LOOKING BACK ON THE OTIS RETREAT

The Otis retreat was so full of non-stop activities that I could hardly catch my breath and certainly did not have time or energy to post on this blog.

Now that I have had some time to reflect, my overwhelming response to the experience is this:

I learned a great deal about using a camera, creating a simple visual effect, editing in iMovie and working with iDVD.

I loved the creative process of envisioning a cinematic image

I hated the intensely time consuming process of lugging the equipment, setting up, dealing with noise, lack of light, technical difficulties, etc.

I was frustrated by the fact that when we screened our tiny video during the final event (thank you Traci for attending!) the sound malfunctioned and we had a gravely, then silent film.

Final conclusion:  I love theatre more than ever; I cannot watch a film now without trying to figure out if a shot is a camera tilt, crane or over the shoulder close-up; and I am grateful for the opportunity to discover and learn so much is such a short amount of time!

Otis College of Art &Design multimedia retreat DAY ONE

Just what I needed to round out my study of multimedia as an enhancement to live theatre projects. Today we learned how to make storyboards, shot lists and camera angles. Tomorrow we begin to shoot our team based mini documentaries

They are feeding us well, the Custom Hotel is great and I am totally enjoying this opportunity.

Tomorrow I will take a turn as the cinematographer. Looking forward to the challenge!

CREATING MY FIRST PROJECTIONS FOR WILL PLAY 2011

My summer theatre program, Will Play (that I run as a program of my company TheatreWorkers Project in partnership with Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles) is approaching its final week.  Our production this year is Romeo & Juliet...Reconsidered, a performance college inspired by Shakespeare's famous play and the Broadway classic West Side Story.  As the producer and costume designer (plus the program director--yes, I am exhausted!) I get to do many creative things while my amazing staff directs the piece.  Today at our production meeting I suggested that we use projections to create the digital scenery as the piece moves back and forth between two worlds.  I am in the process of researching images and am excited about working with the tech director to figure out how best to set up the rear projector and create the best throw onto the scrim.  We are also going to use shadows in the rumble scene, using the light from the projector to the light the scrim as the actors move behind it.

If anyone reading this is interested, the link to our site is http://theatreworkersproject.info/.  If you would like to see the show, (performed by young actors ages 7-15) playing Friday, 7/29 & Sat, 7/30 at Shakespeare Center/LA, just contact me and I will be delighted to give you a comp.

WICKED: not what I had hoped for

Maybe it's me, but I just need more substance to really buy sitting thru a huge bgt production or maybe any bgt production. Yes, it was a delightful and witty story. Yes, the actors were excellent and the singing was terrific. But after War Horse and even Memphis, (which had subject matter that meant something)Wicked seemed like so much fluff. And the visual effects that I had hoped for seemed minimal compared to what I had just recently seen--- except for the time when Elphaba went up into the sky on her broom-- thanks to amazing lighting effects , that was spectacular. Oddly, one of the times when they could have used multimedia effects (when Elphaba fizzles and apparently dies) they employed the lowest tech technique imaginable: an actor literally hand pulled a muslin half curtain across the stage and the actors appeared as shadows behind it. It was effective, but so unlike anything else in the show.

I did enjoy seeing the use of cut out miniature scenery that was backlit and appeared way upstage. It added depth and perspective to the stage picture and is something I can easily employ.

Am now on my way back to DC via Bolt Bus ($20 one way, complete with wifi). Looking forward to visiting a few exhibits at the Smithsonian, visiting with friends and having really good food. DC has become a foodie paradise and always has had terrific sea food.

Final food report from NY: I had a little argument with the elderly man behind Zabars's smoked fish counter. I wanted To buy a little piece of whitefish---just a snack. He said absolutely not! He would only sell me a hefty chunk, so I had to pass. No amount of begging would persuade him. Will have to go to Canter's when I get back home if the urge still persists.

