I went on Monday to do a "surprise" live at the Saroulla building, ground floor, in the space facing the building, this time no invitees! After vain trials to find an outdoor plug for the projector, I took off and decided to try another location. I finally went to the pub down the street, and I managed to convince the manager to do a show on the spot. It was early evening, around 8, so the place wasn't really packed, (people here start going out for there evenings around 9:30 - 10:00 pm). I managed to document some nice footage, I also edited this live and added it to the other live that took place at bread. Now I am waiting for the file to render!
Dedicated originally to the MA in Digital Arts at Camberwell College of Arts, UAL (2009-2011). Starting October 2011, I will be using this same blog to continue posting about projects in progress.
Showing posts with label live cinema. Show all posts
Showing posts with label live cinema. Show all posts
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Monday, 15 August 2011
iMovie Total Video Converter
Before the live that happened in July 30th, I had a problem rendering my clips in After Effects to .mov format. There was a problem in my software and the only format that I was able to reach was .mp4, which doesn't work in Modul8. So the only solution I had was to convert my .mp4 clips into .mov, I used this software "iMovie total video converter", which turned out to be quite practical, very good speed as well. The thing is, you have to be using a Mac.
This is what the platform look like:
About iMoviesoft Total Video Converter Pro for Mac
"iMoviesoft Total Video Converter Professional for Mac can support almost all popular multimedia devices. It works as: iPod Video Converter, PSP Video Converter, iPhone Video Converter, etc. After easy and wonderful conversion, you can fully enjoy videos on your portable players.
Besides the main converting functions, iMoviesoft Total Video Converter Professional for Mac also owns powerful edit functions like Croping, Triming and Effect, etc. To some extent, it is a professional video editor.
Input File Format Supported
Video Formats: AVI, MP4, 3GP/3GPP, WMV, FLV, QuickTime(MOV,QT), MKV(Matroska), MPEG(MPEG-1/2), AVC, 3G2/3GP2, DivX, MPEG-4 DVR-MS, H.263, H.264, X.264, Xvid, MJPEG, MPG, DAT, M4V, ASF
Output File Format Supported
Video Formats: MKV, AVI, M4V, MP4, MOV, ASF, 3GP, 3G2, FLV
Audio Formats: MP3, M4A, AC3, OGG, APE, MKA
Output Device Supported: iPhone, Zune, Apple iPod nano/video/classic/touch/TV Out, Sony PSP, PDAs, Apple TV, Smartphones, Other Portable Media Players"
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Saroulla Building and Projection on Monday
I will go tomorrow to this location (Saroulla building, where my father's office used to be located and that is facing my school) to take a better view and search for a good spot in the building where I could do the projection. Meanwhile here's a photo that I found on the net, shot by "Bluescape" and posted on "Panoramio". Originally this building embeds two cinemas, one still functioning and turned into a theater "Al Madina Theater" and the other cinema has stopped functioning in the early 90s (according to my father), and is being used as a storage space.
According to Al Madina Theater website http://www.almadinatheatre.com/, the Saroulla cinema was built in the late sixties and was abandoned during the entire period of the Lebanese civil war.
The projection I am planning on Monday does not take place inside the cinema, rather outside it, on the walls of the actual building.
about the live documentation - final decisions
I had doubts earlier whether I would want to show the live documentation as well as the edited clips in the show, I sent Jonathan the edited version of the documentation to see whether it is necessary or maybe if I get rid of the documentation it would be better? Jonathan's opinion was that the 2 films do work together, they could be on the same screen side by side, and that maybe if the films are different lengths then maybe loop them until they are close in timing, I would then have different juxtapositions. Jonathan also mentioned that it would be good if I do the projection onto a wall or a background, a little bit the layers that I use in the animated film (the original plan, what we discussed during the tutorial and that was not applied accordingly during the live, as people helping me set up said that the colors were coming out too dull on the grey door at bread republic).
Jonathan: "This wouldn't have to be a formal live show with invited guests, I could imagine it just projected quite small, almost without people realising it is there, and then document the showing of it. Maybe the projection is very low, the projector kind of hidden under a table, and people are walking in front of it? I am just thinking of ways to connect the film even more to you home city. You have a good documentation of the live show with guests but is it worth more subtle, more hidden projections, without permission, maybe just for you, but putting the films back onto the surface of the city. Hope this makes sense, but obviously there may not be time to do this now, maybe these are ideas you develop in the future."
Jonathan: "This wouldn't have to be a formal live show with invited guests, I could imagine it just projected quite small, almost without people realising it is there, and then document the showing of it. Maybe the projection is very low, the projector kind of hidden under a table, and people are walking in front of it? I am just thinking of ways to connect the film even more to you home city. You have a good documentation of the live show with guests but is it worth more subtle, more hidden projections, without permission, maybe just for you, but putting the films back onto the surface of the city. Hope this makes sense, but obviously there may not be time to do this now, maybe these are ideas you develop in the future."
I was not sure whether I will still have the time to do one more live before traveling to London, but just now I decided to pull myself together and try another live maybe on Monday? I thought I could project live either on one of the walls of the Saroulla building (where my father's office used to be located, facing my school, and where we used to hang out a lot when we were kids) or on a surface at the GEFINOR building (where my mother used to work, and where we used to spend some of our Saturdays, waiting for my mother to finish work).
I will not invite people, whoever is passing could just stand to watch.
GEFINOR is not a very busy area at night (it is the one I use in the crane clip); and since Saroulla is on Hamra's main street, maybe this option will win? I will think more about these 2 options and decide tomorrow.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
the live documentation - the edited draft
This is a draft edit of the documentation of the live show of the final clips that I planned on July 30th, 2011, at 9:00 pm, at the outdoor of the Bread Republic café, Beirut, Lebanon.
documentation of the live show in beirut - transitional digital objects from maya chami on Vimeo.
the live documentation in the actual show?
Concerning the documentation for my project.
In our last tutorial session, I agreed with Jonathan that I do a live show in Beirut, and show it along with 1 edited version of the clips in the final show in London.
I did the live in Bread Republic, an outdoor café in Beirut, and used 2 cameras, 1 front and 1 back to record the event.
Now I am editing the live, but I am finding the idea of showing the "Live in Beirut" in the show in London a bit useless, I could just upload it on my blog and instead show an edited version of the actual animated clips in London. The reason is: While I am editing, I am realizing that why would I want people to waste their time watching people, in another location, watching the same thing they are about to watch. I thought of splitting the screen: screen 1 documentation and near it screen 2: the video = then I thought it is unjustified and I don't have the split screen on my agenda, I didn't even research it for this specific project.
So I am thinking to leave the documentation for the blog and 1 version of the edited clip for the show. People wouldn't have the patience to stand still for more than 15 minutes watching 1 artwork.
I will be sending Jonathan the edited version of the live show to know what he thinks of all this and whether he approves my decision.
In our last tutorial session, I agreed with Jonathan that I do a live show in Beirut, and show it along with 1 edited version of the clips in the final show in London.
I did the live in Bread Republic, an outdoor café in Beirut, and used 2 cameras, 1 front and 1 back to record the event.
Now I am editing the live, but I am finding the idea of showing the "Live in Beirut" in the show in London a bit useless, I could just upload it on my blog and instead show an edited version of the actual animated clips in London. The reason is: While I am editing, I am realizing that why would I want people to waste their time watching people, in another location, watching the same thing they are about to watch. I thought of splitting the screen: screen 1 documentation and near it screen 2: the video = then I thought it is unjustified and I don't have the split screen on my agenda, I didn't even research it for this specific project.
So I am thinking to leave the documentation for the blog and 1 version of the edited clip for the show. People wouldn't have the patience to stand still for more than 15 minutes watching 1 artwork.
