8th Dec 2010
Hi Steve,
I recorded my effort on HD and then exported it as a tiny mp4 so i could email it to you. It's very pixelated - so watch it small...
I went outside before the heavy snow came.
It's kind of interesting - I really like some aspects - tho there are some very clumsy movements and some too much like mime
I could probably edit into something - but I'm not sure if that's appropriate yet.
It's 11min long - which seemed way to short to do the process - but far to long to have as a video - at least in terms of holding attention in it's current format.
11min - I didn't spend much time low down - horizontal (vertical levels 0-3) - and getting into the mind zone (it was very cold) - but i felt in it at times when into vertical levels above 3 - but not always.
The static camera is a bit dull as the focus is so fixed - i think similar to the ability to embody scales in your process - micro and macro - it might be nice to try this with the camera filming the embodier...
see what you think,
best,
dan
9th Dec 2010
Hi Dan,
enjoyed watching that. I agree that it isn't time for editing stuff.... I think we can spend more time focusing this process so each move is really fully engaged and specific. It would be great to video each other I think.... in different locations... and referencing same or different routes. I reckon the key to getting away from mime is to get the movement into the torso independently of the hand gestures.... almost beginning with the torso... so the torso is the resonant chamber of the experience... this can be mixed with the more gestural, mimetic demonstrative hand stuff... which had a reference to modelling or carving that I also like. I use the system from Reflexology to engage the body with the hands....
http://www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/static/cs/uk/11/features/reflexology/handchart.html
this is more detailed than I use but it gives an idea of how the torso can be related to parts of and movements of the hands....
I wasn't as brave as you. I went to the warm studio... here it was so snowy on Monday that I couldn't get anywhere as the town came to a standstill. I did the process Tuesday instead. My video is longer than yours so I'll try to load it up to Vimeo tomorrow and send you the link so you can stream it. I don't think it is as interesting as yours but there are some similarities.... http://vimeo.com/17622482
I am getting keen on doing this process with more people.... It would be interesting to get several people to embody the same climbing route as a basis of material for a live performance... (should this be dancers or climbers or a mix... do we have the resources.... anyway that is just an idea for now....
We need to give a bit more thought to location for the "event".... and more dates to meet up...
Steve
30th Dec 2010
Hi Steve,
Hope you having a bit of a break and the xmas festivities were fun.
I'm back in the studio - tho i've been editing a lot of video at home in between mince pies and turkey stuffing. We had a nice quiet time - luckily just one burst pipe. and our water is still on.
just watching your embodying landscape video again in more detail. I'm really enjoying it.
I like the slow speed of the start - slow motion-esque and small range of movements - then growing.
I also like the more erratic movements - funnily the ones which are actually less climbing orientated.
The space for me is a bit difficult - I know this wasn't the point of that exercise but it resurfaces something we've discussed before and remains a key problem for me. The space abstracts it so much to render it less interesting. I know your argument will be that I'm not entering enough into the language of pure movement and the "abstraction" isn't abstraction it's real movement. But i guess it's that concern of functional movement being more exciting and powerfully to me in terms of "art".
That said I can really imagine this working well in specific sites or/and in relation to objects, images or video.
Your suggestion toi develop this with more focus and video each other would be useful - certainly the non-static camera might be good to explore if pre-recorded video become a big element.
Thanks for the torso feedback - that's interesting.
Suggest some date thru jan/feb/mar and we'll try to make some arrangements. Weather might beat us for getting outside - but you never know. But studio would be useful. Also are we able to make site visits to prehen house? it might be useful to make more visits to keep it going - at least we need to get some thinking and experimentation going around this before we commit to it.
best wishes,
dan
