The complexity of it all

Am working on 5 hours of sleep from last night. We are in hyper mode here at Theatreworks. Aftet two weeks of editing and re-editing video, this week see us start to really pull the show together. A bunch of new equipment arrived today and there are masses of cords running about the rehearsal space for video, sound, lights, etc. This is really an amazing project. I've never experienced anything of the sort.

The first photo is of Daniel and Sezaly working with the Watchout. The Watchout is a system of 7 computers synced together to run the projection. They are uploading all the video content that Ka Fai and I have been developing.


Next is the rehearsal space. This is half scale, but it give you an idea of what will take place. We are projecting onto a scrim with another screen behind it. The scrim will be 13m x 19m and the other screen is a curve measuring 60 long. It is pretty complex.


The next to photos are looking at some image directly - I apologize for the low quality.



The show is called Diaspora and it follows several artists as they work with their identities between cultures. The show consits of acting that is live and via video feed, performance from the Chinese Singapore Orchestra, a Gambang Kromong band from Bali, dancing from an artist named Zai Kunnig, out video, sound by a Japanese musician, etc. This is all packed into 1:30. It's going to be intense.

On top of that all, the first two nights will have members of the IMF and World Bank attending as they are having their annual meetings in Singapore during that time. This means heavy security, which we all had to submit identification for.

So that gives you an idea of the show.

Events here have been crazy. Typical of the theatre. Lots of drama. I've done my best to stay out of it all. Though, even when things get tense, there is this sense that we are accomplishing something amazing. People keep talking about how this show is huge and the converage will be amazing. It's just starting to sink in for me. Behind the tired eyes, I'm extremely excited to see it all come together.

It actually makes me want to get down to my own work! That will come very soon.

A few photos

So, what you all have been waiting for - a few photos.

A shot of me out the window of my apartment.

This is Theatreworks

Here is Ka Fai doing some editing in your dungeon

This is the Esplanade. Where the show is going to be.

This was a surprise left for me on my computer. Ariani and Tintin - two of the artist involved in the show- thought they woudl take it for a test drive. It was a fun surprise.


Will get you more later today. I finally have the camera on me.

From a tiny island in Asia

Trying to add a bit more and keep this thing going.

Last Wednesday saw the arrival of Robin and Greta to Singapore. I haven't had time to be with them though. Just trying to keep up with the pace and demands of the project. We did spend the day together on Sunday. Went to the tourist island of Sentosa to see Underwater World and some pink dolphins. A very family oriented trip, though my interests kept turning toward other things. I'm wanting to create my own work. Am getting bored working on other peoples stuff.

Keng Sen has invited me back for a residency. So, I'm thinking about a bunch of ideas for the project. The first thing in my mind is a game of some sort. Something contextually situated. (that's my new catch phrase) There are some interesting things going on here and I hope to do something colaborative with in a community. Will probably address the urban growth here. Or maybe the crossing of culture. Have been thinking about developing a story about a group that attacks the city to reclaim it. It would be based loosely on the Japanese attack of Singapore in WWII. There are some interesting places here that could fit into this.

We are now one month away from the show opening. I'm excited to see what comes of all the work. The process is still in gear and it will be interesting to see the pieces fit together. There are so many components to the project and fiting them together is going to be no easy task.

Look forward to hearing from people. Email me so that I can keep up with how things are going. Plus, I get to use my new laptop. It was a bitch to get but I am now the proud owner of a 15" Mac Book Pro. I'm very happy!

Rest night

Would love to say that I've been experiencing the sights and sounds of Singapore, but much of my time has been spent infront of a computer editing video for the show.

A few notes on the show - I've been calling it a performance extravaganza. Vido, performance, an orchestra, etc. The video I have been working on is focused around footage taken in Bali, Vietnam, and India. So, will I might not be experiencing all of it first hand, my appetite for it has been continually teased.

The music is being done by three different groups. One an indonesia group called the Gambang Kromong. Then there is the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Finally, a digital musician from Japan by the name of Toru. He's been lulling us to sleep late at night with his ambiotic rhythms.

Have a meeting tomorrow with a dean at a local art college. Would be great to talk about a job.

More to come.

8 hours of sleep

Am writing this posting at the end of what have been a long few days. In the past 72, I'm going on about 8 hours of sleep.
We've been extremely busy working on the show and time demands that things get down. I was happy when mandator rest was required in a meeting today. Plus, Keng Sen is heading out of town tonight. So we will get some rest. Plus, I think we are grabbing a drink once things are done today.

As for things other than work. Last night Theatreworks treated several of us to a meal a local restuarant. Had an amazing variety of foods. Most of which I found puzzling. The oddest of them all was 100 yr old eggs. The eggs are stored for 100 years and only brought out once they've completed there term. With a amazing sauce they were quite delicious. Also a North Chinese pork dish. The food was very powerful and extremely tasty.

We are in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which means that Ghost are arising to haunt the earth. Welcome to Hungary Ghost Month. In conjunction with National Day (similar to the US 4th of July), the hungary ghost festival is a tradition throughout the area. People have been leaving small offerings for the ghost that haunt the earth. There are also festivals called gatai where music is sung and items are auctions off for luck. I'm hope to see one this weekend.

