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:
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:
Anna, you express the scene, the experiences and some of the interesting issues very well - somehow capturing the magic and 'wonder' in the words. :) Thank you for these posts, and thank you for all of your contributions to this project - and always one of the first to arrive each class ... I think actually sometimes you beat me! :) And I will remember the bubbly and the sometimes very very quiet (focussed) corner where you and Ula would sit! I think our whole group became some kind of extended family ... well that's how it seemed anyway - a very special team. .. (the Adams family?? :)
ReplyDeleteI think that is an interesting point about the animation. Yes, I think I agree .... it could have broken the 'spell' by introducing a familiar type of interaction experience. Yes, the use of the whole space, and completely transforming that space, was important ... quite amazing what was achieved - in simple and technologically advanced ways, and with unique creativity. We all had been part of evolving this event and experience for quite some time ... but I think we all felt that magic and immersiveness when we stood in the space with the show going on around us ... ie even though we knew all about all the ingredients etc ... and this is quite a unique thing to happen I feel.
I tried my best to express in words the whole experience, I'm happy I succeeded! It was a pleasure to work on this project, especially because from the very beginning I felt very well in the forest theme.
DeleteIt was a very enriching experience to work in an international team and to create a unity among all of us :)
Although if we had the interaction part, it could be used as an exceptional summarise of the project. It'd be like a game and our dancers could be the "creatures" which the player would look for with the torch.
The point is that each of us had own imagination about the final effect. Just when we managed to materialise the ideas, imaginations, etc. we all could see the project in the same way :)