Show Day and summary of the project

The last week of February was quite stressful and the whole period before was pretty busy. I was responsible for Intro and Outro animations made from my Metsä I drawing and panoramic photomanipulations. Intro was to lead the person into the world of mistery, secrets, spirits, whisperss.. Talking about the whispers! Some days before the Show Day we had a huge brainstorm about the name of the project, 'cause all creations should have a name.

Forest Whispers

is the official name of the project. Why such a name? What are the Whispers? Well nobody knows, it's up to personal interpretation. They can be something real, like musicians and dancers, or totally surreal. The whispers heard in the music background were giving shivers all over your spine. And here we are in 2D and 3D videos part which was sometimes confusing in all good means. You got the feeling you're lost in this strange forest that you look for something being surrounded by Whispers.. On one side wanting to follow them, on the other one to run away from them as far as possible. No matter which way you choose you're still IN the forest, literally. The enchanting dance of the dancers around the spectator and music played live added much more to the experience. It's one of the rare cases where the whole room of the CAVE was included, so not only the screen but also the whole space around. I heard a lot of positive opinions about this idea.

The Outro consisted of the panoramic photomanipulation transisting into the Metsä I drawing accompanied by my sound composition "marsz umarłych" (the march of the dead). The spectactor gets the feeling like nothing would ever happen at all, like that before was only a dream or a nightmare or something unreal and then status quo everything stayed the same or not? Is it the same forest still? What's the true story behind..?

I'm happy I could have been a part of this project I learnt how to present my ideas to the others in an understable way. Sometimes when I couldn't find right words to describe what I mean essential were my drawing skills so I could simply draw the images appearing in my mind. Being present at all the meetings I have taken a great part in deciding on the general look of the project as well as its tiniest details and I must say I felt proud during the premiere show, 'cause what was born as sketches and loose ideas then they came to the reality as the whole amazing experience. 

We had an idea to include the interraction part, like a mini-game right after Intro, but after having watched the whole project I don't think it's needed anymore also the spectators didn't feel that something would be missing there. I feel that MAYBE the interraction part could even affect the whole experience. The CAVE is an mysterious place itself. I was really impressed seeing it for the first time. Along the whole project I was visiting it from time to time so I got used to, but it's also a kind of magical place where you can change the raw scene into something completely unreal. I'm glad we created there a small theatre where the spectactor was an actor as well going through everything with dancers and musicians. Perhaps some of the visitors were in the CAVE for the first time so I believe we gave them a good portion of impression.

We're going to hold another show currently looking for a suitable event and date. I tried to make a reseach through the upcoming events, but  most of the sites were in Finnish or even if in English the event itself wasn't translated. I hope we'll be able to hold the show by the end of May, when I leave the university...

Last but not least let me show you two videos made by Alhambra Vera about the project
Making-of video, where all the people working on the project could speak their minds:

 

And her point of view on the project: