I personally felt that this was too contained and manageable and neat to show a guilty conscience and so we then wrote more letters and bulked the shape out, having scrunched up pieces of paper and lose letters. I felt that having them glued down just wasn't realistic enough for me and that with a bigger mass of letters and paper they should look like they have mounted over time and accumulated over time.

We struggled with the suitcase, we felt that it was too old and out of place in the office enviroment. We changed over to a brief case which went with the whole office feel and brought everything together.

By having letters in the case it brought the theme together across the table and down onto the floor.

Our projections worked well. We did have to re-film the movements, Laura's black trousers did not show up in the projection because we had first used a black screen and they were not visible. We then changed the colour of the trousers which enabled us to see the whole image.

We added a desk lamp to highlight the letters, we did this to show the guilt ridden and emotion filled letters, they were visible to the audience and able to be read.

The final finished installation looked like this... 
The purple lighting added to the feeling and made the scene look a little nauseous and like somewhere that is private. 
The miniature human projections in the jars worked well, we decided to the change the black paper to brown and found that this connected nicely to the letters and paper on the desk and floor. 

Feedback: 

• People enjoyed looking at the jars and the miniature image visible. 
• They liked the idea of the letters and how they appeared and were displayed saying that it give a powerful visual impact.
• The OCD of the desk and the contrast of the out of control letters was a clear visual message.
• The audio, which we recorded, played in the room whilst it was silent, was quite strong and gave a big impact on the control and destruction.
• The lighting was enough to highlight the piece but not deform or fade the projection.
• Although we did not want the laptop in the installation we managed to make it so that the laptop and the projector integrated into the scene as office material and in use.
• Hand written letters are effective and give it stronger feeling of guilt.

Things to improve on:

• Some tutors felt that a performance piece would have improved the overall feel of the installation. (however as a group we thought that having a performance part in it, the attention of the audience would not be focused on the audio or the projection.) Although we had previously thought about the idea of our piece being a performance and didn't carry through with it, to have a better understanding of how it would work, we should have experimented by using other members of the class to get their opinion on the matter.
• We could have made more of the OCD aspect of the piece by using a bigger desk to display the desk and its arrangement.
• In hindsight we would have liked to have continued on our original idea which after many different directions we ended back at. This would have saved time, stress and confusion.
• For the presentation of the groups installations pieces, our piece was place third in the running order. Unfortunately that meant that the two pieces before ours gave an expectation to our pieces which it just didn't need. In hindsight again it should have been first as to not lead the audience on to expect something similar to the two group before.
• I personally would have liked to have more letters, on a large quantity and have them flowing out from beneath the desk, down the table, out from the briefcase and fill a large amount of room. To have such a quantity so that the audience have to walk through the piece, on the paper, kicking it as they walk through to get to the table and have a closer look at the main piece.

Technical Issues:

• Blind spot - Laptop blocked a direct view of the piece. 
• Spot light on desk did not make too much of a difference.
• Laptop was in the way, we would have preferred that the Laptop had been hidden from view.

Mark Leckey, The Universal Addressability of Dumb Things

The Nottingham Contemporary...

The Universal Addressability of Dumb Things

Today me and a flatmate went to the Nottingham Contemporary, safe to say, we defiantly had NO idea what was going to be there.

One we arrived we didn't quite understand what we were looking at. Which is when we noticed the name of the exhibition...

 

 Although I didn't really relate to the exhibition i felt it was useful to develop my understanding of culture and whats around right now.

Claudius Speech.

Original Speech:

To be contracted in one brow of woe, yet so far hath discretion fought with nature that we with wisest sorrow think on him together with remembrance of ourselves. Therefore our sometimes sister, now our queen, th'imperial jointress to this warlike state, have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy, with an auspicious and dropping eye, with mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, in equal scale weighing delight and dole, taken to wife. Nor have we herein barred your better wisodms, which have freely gone with this affair along. For all, our thanks.

