Additional Video Content

Seeing as my exhibition isn't going to be until some time in May or June of this year and because the narrative side of my project only consists of 20 different visuals, I have decided that I have plenty of time extend the story behind my project.
There are many ideas that I had for visuals that I didn't get a chance to film due to time constraints, but now that I have fewer deadlines to tackle and plenty of time between now and my exhibition I feel that it would be beneficial to try and film some of those ideas.
Filming additional video content for my project will not only enhance the narrative but also effect the randomness of the clips that are generated. Therefore this will have an effect on the users interaction with the installation.
My intention is for the user to interact more with the tree due to the expansion of the story. At the moment after a couple of touches the user will probably have seen most, if not all the scenes (not necessarily all the clips). This means that they will probably only engage with the installation for a short period of time.
However if the narrative is expanded then surely the users engagement will increase, as they will want to explore the depths of the story and how much it can morph over the course of a number of triggers.
Recently I have contacted my friend Robert who helped me film the previous set of clips for this project, and I have explained to him that I am looking to continue the filming process. He has agreed that it would be in mine and the projects best interest to do this and has accepted to help me once again.
We plan to meet up some time in March to discuss further ideas we could use as visuals and begin filming some time shortly after that.   

Storyboard - Exhibition



Even though there has been no further development on when my exhibition will be or where it will be held, I have to start making plans and preparations for the layout as soon as possible.

As I have stated numerous of times before both parts of my tree cannot be combined together until they are in my given room for the exhibition. Here I can erect the sculpture and begin distinguishing a perfect placement for it to stand.

I still have plenty of materials left over to be able to securely attach and plaster the two parts together, and then coat them with a few layers of white spray paint. People who have provided me with a helping hand throughout this process have offered to help with the transportation of my work and the build of the room. Having this help, the materials needed to create the structure of the room already at hand and also clear plans that indicate a suitable layout, the task of setting up my exhibition room will be much less daunting/time consuming.    

I can't just simply plonk my work in a space without there being any real thought behind it. I have to take into account a number of things such as;

• Sound - where the speakers will be mounted in order for the sound to fill the entire room. The sound needs to be heard from more than one point in the room by the users to create a stereo effect that will make the user feel as though the sound is constantly with them, and not drifting away to unoccupied spaces within the room.
• Space - taking into account the amount of space I have to work with inside the room I am given, the positioning of the tree is the key element to making my installation successful. The tree should be visible as soon as you are about to enter the room, if not prior to you wanting to go into the room. The tree being on show even to users outside of the room should act as a way of enticing people. Grabbing their attention and drawing in their curiosity. Within the room itself the tree needs enough an space around the area in which it stands for users to be able to walk around freely, getting a 360 degree view. Having this available space will make interaction and audience participation a lot more free flowing. There also needs to be enough distance between the tree and the walls to allow the projector to display the visuals clearly.
• Build - the two separate parts that form the tree itself need to be assembled in a way that allows the users to interact with the tree and see the visuals displayed clearly on the wall at the same time. This means the branch that is sculpted on the top part of the tree needs to be located to the left or right hand side of where the projector lens faces. This will then make it possible for users to engage successfully with the sculptural and visual side of the installation simultaneously. 
• Macbook - the laptop that holds all the data and gives life to the interactive side of the installation will need to be out of sight from users. This means that it will need to be hidden some how in the corner of the room. I could do this possibly by storing the laptop in a make shift box or behind a curtain of some sorts, making sure that a power supply is in full reach and connectible. 
• Lighting - minimal lighting will be in the room, as I have discussed previously about the ambiance I intend to create. The only sources of light that will be featured in the room will be that of the LED light that is encased in the organ cast and also an LED spot light that will be attached to the ceiling directly above the sculpture.  
• Wiring - all wiring that will be connected from the laptop to the tree will need to be securely taped to the floor so that trip hazards are not an issue. Also I would like to hopefully match the colour of the tape with the style of the floor to make the wires more camouflaged.    

Below is just a quick sketch of a few possible layout ideas and which one I think will work best for when it comes to sorting out my installation.

This sketch doesn't necessarily mean that this will be the final layout that I decide to follow when it comes to designing my exhibition space. I will have to wait until I get my actual room as the specifications/dimensions of the room could force me to rethink the structure of these layouts. It is good to have these to refer back to though when I finally reach this stage.

 



 

Demonstration Video



Here is video I made to demonstrate how the interactive side of my project works. I won't say too much because I tend to ramble on in the video trying to cover all the bases for the examiners benefit, I apologise in advance.

The video isn't the best quality as it's all just been filmed on my phone and it doesn't show the final construction due to an exhibition space still not being available, but I hope this video gives you a little insight though to how all the components work and how they will all come together in it's final form.  

 

 

Once my exhibition space is available and I'm able begin shaping my installation, erecting the sculpture, setting up the lighting and sound, and creating the right atmosphere that I want to provoke user interaction then I will film another video.

I'll create a more professional video that will better demonstrate user interaction and the kind of ambience that the installation will create in it's final form. This video will give those who can't attend my exhibition the chance to get a better understanding of my work and how all the different aspects blend together to create a constantly changing narrative with one sole concept.

I will keep you up to date with information on when my exhibition is and when I'll be able to produce this video.