On 11-6-96 Dan Zellner wrote:
>... The Internet has proven itself to be very useful as a
>communication tool for collaboration but when it comes to performance its
>use is problematic...
I agree which is why I think we should exploit the internet's unique
characteristics and explore its theatrical potential to the fullest. With
the right approach we could kick some serious derriere.
>What is the theme of Oudeis? What do you want to say? Right now I'm not
>clear on the theme of the piece and this may be because it is being
>developed. My thought is that perhaps it would be best to develop the theme
>then implement the technology. Similar to staging a conventional play...
These thoughts had also occurred to me before I realized that this project
is driven by two forces, an ultimate goal (the performance) and a deadline
(October 97). At first, I thought this was a rather bizarre way to go
about things but now I am starting to appreciate it for what it is. When
Odysseus set sail to return to Ithaca he too was driven by two forces, an
ultimate goal (his return home to Penelope) and a deadline (before he
died). In similar fashion, this story seems to me to be about the process
(the voyage). The internet is the ocean and there are quite a few
obstacles along the way, money, technology, time, the unknown.
On 11-5-96 I said in reference to the manipulation of perspective:
>> These ideas do not depend upon or envision a TV studio complete with high
>> tech cameras and the humans to operate them. As I understand it, there was
>> to be a grid or matrix developed which would be composed of sensors. These
>> sensors would map and monitor the movement of the actors. The data that
>> these sensors provided would then be used to create, place, and move the
>> virtual representations that would appear on the other live stages as well
>> as the Internet.
On 11-6-96 Rainer Fuegenstein replied:
>correct. I was thinking of a camera that is operated by a free-moving
>camera operator to produce pictures of the actor(s) on stage.
This strikes me as a good idea but it also seems to come with some serious
limitations. With a single camera or even two cameras there is a limited
field of vision, particularly on a theatrical stage where there range of
operation is limited. Actors will be obscured by other actors, there will
be a lack of close-ups, medium shots, etc. And, if there are not at least
two cameras we will face the prospect of having to watch a single camera as
it moves from person-to-person, focus-to-focus.
Some possibilities:
Capture the images of the actors before the performance, close-ups, medium
shots, different angles, everything (digitized on the computer). This will
eliminate the need for a camera or camera operater during the performance.
As the actors move during the performance their movements will be read by
the sensors and sent to the controlling computer which will process the
information and manipulate the digitized images of the actors to mirror the
action on the stage. This will greatly increase the potential of the
performance as seen on the net and the other live stages.
End of odds and ends.
Lee