I will be sending Jonathan the edited version of the live show to know what he thinks of all this and whether he approves my decision.
the live documentation
Bread Republic, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
30 July 2011, 9:00 pm
An outdoor café with a capacity of approximately 80 people seated outdoors.
The live show took place in this location. I invited my contacts via facebook only, since the place doesn't fit a huge number, so I needed to limit the invitation myself.
I didn't reserve the whole place, just asked the owner and organized the rest of the deal with the manager earlier that week. So some of the people were there for the invitation, and others were just hanging out when the live of the final project happened.
Feedback was very positive in general, A commented that viewing the clips edited instead of 1 clip after the other was essential, the layering in the live and playing bits and pieces of the clips added a "mood" that suits the audio and that is personal. T and R decided that the next time this should be played, I should ask Ziad Nehme, whose voice is featured in the audio, to participate live in the event, with a band if possible, other feedbacks were also encouraging and positive, these are the 2 main ones I adopted.
Some important issues to take care for future lives though:
- The sound's volume was a bit low, despite the fact that I had volumes of both speakers and the iPod turned all the way up. The speakers are purchases (for the show in London) were outdoor speakers, they simply don't do the job outdoors, on the street, when cars are honking and people on the street are talking.
- Self criticism:
I should find a way to be more relaxed in another live, before the show, maybe ask a performance artist or an actor/actress to give me tips that help me to freak out just before the live.
- When the software (Modul8) is shut down then run back, I should either remap the midi controller or upload the saved version of the edited buttons, otherwise, I will end up manipulating the live from the laptop screen!
An edited version of the clips is on its way, I will be posting soon here.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
KORG NANO KONTROL 2 From KORG
The Korg midi controller that I might need.
Below taken from the website: http://www.korg.com/nanoSERIES
Compact USB Controllers
Meet the Korg nanoSERIES - The Most Compact Family of USB-MIDI Controllers Ever!
The Korg nanoSERIES provide a keyboard controller, a pad controller, and a studio controller with dedicated transport controls. Each of these USB-powered, slim-line controllers is designed to make the most of your valuable studio space, and is small enough to take with you on any musical journey. Place one of our keyboard controllers in front of your laptop, rest a pad controller on your music workstation, park a studio controller on your recording console - or anywhere else you need versatile control over your DAW, virtual instrument, effect or DJ software. Although small in size, all three nanoSERIES controllers go HUGE when it comes to functionality, yet their intuitive layouts provide extremely easy operation for any user.
So c'mon; meet the nanoSERIES!
The first on our list is the nanoKEY, keyboard controller, featuring a great-feeling 25-key velocity-sensitive keyboard that's ideal for song production. Each key on this USB-MIDI controller can also be set to send MIDI control data, further expanding its power.
Next up on our list is the nanoPAD, a pad controller featuring 12 highly responsive trigger pads, each one capable of sending up to eight notes - or eight MIDI control messages - simultaneously, in addition to an X-Y touchpad with roll and flam functions for realistic drum programming.
Last, but not least, the nanoKONTROL offers nine faders, nine knobs, 18 switches, plus a full transport section for expansive control; even a flexible note input mode to help you lay down your next big groove!
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Live cinema: a documentary by toby spark
Lots to explore in here, this is the video to start with, then details of the resources will come later.
Live Cinema Documentary from toby*spark on Vimeo.
An “experimental documentary about a contemporary arts practice” made as part of my first year on the Media and Arts Technology doctoral training programme at Queen Mary, University of London. Having chosen Live Cinema as my practice - how could I choose anything else - the challenge of the film was to represent a form that is overtly broken out of a pre-determined, linear, framed format - in a format that is.
Authored at 1080P, its best viewed here at the uploaded 720P, either hit fullscreen or download the Quicktime.
Full project page at: http://tobyz.net/tobyzstuff/projects/livecinemadoc
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