28/06/2021
I want to explore Samuel Becketts 1981 televised play 'Quad' which consists of four actors in the colours red, blue, white and yellow fixed in a loop. Each actor is accompanied by a sound, which creates no rhythm or melody. The actors walk in sync, and are bound together by invisible lines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJBIvv13Bc
To do this:
Explore ways to make the bodies movement trigger sounds (different sound for each person) I have seen people use a Kinect 2 running with MaxMSP to accomplish this. I will have to access four different coloured robes, all capable of producing a high contrast with the background.
01/06/2021
Kinect 2 has arrived in the mail today. I have found a video by an artists called Billy Bailey who uses the kinects built in sensors that create textures to track the human body and it's movements, using MaxMSP he transforms the body into a musical instrument. Could be an interesting direction to bring the project [1]
03/06/2021
First attempt at building a colour tracking patch. It works surprisingly well considering the lack of contrast in the video. I am unsure on how i can implement sound into this patch however or have the tracker trigger random sounds/noises
04/06/2021
An illustrated representation of the placement and movement of the figures. "Once inside the square, they are condemned to monotonously and synchronously pace the respectively six steps of the lengthwise and diagonal lines it contains, in part accompanied by varying drumbeat rhythms. The mathematical precision and choreography is made possible by the exactness of the timing. Choreographic variation is confined to the number of performers, and the resultant changes in colour constellations." "Rudolf Frieling"
05/06/2021
06/06/2021
(more beckett research)
Potential filming spot
It could work well, just figuring out a placement for the camera and tracker is the issue. The space is extraordinarily awkward. There are many places i would like to shoot in but due to restrictions and a possible lockdown it's off limits for now
10/06/2021
Testing a motion tracking patch
12/06/2021
First test on a colour tracker that produces sounds. Although capable of tracking multiple colours at once producing individual sounds for each, the patch is extremely wonky. Using this video of the sky and clouds produced the best results.
14/06/2021
Unfortunately i could not get the actors required for the piece, but not to worry i have given my younger brother a fine deal to act in a solo performance. The recordings went better than anticipated, the red sheet created a high enough contrast with the background so that it was easy to track it's colour.
