We had multiple test runs to ensure that we had sufficient practice for the performance. We had a discussion regarding what sort of projector we will be using and decided on a short throw projector because we had access to back projecting screens which prevented audience’s shadow onto screen. It also worked great for space constraints. We also booked a documentation web cam, midi controllers and speakers.
The first trial run was on Friday 31st march in studio 3, Alison house:
We used the short throw projector to superimpose Xu Yi’s garbage monster onto part 2 of the performance to check for issues. we found that a black background for the garbage monster worked best, we also segregated and divided Xu Yi’s videos so that we could use them across the performance to show the garbage monster forming. We also checked how the sounds were doing with the videos, and decided we needed more practice.
The second trial run was on Monday, 3rd March at Alison house:
We checked if the screens were working well, and set up our projectors to see how we need to place the tech during the performance. We ran into a couple of problems:
1. The pico and short throw projectors didn’t work well together, the intensity of projections varied too much to fix. We decided on two short throw projectors instead.
2. The layout of the walkthrough had had multiple changes because of availability of space. So we spoke to Jules, who suggested a number of interesting ways to use the space. Our issue now was how we’d direct the viewers from panel 1 to panel 2. We decided we would use an arrow at the end of Shruti’s performance to point to the direction the audience need to walk to reach panel 2. Also while playing Xu Yi’s garbage monster videos with the Pico projector, we realised we could create a pathway projection onto the ground to lead the viewers into our space.
3. We performed our visuals with sounds twice, and we still weren’t perfect and decided to practice again.
4. Exiting from one patch to another patch for part 2 of the performance seemed a little problematic, so I(Vibha) combined two patches to make a single patch. Unfortunately when I combined the third patch, Vizzie crashed, so I stuck to having 2 instead of 3 patches. I also found simple ways of transitioning within patches for the performance.
Last trial run was on Wednesday, 5th April.
We tested the sounds and visuals by connecting our systems to monitors. The transition between patches followed a different route here, which seemed like a minor issue, but apart from that we felt confident for our performance.
