Video Trail
After exploring the idea of documenting movement from a sequential perspective, I created a prototype that explored this more interactively. Using Max MSP, I repurposed an existing patch that uses motion tracking to display movement. When ever there is movement in front of the camera, those specific pixels are displayed. In order to create a more recursive effect with the projected image, I pointed the recording camera at the projection itself. This results in the patch projecting the patch, kind of what happens when you point a a mirror at a mirror. This helps to create a trail of movement, quickly displaying in a slightly delayed manner, a series of projections.
Below is a screen shot of the max patch followed by me improvising with the tool:
The feedback I recieved in class regarding this specific prototype was positive. It was suggested that I potentially consider developing a whole tool kit of interactive resources for performers to use in the creation of their work. I think that this is a very interesting idea, and would love to develop a whole series of tools in the open source spirit.
Become Displaced – Adam :: 2 in 10
For my section in Become Displaced, I wanted to explore the relationship between movement, sound, and space. I created a patch in Max/MSP that created a 4×4 grid of sound. Movement in any one of the “cells” would trigger a specified sound byte. The space itself almost becomes a land mine, bringing sound to the movements that occur within it.
At first I experimented with several different sounds that were distorted through their playback speed. Below is one of my early improvisations, exploring how my movement could be informed by the sounds they were triggering. I tried to play with repeating certain movements in order to repeat certain sounds.
After exploring these seemingly arbitrary sounds, I decided that I wanted the soundscape to be comprised of phrases. The conceptual idea behind this section investigated the struggle between one’s hyper critical inner voice, and their ability to keep going and persevere. While moving through the space I trigger negative sounds of myself saying phrases such as, “You’re just not important to me.” and “Go fuck yourself.” By the end I find myself finding the one spot where I hear “It’s Okay”. Below is footage from one of the rehearsals with the new sound bytes. The final performance can be seen on the Become Displaced Performance Post.
Become Displaced – Veronica :: 1 in 10
Over the summer my good friend, and collaborator, Chris and I worked together on the creation of an interactive dance performance piece entitled Become Displaced. While the entire performance and it’s creation will be posted under another project, two components have been separated. Each of these will document the creation of a Max/MSP/Jitter patch that was used in conjunction with choreographic material.
Veronica’s section of the piece was to explore her relationship to her family and roots, through the projection of home videos. I created a patch that tracked her movement throughout the space and consequently would play the home movie. The struggle then became in her inability to watch the film. In order to keep it playing she had to continue moving, however once she stopped to watch it, the video would stop and start from the beginning. The use of audio directly from the video, reinforces this repetition when combined with the video. The conflict was resolved, when we discovered how she could watch the movie and remain physical. By performing small movements, closer to the camera, she could watch the home video as it was projected onto herself.
Below is a screen shot of the max patch along with two separate clips from our rehearsals. The final version can be seen in the Become Displaced performance post.
