Telematic Performance at Warwick Mark Childs,  Centre for Academic Practice,  University of Warwick
Labels Virtual performance Virtual theatre Telematic performance Telepresent performance Distributed performance
Definitions the phrase "telematic performance work" refers to the use of a telecommunication network to establish links between  two remote spaces  at the same time and to present the activities in those two separate spaces variously as a single performance event. …  these activities … make use of the Web as a third performance "space". – Cellbytes  http://isa.hc.asu.edu/cellbytes/scott/
Definitions "telematics" means more than simply videoconferencing, it implies a different awareness of your body and a different engagement with the visual/kinetic information received from the other end (or ends) - Susan Kozel
Virtual Performance Draws on experiences of technology (specifically virtual reality) explores notions of "self", "location" "body/identity" Exploits advantages of technology accessible,  mutable, recordable, transferable, innovative, fun
The Telematic Performance Susan Kozel, Practitioner based in Vancouver First year students at Warwick  Performance and Practice module
Performance space Physical performance space Virtual performance space
PC Monitor webcamera Hub P P P uplink PC Monitor webcamera P P Laptop Data projector Video camera Video bus multipoint P P P P screen
 
Audiences Performers can see each other on their computers People sit in studio and watch via projection
 
Activities in workshop Discussions of concepts  Online chat Structured improvisations Creating a virtual face and body Follow the leader Rehearsed performance pieces
Structured improvisations
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rehearsed performance piece
 
 
Physical Performance workshop
Videoconferenced physical performance Took place Friday, 8th March, 2002 Canterbury and Exeter Eastern physical performance Performers in one half of studio Wall-length screen hung in centre Other half of group projected on screen
Why did it fail as a workshop? delays in setting up   low frame rates   image freezing and speeding  up time lags
Why did it fail as a workshop? Inappropriateness of subject matter Selection of activities difficulties with communication  difficulties with performance space  sightlines  inappropriate expectations
Solutions Include students and staff more in the explorative aspect of the project Use the link to demonstrate work rather than work across the link Make technology part of what is being explored
Telematic Performance at DMU
DMU performance examples Mirroring exercise Face Global village people Timelag  demonstration
Differences with Warwick Students based at home for 2 nd  and 4 th  session  Dial-up modems created additional difficulties Performance and connection from own space created different ‘feel’
Problems with virtual performance  Immersive? Engaging? Reliable? Lacking corporeality? Therefore pointless?
Final Thoughts (1) The idea of the body displaced in time and space though “performing” in a present, virtual space is not enough (in my opinion) to support the rhetoric and hyperbole that drives much of the web-based activity we are speaking of. - Johannes Birringer “Connected Dance”
(2) But ... In response to ADaPT - a performance across six sites involving: “ live decorporealistions” tearing up paper in front of a camera multiple images of someone swivelling in a chair
(3) Questions Is this a new area for performance work or a few techies getting over-excited by technology? Is it a springboard for creativity, or a mask for lack of creativity? Is it missing the entire point of theatre, or rediscovering it?
3D Visualisation Group Chromakey work Motion capture Virtual reality models Stereoscopic projection
[email_address] http://www.warwick.ac.uk/ETS/annie http://www.warwick.ac.uk/3d/

Performance in Telemaric Spaces Nov 2004

  • 1.
    Telematic Performance atWarwick Mark Childs, Centre for Academic Practice, University of Warwick
  • 2.
    Labels Virtual performanceVirtual theatre Telematic performance Telepresent performance Distributed performance
  • 3.
    Definitions the phrase"telematic performance work" refers to the use of a telecommunication network to establish links between two remote spaces at the same time and to present the activities in those two separate spaces variously as a single performance event. … these activities … make use of the Web as a third performance "space". – Cellbytes http://isa.hc.asu.edu/cellbytes/scott/
  • 4.
    Definitions "telematics" meansmore than simply videoconferencing, it implies a different awareness of your body and a different engagement with the visual/kinetic information received from the other end (or ends) - Susan Kozel
  • 5.
    Virtual Performance Drawson experiences of technology (specifically virtual reality) explores notions of "self", "location" "body/identity" Exploits advantages of technology accessible, mutable, recordable, transferable, innovative, fun
  • 6.
    The Telematic PerformanceSusan Kozel, Practitioner based in Vancouver First year students at Warwick Performance and Practice module
  • 7.
    Performance space Physicalperformance space Virtual performance space
  • 8.
    PC Monitor webcameraHub P P P uplink PC Monitor webcamera P P Laptop Data projector Video camera Video bus multipoint P P P P screen
  • 9.
  • 10.
    Audiences Performers cansee each other on their computers People sit in studio and watch via projection
  • 11.
  • 12.
    Activities in workshopDiscussions of concepts Online chat Structured improvisations Creating a virtual face and body Follow the leader Rehearsed performance pieces
  • 13.
  • 14.
  • 15.
  • 16.
  • 17.
  • 18.
  • 19.
  • 20.
  • 21.
  • 22.
  • 23.
  • 24.
    Videoconferenced physical performanceTook place Friday, 8th March, 2002 Canterbury and Exeter Eastern physical performance Performers in one half of studio Wall-length screen hung in centre Other half of group projected on screen
  • 25.
    Why did itfail as a workshop? delays in setting up low frame rates image freezing and speeding up time lags
  • 26.
    Why did itfail as a workshop? Inappropriateness of subject matter Selection of activities difficulties with communication difficulties with performance space sightlines inappropriate expectations
  • 27.
    Solutions Include studentsand staff more in the explorative aspect of the project Use the link to demonstrate work rather than work across the link Make technology part of what is being explored
  • 28.
  • 29.
    DMU performance examplesMirroring exercise Face Global village people Timelag demonstration
  • 30.
    Differences with WarwickStudents based at home for 2 nd and 4 th session Dial-up modems created additional difficulties Performance and connection from own space created different ‘feel’
  • 31.
    Problems with virtualperformance Immersive? Engaging? Reliable? Lacking corporeality? Therefore pointless?
  • 32.
    Final Thoughts (1)The idea of the body displaced in time and space though “performing” in a present, virtual space is not enough (in my opinion) to support the rhetoric and hyperbole that drives much of the web-based activity we are speaking of. - Johannes Birringer “Connected Dance”
  • 33.
    (2) But ...In response to ADaPT - a performance across six sites involving: “ live decorporealistions” tearing up paper in front of a camera multiple images of someone swivelling in a chair
  • 34.
    (3) Questions Isthis a new area for performance work or a few techies getting over-excited by technology? Is it a springboard for creativity, or a mask for lack of creativity? Is it missing the entire point of theatre, or rediscovering it?
  • 35.
    3D Visualisation GroupChromakey work Motion capture Virtual reality models Stereoscopic projection
  • 36.