Saturday, October 18, 2008
Make mine a G & T
May I offer my hearty salutations and thanks to Esther Pilkington, Daniel Ladnar, Sandra Laueri and Gareth Llyr for their inspirational performance in 'Random People (Versions 1-5)' last night in the theatre. (To all who missed it just close your eyes and imagine you hadn't).
Personally, I will be taking my newly learned strategies for overcoming stage fright and public speaking to Newport where I will be teaching animation to 50 BA students next Tuesday, God help me! Presenting an idea to a large group of people is a nerve shattering experience that many of us avoid at all cost and no amount of preparation can compensate for the memory lapses, technical hitches or lack of response from one's audience that result in private melt-down. However, there are ways to help make it all run smoothly.
For instance, Power Point, bullet points on individual cards, props, good old blackboard and chalk, weaving in personal experiences, wearing a disguise, demonstration, and if all else fails, imagining your audience naked. Evidently it takes courage to get on stage and deliver your piece, whether you are the author or whether you are interpreting the idea of another person but the conclusion I have come to is that a little vulnerability goes a long way.
Versions 1-5 was in turn funny, painful, sensitive, engaging, endearing, courageous and entertaining, delivered with authenticity and conviction and full of individual personality. By the final and fifth version (which thankfully did not involve audience participation) the four of them had us eating out of their hands, or at least declaring love! The chemistry between them was accentuated for me by the odd technical blip which, far from being distracting, only added to the warmth of the performance as they were genuinely, visibly and vocally sorry for each other when it happened.
They didn't get to hear the audience applause at the end as they had left the room but if you are reading this, Esther, Daniel, Sandra and Gareth,
"We love you!".
Personally, I will be taking my newly learned strategies for overcoming stage fright and public speaking to Newport where I will be teaching animation to 50 BA students next Tuesday, God help me! Presenting an idea to a large group of people is a nerve shattering experience that many of us avoid at all cost and no amount of preparation can compensate for the memory lapses, technical hitches or lack of response from one's audience that result in private melt-down. However, there are ways to help make it all run smoothly.
For instance, Power Point, bullet points on individual cards, props, good old blackboard and chalk, weaving in personal experiences, wearing a disguise, demonstration, and if all else fails, imagining your audience naked. Evidently it takes courage to get on stage and deliver your piece, whether you are the author or whether you are interpreting the idea of another person but the conclusion I have come to is that a little vulnerability goes a long way.
Versions 1-5 was in turn funny, painful, sensitive, engaging, endearing, courageous and entertaining, delivered with authenticity and conviction and full of individual personality. By the final and fifth version (which thankfully did not involve audience participation) the four of them had us eating out of their hands, or at least declaring love! The chemistry between them was accentuated for me by the odd technical blip which, far from being distracting, only added to the warmth of the performance as they were genuinely, visibly and vocally sorry for each other when it happened.
They didn't get to hear the audience applause at the end as they had left the room but if you are reading this, Esther, Daniel, Sandra and Gareth,
"We love you!".
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Gridlock in the basement
On one of my more meandering journeys today I was taken via Castle Park to G39 on Mill Lane where it was my duty to deposit berries, fir cones and crab apples as a token offering to The White Stag who resides there. On entering the building I was distracted by a mysterious sound coming up through an open trap door in the floor. Against my better judgement (I am not the underground type) I descended a steep flight of steps into the bowels of the gallery where the smell of damp immediately hit my sensitive nostrils.
Here in this airless and limited space I made myself comfortable on the little bench provided and watched a short and curious film which depicted the monotonous drone of traffic in the heart of a city. Usually I go to great lengths to avoid such an experience, sitting in traffic that is, not watching experimental films, and I found myself looking around nervously from time to time hoping that no one would close the hatch on me. I played out the scenario that would ensue if I had been trapped down there and started to feel a little breathless.
As it was, the sense of entrapment became palpable as the cars on the screen idled along, nose to bumper in an endless procession, seeming to drive directly towards me at times. A driver, unable to move, stared rudely at me for an unprecedented amount of time before passing by. Little scenarios occurred: a lone individual stood at a bus stop conversing on her mobile adding to the dislocation I was feeling from the world. Pockets of humanity were present but cut off, stranded by the wall of metal and noise.
Through this unsettling sound filtered a woman's voice singing 'Que Sera, Sera (What ever will be, will be)', as if to herself, which was both soothing and frustrating as she was barely audible. And then a beautiful thing happened. The point of view switched to rolling clouds in the sky, albeit through the sun roof of a vehicle. I could almost feel the cushioned warmth of the seat, laid back for my comfort as I viewed my little rectangle of paradise. This sequence of cloud is probably extended in my memory, such was its power to calm and soothe. Was the drone of traffic muffled or was there complete silence? I do not remember.
