Wednesday 26 October 2011

Day 10 check in

Well just 10 days into 100,000 frames I find myself excitied, challenged and time poor...and im not even that busy!!

I have been disciplined enough to film 10 mins every day in a new space which so far I have found actually really rewarding, interesting and motivating. But the editing time I need to manage more effectively. I had started to edit each days footage into a 1 minute film and then select the best 10 seconds (250 frames) from this to feature in the actual 100,000 frames film.
I am debating whether to continue to do this or to just focus on the main film????

The reason I have done this is that I find the footage more interesting if I show the moving body exploring different aspects of the space, providing a broader illustration of the site speciifc performance that unfolded each day, rather than just a short snippet that gives barely a glimpse. Perhaps I will do this selectively for days where I think the performance, site and footage was particularly interesting. Plus its a great way to practice my editing and review performances on a whole.

 

Today I have uploaded with this post the first 10 days of 100,000 frames. It is interesting to note my choices in sites, a mix of both outdoor locations (the weather has been glorious) and indoor spaces. I have tried to make each day a reflection of my activities for that day, for example the underground carpark, was where I parked my car overnight on Saturday and went to pick it up on Sunday. I think though I can afford to do this more effectively and not be afraid to push the boundaries of where I may perform, and integrate this process of filming everyday into my daily activities. I have started a list of interesting spaces for this project for days when I feeling less than inspired or not particularly busy. I will continue to add to this and try to think outside the square.

I have aslo noticed when reviewing the footage that I have filnmed each day that it takes me a few minutes to settle and be conmfortable in the space, I find myslef trying to hard to constrcut movement and force it into the space rather than letting the points of interest in the interaction with the space simply unfold.

Ok enough for now, I will check in again in a few days!

Tuesday 18 October 2011

2 down...363 to go.

So after the first 2 days of my 100,000 frames project I feel quite invigorated by the whole experience of this craziness that I have taken a leap into. Some of the footage I know will be straight to the reject pile, but amongst a lot of waft and faff are some great images of a moving body in the spaces that have become unlikely stages. Stages that connect to normal life more I think than a black box would.

Actually the whole process of making each performance happen each day.; planning the time that I will complete it, changing my clothes/shoes, charging camera battery, choosing on a site, packing myself up with equipment, setting the shot, observing the environment and exploring the environment and myself within it, reflecting before and after.....  all processes that amplify my own observations of myself and my nature/characteristics as an artist.

Day 1, 17/10/11
Time: 4:18pm
Site: My Carport brick wall
Clothing: Blue Jeans, blue floral top
Weather: Sunny :)
Thoughts/feelings/ideas before: 
Can't really imagine what it's going to be like, half sun, half shade. DIRT. Handy wall, shelter, hands grappled, little memory of past resident, light warms my back...begin.
Thoughts/feelings/ideas after: 
Rough abrasive, enjoyed the development and mix between an exploration of the textures/physicality of the environment and my own movement instinct. Moments of uncertainty, self consciousness, finger/hands prominent. What's around the corner? For this? For this next year? who knows..


Day 2, 18/10/11
Time: 3:35pm
Site: Main road underpass/drain
Clothing: Grey pants, yellow singlet, black long sleeve top.
Weather: Sunny
Thoughts/feelings/ideas before: 
Scaling the ramped sides along stone walls, memories of a fall and a break, light at the end of the tunnel? Rumblings, revs from above an echo from long past. The darkened concrete of the drain, where a trickle once skipped along, over exposed light into the cavernous tube.
Thoughts/feelings/ideas after: 
Love playing with the light, body in silhouette, and also the long channel-like nature of the space, not sure that the scaling of walls was very effective. Walking into and out of light and central channel more interesting. Noticed I have trouble sticking with an idea physically- anxious.

Monday 17 October 2011

and so it begins...

Today I begin the exciting and adventurous marathon of creating a dance film/video compiling 100,000 frames.

How will I do this?
I will select a site/venue/space each day for the next 365 days, where I will perform a 10 minute site specific dance performance (improvised). I will film (in HD using a tripod) the 10 minute performance and select 10 seconds of video per day/performance to compile into a larger video work entitled '100,000 frames'. I will edit the excerpts of the weeks performances into a film and post to this blog every week. The film will begin to grow week by week.
Each day I will document the following: Date, Time, Weather conditions, Site, Costume/clothing, Thoughts/feeling before performance and Thoughts feelings after performance.

Why will I do this?
- To reconnect with my interest in site specific dance and dance on film.
- Challenge myself to do something hard within a field that I love.
- Discover new techniques, performative and editing/film production.
- Test my endurance and interest.
- Discover something/many things about myself as a performer and artist.

I am feeling a sense of nervous anticpation, a little scared and I feel the weight of the challenge about to set in. But really life's too short not to do something seriously creative and crazy., and why the hell not???

So here I go!!!