And The Light Begins to Shine

I think a few of us were getting a little frustrated with the tech set up - seems that none of us really new what we were doing. Then Tom came along and relieved some of our frustration and for that, a heartfelt thanks to him during this week of thanking. A few more practice set up runs and then it'll be showtime. Until next week...

A Work In Progress

Tonight we decided on a set up for the room which I think we all agree will best display each of the pieces being presented. We also discussed the equipment needed for the performances. Everyone gave a synopsis of their piece which included the creative aspects as well as the technical equipment that will be necessary for their vision to become reality. Each piece sounded very different which should lead to a very interesting evening.

Andy had mentioned transitional pieces that would link each performance which we all thought would really help with the flow of the show as a whole. The thought is that there would be original music, either performed live in the studio or played over the PA, along with a visual element that most likely will focus around our theme of bridges. The transitions will last 30-45 seconds. This will also help in the planning of the evening and the order of the pieces.

We really will need to put our heads together when it comes to the technical aspects. I can assign roles to each collaborator, but it truly is a team effort to get everything set up quickly and correctly. A good crew is essential to the success of any production.

A Working Title

Many ideas were thrown around tonight during our first collective brainstorming session. It seems that we have decided on a central theme of bridges with a working title of "A View From the Bridge" (not to be confused with the Arthur Miller play of the same title). Due to the intricate factors of the final performance (both creative and technical), numerous decisions are required of the group before our next meeting. Most importantly each member must decide what equipment will be used for their piece and how they plan to utilize that equipment. These discussions will take place in the coming days over email.

This week each member will also begin the creative process and will likely (but not necessarily) take the form of a video each of us will create (which we all decided will be in .mov format (640 x 480) and audio will be .aiff. Jo Ellen has volunteered to compile the videos for the group. Thank you Jo Ellen.

After each collaborator decides on the equipment that will be necessary for their piece, we will decide the best placement of that equipment in the studio space. As most decisions made by a group, I am anticipating a bit of give and take on everyone's part in regards to equipment placement. With one fixed screen, we must decide where the second (and possibly third) screen/projector will be placed. We also will determine camera placement based on our individual needs.

It is possible that our left coast collaborators will also once again be part of the creative process as group members may decide to work with them as part of their performance or they may simply be members of the audience. This is yet another decision that will be made at some point very soon.

As is always the case when working in small groups, we will each wear many hats and move from creators to tech crew throughout this entire process.

Next up, what do we need and where will it all go....

The Beginning of the End

Collaborate by definition means to work jointly on an activity. More than one participant or element is required of a collaboration, regardless of the portion that is contributed from each individual. When more than two entities are involved in the project, it is necessary for one of the team members to arrange what is to be included in the final product or else it becomes chaotic and difficult to accomplish the task at hand.

For our final project I will be coordinating each contribution that is submitted by members of the group and organizing (or attempting to organize) them into a cohesive ensemble. It is bound to be an adventurous journey for all and I am looking forward to witnessing the collective creativity process as it unfolds.

I felt the need to post one of the most unique collaborations I have come across.

A Film That Moves

For the second movie, we were instructed to create a movie that includes moving images. Since there were no specific content requirements, I let the creative juices flow. For the first movie, I chose the music first and then laid out the images on top. For this film, I decided on the clips before I chose the music. As you can see, I chose multiple sound tracks as opposed to the one I used in the first.

I find slow motion movies to be fascinating - everyday occurrences, such as a dog drinking water, never seemed so interesting until viewed in slow motion. You would think there would be significant contrasts between Larry David and Timothy Leary but if you give it some thought, they are more closely related after some exploring - which is why they ended up together. I had a difficult time choosing the Hendrix interview clip as well. I was torn between that and a great clip of John Lennon and Mick Jagger but ultimately I thought the Hendrix interview kept with the flow. Check it out.

Teamwork

Anyone that works in an organization that stresses the importance of teamwork should be able to confirm their aggravation when an individual, or individuals, don't contribute at the level that is expected - or at least the level of other team members. When there is work to be done and not nearly enough manpower to get all of that work done in the expected time frame, you're already working against the odds. But when team members are doing anything but working to achieve the set goals, what can be done other than trim that fat - or at least threaten to trim the fat. And will threatening do anything at all? Maybe the fat wants to be trimmed.

When everyone pulls their own weight, the moral of the troops tends to stay relatively high even if goals aren't met. All that counts is that everyone gives it their all (kind of). When the deliberate slacking is witnessed by fellow team members, it becomes nothing short of frustrating and even distracting to one's own duties. "Well if she doesn't get her work done, why should I?" This can relate to "If all of your friends jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you do it to?" Most would say no, but there are of course some that would reply: "Well, yeah because I would have no friends left." I would make new ones.

I guess what I am trying to stress here is the importance of team work in a professional environment and the significance of bringing as much to the table as you can or at least as much as your fellow team members. So much more can be accomplished if all parts are equal.

Sometimes the Songs that We Hear Are Just Songs Of Our Own

It was very difficult to sum up who I am in such a short movie, but I have attempted that here. I have left out all of the negative aspects in my life even though they define us just as much as the things we enjoy.

There are a few photos from my personal albums but most have been pulled from the internet. I think the most challenging aspect was deciding on the music. In the end, I feel as though I made the best choice. Keep in mind, this was my first venture into the world of iMovie.