The reflection of dashboard paraphernalia did not lessen my pleasure but reminded me of how lucky I was to be in my cosy cocoon. Memories of my walk in the park came to life as a woodland scene evolved from the clouds. A large dog stood stock still and focused on something out of shot while light seeping through the forest canopy created a stunning and dreamlike ripple of motion over him.
But all good things must come to an end, and the jumble of cars returned to the screen once more, accompanied by their hateful noise. The spell was broken and it was time to move on.
Here in this airless and limited space I made myself comfortable on the little bench provided and watched a short and curious film which depicted the monotonous drone of traffic in the heart of a city. Usually I go to great lengths to avoid such an experience, sitting in traffic that is, not watching experimental films, and I found myself looking around nervously from time to time hoping that no one would close the hatch on me. I played out the scenario that would ensue if I had been trapped down there and started to feel a little breathless.
As it was, the sense of entrapment became palpable as the cars on the screen idled along, nose to bumper in an endless procession, seeming to drive directly towards me at times. A driver, unable to move, stared rudely at me for an unprecedented amount of time before passing by. Little scenarios occurred: a lone individual stood at a bus stop conversing on her mobile adding to the dislocation I was feeling from the world. Pockets of humanity were present but cut off, stranded by the wall of metal and noise.
Through this unsettling sound filtered a woman's voice singing 'Que Sera, Sera (What ever will be, will be)', as if to herself, which was both soothing and frustrating as she was barely audible. And then a beautiful thing happened. The point of view switched to rolling clouds in the sky, albeit through the sun roof of a vehicle. I could almost feel the cushioned warmth of the seat, laid back for my comfort as I viewed my little rectangle of paradise. This sequence of cloud is probably extended in my memory, such was its power to calm and soothe. Was the drone of traffic muffled or was there complete silence? I do not remember.
The reflection of dashboard paraphernalia did not lessen my pleasure but reminded me of how lucky I was to be in my cosy cocoon. Memories of my walk in the park came to life as a woodland scene evolved from the clouds. A large dog stood stock still and focused on something out of shot while light seeping through the forest canopy created a stunning and dreamlike ripple of motion over him.
But all good things must come to an end, and the jumble of cars returned to the screen once more, accompanied by their hateful noise. The spell was broken and it was time to move on.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Metro Article
If you want more of an insight into Experimentica 08 then check out the link below:
http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/article.html?Enjoy_a_feast_of_the_weird_and_wonderful_at_Experimentica_08&in_article_id=354839&in_page_id=244&in_a_source=
http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/article.html?Enjoy_a_feast_of_the_weird_and_wonderful_at_Experimentica_08&in_article_id=354839&in_page_id=244&in_a_source=
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Experimentica08 Diary
tactileBOSCH
Tuesday 14th October
7pm - RE:LAPS (curated by Kim Fielding and Neil Jeffries)
www.tactilebosch.org
Paul Hurley
Soozy Roberts
Shaun Caton
Tom Marshaman
Richard Spartos
Denis Romanofski
Kira O’reilly
Tim Bromage + Karl Price
Eve Dent
Salt Shoes: Margaret Constantas
Deborah Light (in collaboration with John Collingswood and Neil Davies)
Chapter Arts Centre
Tuesday 14th - Sunday 19th October
6pm - 10pm - Deborah Light (in collaboration with John Collingswood and Neil Davies)
Wednesday 15th October - Sunday 19th October
Dislocated Moments within a Chapter: Ruth Bamber
Wednesday 15th October - Sunday 19th October
Sam Aldridge and Ruth Bamber
Wednesday 15th October
7.30pm - Movement Double Bill: Rea Dennis and Cai Tomos
9.30pm - Richard Allen
Thursday 16th October
6.30pm - Gunboat Diplomacy(or, why batman always brings a wet hand to the negotiating table): Rufus Orsborne
7pm - Hello Sailor(Goodbye Heart): Tom Marshman
8.30pm - Minimalist Music for Young People: Neil Trefor Hughes
9.30pm - Pandaemonium: Richard Bowers and Gwilly Edmondez
10pm - Brodys Notes: Good Cop Bad Cop
Friday 17th October
7pm - Random People
8pm - Six Glass Fingers
9pm - £1 Running Sushi: Anti cool
10pm – Brodys Notes: Good Cop Bad Cop
Saturday 18th October
12pm - Come to Pass: Shaun Caton
7.30pm - Paul Granjon and Kanta Horio
9pm - Lily Green with ORCOP and Valley Lines
10pm – Brodys Notes:Good Cop Bad Cop
Sunday 19th October
2pm – 10pm Shadows of a Dream: Rachel Calder
2pm – 10pm- Sonic Catering Tribute Band: Simon Proffitt and Karine Decorne
2pm –10pm Mapping Welsh Performance: Heike Roms
8pm – Brodys Notes - Good Cop Bad Cop
G39,
Wednesday 15th - Sunday 19th October
Car: Andrea Willams
Saturday 18th October
7pm - Andrea Vye
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
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