Modern Version of the Speech:

Through the memory of our dear brother, Hamlets death is still fresh and that it was proper for us to grieve for him in our hears, and our kingdom to be united in one sorrow. Yet discretion has fought with nature so much that we now think on him with more tempered sorrow, together with remembrance of ourselves, therefore,  our former sister-in-law, now our queen, the royal dowager of this warring country we have, as it were with an unhappy joy, with a hopeful and crying eye, with joy in mourning and with lament in marriage. In equal parts weighing delight and sorrow married. We have not disregarded your good advice, which has freely gone along with this affair. To all, our thanks.

Projection day

Today we were introduced to a variety of methods of projection, some more interesting that others and some we already knew off.


Projection Mapping.

Is a projection technology used to turn objects, often irregularly shaped, into a display surface for video projection. These objects may be complex industrial landscape, such as buildings. By using specialized software, a two or three dimensional object is spatially mapped on the virtual program which mimics the real environment it is to be projected on. This way, the computer knows exactly where to project it information as it can bed ad highlight and shape or form.

Mini projector.
A mini projector can fit inside containers such as boxes and can been concealed, hidden from the public eye.
The only problem with a mini projector it that the image can't be modified much so the lighting around has to be quite dark to allow the image to been seen better.






Overhead Projector.
This image shows the use of an overhead projector and a screen. The chair on the screen is a miniature and molly was stood right next to the screen.
This is the most familiarly form of projection and the easiest in our minds. For our project, we are planning on using projection, we still are not sure about what type we should use.
If we were to use this form, we would choose to do it as a stop motion and create a narrative for Claudius.

Claudius and his Conscience...

Claudius and his Conscience ... Youtube video reference 

After Talking to Sean...

After talking to Sean this morning we realised a few things...

• Our idea of using crates to create a sort of empire behind the suitcase, we realised when trying to explain that, the original idea of crates didn't really have any connection to Claudius or what we were trying to say about him.
• Perhaps instead of using crates ( which now thinking about them) we should use something that is a bit more important, special and something which connects to a position of power.
• Our piece might be growing into a performance piece which I personally think could be very interesting to do. Using a contrast of live performance and projection to show a private and public face to represent the power and importance of King Claudius.
• Maybe for the public face, use a mask. Perhaps a box of masks?
• Perhaps look at micro expressions? (trans-media)

Claudius Haiku

Combining the short poems we each did about our work to create a Haiku for Claudius:

A hidden storm rumbles on crackling like

Fire, explosive and frantic, thundering noise echoes

Yet the surface is calm where search lights roam

Heartbeat echoing through the royal court

Flowers rooting with an unforgiving stench

Heartbreak fills the room with regretful sorrow, silence

Controlled confusions seeking its revenge

White noise rolling in the wind, smothered in secrets

The key is never far away. Hidden.

Mise en Scène

Mise-en-scène is an expression used to describe the design aspects of a theatre or film production, which essentially means "visual theme" or "telling a story"—both in visually artful ways through storyboarding, cinematography and stage design, and in poetically artful ways through direction. Mise-en-scène has been called film criticism's "grand undefined term". Wikipedia. 

Media integrated performance.

- 'Putting in the scene'

- Originate's in the theatre

- French

- Characters and lighting, set design and general visual enviroment

Cutting is about time.

Editing is a way to form a narrative temporarily

Explaining 'meaning or significance'.

1. Dominant

2. Key lighting

3. Shot and camera proxemics

4. Angle

5. Colour values

6. Lens / Filters /Stock

7. Subsidiary contrast

8. Density

9. Composition

10. Form

11. Framing

12. Depth

13. Character placement

14. Staging positions

15. Character proxemics

DOF: Depth of Field

RULE OF THIRDS 

Development of ideas.

Installation piece... development of ideas...

- using projection as inner thoughts.
- containers and chains.
- As a public face - maybe moving, a live performance.
- As a private face - maybe using projection as Claudius's inner thoughts. Inner Termol. 
- Light bulb swinging / Changing the effects of the shadow. Anxious movement, interrogation feeling
- Making the piece harder to find (?) making the piece a discovery e.g like when Hamlet finds Claudius praying.
- Suitcase propped open.
- Person (projection) trapped inside the suitcase.
- Inside the suitcase could be messy, rough, stress and projection.
- Outside could be controlled and calming.

The size and scale of the projections and objects used.