What else - So, I've fallen in love with this place. I was really looking for a change of scenery. I wanted the antithesis of Madison and Singapore is just such a place. Though, with English being spoken everywhere it isn't too foreign. It's the best of both worlds. The weather is warm, the beaches aren't too far away and for a huge city I'm finding it very affordable.
I'd love to stay for a while. That possibility might arise.

lingua franca

It's just about midnight here, which means that it's about noon on the east coast.

Just finished with a reading of the scrip for the show. The four actors came in and put us through a very interesting time. Things started to make sense on that side, but this show is very complex. Video, audio, music, acting, etc. So much.

This month is the ghost monkey festival in Singapore (I might have that name wrong). Heard there was a big festival taking place later this week that I hope to see. Will tell you more about this when I get my facts right.

Have been thinking about my previous experiences abroad. One of my issues with Europe was that I always felt when people were speaking in another language in my company that it was done so to excluded me. Maybe it was my insecurities at that time? Not sure, but here I feel the exact opposite. Hearing Mandarin or Indonesia here doesn't feel exclusive. The more I think about it the more I realize it is more about me that any one else. Guess that at the rip old age of 29, I'm growing up.

Was excited to find out that Robin and Greta will be joining me at the end of the month. Should be fun. Not that I'm going to have loads of time to spend with them. Mainly, I want Robin and Greta to share in the experiences that I am having.

No time for the weary

Am almost a week into my trip to Singapore. Thus far the pace has been blistering. Most days I'm up at 8am, grab a coffee, read the paper, and then it's off to work until 10 or 11pm. I am amazed on the amount of time people are putting into this. It's 10pm on a Sunday night and things are still happening. My hope is that I can just keep up.

Mainly, I am working with Ka Fai and Daniel on putting together the media side of the project. There is a lot of video and we are using a complex system to run it all. Last night we were working until 2am and tonight it will be midnight before I head home.

In the end I know this will all pay off. Talking to people here, Keng Sen is held in very high regard. There is no reason to complain when you are working for a major artist.

Besides work, I have had a chance to meet a few people. Met a very nice artist who teachs at a local art school. I might go over there at some point to talk to some students. Also have been in touch with several others. Was invited to go to Indonesia to meet with this artist that is a part of the show. That sounds like fun I am amazed at the amount of networking that is happening there and they way opportunities come about.

In the States I always feel like opportunities must be made by the artist to show case work, where as here I feel any reason to do a show is a good reason. People come to see things and are interested what you have to say. Plus, people are willing to take chances. In comparison to the US where people always want a sure thing, which is great for established artists but good luck to anyone try to do something new. Maybe I can work to change that even if it only a small corner of the world.

Got back from playing soccer tonight with Ka Fai and his friends. We lost 5-2, but had fun and blew off some stress.

I've been trying to explore the country as best as I can with the little amount of time that I've had. Have tried a bunch of different dishes at local hawkers. They are cheap and very good. Most of which has been chinese. Malaysian food is next. Am looking forward to getting see some new areas away from the tourists. Got to see the Esplanade, the theater where the show will be presented. Looks like a durian. That is another I need to try.

Am off to work - Look forward to hearing from everyone.

Arrival

Arrived in Singpore yesterday morning 6:35am. Which would be 6:35pm for the East Coast. Overall the flight wasn't too bad. A stopover in Frankfurt allowed me to stretch my legs. Had fun watching people and writing down stories to describe them. There was the Russian mobster checking on the work his union cronies were doing at JFK. The ugliest man I've ever seen. Buck toothed, a Red dye job over gray thinning hair, with long neck folds. Maybe I shouldn't talk as I don't know what i'll turn into.

Thus far I'd describe Singapore as a tropical top. A beautiful mixture of the old and new balanced with green pacific fauna. The people begin their mornings quietly over a coffee and noodles, and ending their evenings in a whirl of lights and music.

I'd also have to say that if we Americans developed capitalism, then it those here is Asia who will perfect it. I spent time today walking the main shopping center Orchard St. The buildings are a mass of shops and hotels, packed so tightly that it had for me to keep my attention on what what in front of me. My eyes kept moving about unable to rest until I actually entered a store.

At the moment, I'm sitting in the offices of Theatreworks and I'm seeing how this place works. It is 8pm at night and half of the staff is still here. They are very dedicated people. I would have to guess that this is typical of a place doing the work they are doing. As of yet, I'm still very unsure of what I'll be doing. Thus far all I know is that I'll be helping with the video installation that is taking place. I've meet the two people involved in that part of the project and it seems to me that they have much more experience. To the point that they wouldn't want to teach me how to do something when they could do it themselves. What it sounds like is that i'll be helping edit video that has to be cut apart and reorganized to fit on a 30m x 60m screen. this will be interesting and I'll get to learn something.

Have meet some interesting people and might even be playing soccer this weekend. Just the mention of soccer and it open doors. My goal for this is to not only work this project, but get to explore a bit of the culture.