Claudius: Claudius Ceasar -  why was he named what he is? Does Claudius Ceasar have influence on the character that Shakespeare was trying to put across?

Media Mogul?

Light and Shadow between the crates

This image is something a little different, something else that can symbolise the royalty  and kingdom that inder Claudius's control and what surrounds him.

Hamlet - Claudius and Green screen

Experimenting with the Camera...

I haven't use a HD camera in a good three years, I know there are a few problems in the video such as hands and feet not being in the camera. So note to self... place camera further back to account for that, as well as the placement of the wooden blocks, which should not be visible in the shot as they were only being used to note where to stop walking and to stay in the scene. 

As a group we had originally thought about using this video on a loop. To continue round as fluidly as possible. However, after viewing the footage, we thought of splitting the emotions up and placing them into different containers such as Animalia Chordata's work with projections and glass jars...

We believe that isolating each different emotion would make the feeling of our installation stronger. The emotions and actions in the green screen video above portray the feelings that Claudius would/ should have been going through for the murder of his brother, and later the desire to kill Hamlet to keep his secret.

Bonington Gallery 10/04/13

8 April - 10 May 2013

This touring exhibition created by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, in collaboration with the Society of British Theatre Designers celebrates the work of over 30 of the most pioneering British theatre designers, architects and artists

Yesterday I visited the Bonington Gallery and viewed the exhibition which displayed the works from numerous Theatre Designers working on ways to transform the stage. It exhibits costumes and their original drawings from Marie-Jeanne Lecca and Rae Smith's digital projection work from the National Theatre's West End production War Horse (2007).

I enjoyed seeing all of the work from the Railway Children, to War Horse and to other productions I have not seen. Being able to look at Designers work and how they work was really interesting and helpful to see the level that these professionals work to!

Sense the exhibition has opened I've been back at least 4 times just to look at the inspirational work on show!

Experimenting in the green room.

Today we thought we'd use our time effectively  the green room wasn't in use and so we decided to try out some different actions for Laura to try...

Experimenting with our suitcase

Things inside .... 

• Coins
• Gold
• Material
• Glass jar
• Containers

Outside

• Padlocks
• Keys 
• Material travelling out of the suitcase

            

Ideas about Claudius

As a small group we came up with these few key pieces about the character Claudius.. Some are controversial to others peoples opinions and feelings about him, however with further readings, we thought that he was not all that evil and gave some hint to a soul in the scene where Hamlet see's him praying.

Hamlet day one.

First impressions ...

Claudius - villain - perhaps a small sense of a burden

Ghost - first spotted by guards - Hamlets friends.

Hamlet - His mother's remarriage - mistrust/ thinks it's too soon / resentful of his uncle and incest. Inner battle with himself / morals.

Horatio - Balanced / voice of reason

Gertrude - a passive figure / little or no power / unaware of who killed her previous husband / unaware / oblivious

Polomius - Dule to revenge Hamlet / council to the king / manipulative / protective of his family

Ophelia - Daughter / goes mad after her fathers death / drowns herself in sorrow

Shakespeare's Hamlet

Third term, the final term left of my first year, the second to last project to do before leaving to go home for summer.

For this final term we are working with the script of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The first part of this term we are working on an installation piece, exploring alternative forms of performance practices, environments and approaches to text and audience. Working in small groups we will come up with an angle to explore to make a small installation of one of the characters from Hamlet. 

Our group was given Claudius, the uncle who kills Hamlets father, his brother to take the thrown and become king. The central theme is the problem of revenge, because of the time in which it would have been written, the influence of the culture of England as well as Denmark would have helped shaped the plot of the play. 



From reading the book Hamlet and listening to an audio version, it allows us to understand the feelings behind the style of writing and helps by giving the words in the book 'embodied', giving them a stronger sense and purpose.

'The origin of the story  of Hamlet is quite ancient. It first appears in a book called Historiae Danicae, a collection of stories about the history if Denmark, written in Latin by the Danish chronicler Saxo Grammaticus. He wrote at the end of the twelfth century, and his book was first published in 1514.'    
        Hamlet, William Shakespeare, ISBN 0-333-5135-9