ONE HIT, ONE MISS (a big one)

Friday nite: After seeing War Horse, anything was going to potentially pale in comparison. Luckily, Memphis was a total delight. nowhere near the amazing theatrical experience that I had had the nite before, but a good time. It was great to see a traditional Broadway musical in the old classic Shubert Theater. And probably due to the subject matter (race relations and rock n roll) the audience was fairly integrated----many age groups & ethnicities. The projections were fine. Sometimes it was hard to tell what was projected and what was painted. but overall, worth seeing.

Unfortunately, the Museum of the Moving Image was a real disappointment. nothing like it was advertised or at least not in any way what I had hoped for or expected. If one knew nothing about the film or television industry, this museum would have been good. But for a museum that is trying to celebrate the "moving image" it had the worst and most boring exhibits. Where they might have used video installations, backdrops and effects, there were none. Just words on a wall or artifacts in a case. The most interesting thing was riding the subway and getting lost (as usual) walking thru Queens trying to find the museum. My first time in Queens. Other than that, a total waste of time.

Risk Assessment noted: pay close attention to descriptions on a website and call before you go to a museum if you have expectations of something very specific!

Food report: the rugulah at Zabars are tasty, but not as good as my mother's. And, can you believe it, there is a Trader Joe's on Broadway & 72nd. I popped in to take a look. It was sort of bizarre seeing all the same products. A little too much like home. It was jam packed. Obviously just the thing for the busy New Yorkers.

THEATRE IN NEW YORK, DAY ONE

Tonite I saw War Horse at Lincoln Center. Hands down the most amazing evening that I have spent at the theatre EVER! The production values, visuals, multimedia, amazing puppetry, acting, story.....everything moved and inspired me. I feel so lucky to be a part of a profession that brings such work to audiences. I can't wait to see it again when it comes to LA next year.

I definitely got many ideas for how I can incorporate some of the visuals into my work. The latest thing seems to be to project onto a piece of hanging screen that serves as both a piece of the set and a screen. It is very effective and quite different from the usual sq slide screen or simple scrim. The secret has to be how to make the projection fit into the slice of screen. Will have to experiment


I love being in NY. I have walked about 3 miles a day and that is just getting to and from places. Went to Zabars and got some take out delicacies for lunch and did the same for dinner ..got a great piece of Grilled salmon from a local gourmet deli. Last nite met a friend for dinner at Ocean Grill on Columbus and 78th. Delicious shrimp and scallops, marinated in lemon, garlic and olive oil, grilled lightly and served with two spicy sauces on the side. We split a lemon brûlée tart. Small portions, big price tag, definitely worth a litle splurge!

More tomorrow .....theatre, food, walking and the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Quens. Can't wait!

APPROACHING LEG #2 OF MY JOURNEY

I leave tomorrow for the second phase of my journey:  New York & DC to see plays that feature multimedia and museum exhibits that focus on moving images.

Saw two Radar LA shows. One that I had seen in Copenhagen called Two Dimensional Life of Her and another featuring images, shadows and animated video in combination with live actors. Both wonderful to watch and inspiring--got many good ideas for how to create and use "low tech" multimedia effects. But in all cases, I missed STORY. For me, theatre has to have a good story--the images are not enough.

More from the east coast....and of course, a food report will be included!

HOME & INSPIRED!

Back in LA with so many images swimming in my head.  Can't wait to learn more about how to implement them.

Recently found out that I have been accepted as one of 12 participants for the Otis College of Art & Design teachers retreat in August.  More multimedia training and all expenses paid!!!!

Trip home was smooth, long and uneventful.  Did end up sitting next to a recall delightful young woman on the trip from Toronto to LAX.  It is a small world--she was a friend of Traci Cho's

Visited Hamlet's castel on the Saturday before I left/  Saw a magical performance piece that night called "Hans Christian You Must Be an Angel".  Hard to explain--part art installation, part theatre, part multimedia--all magic.

Just received emails from two of the people I met on the trip.  One from South Africa, one from Serbia. It is wonderful to feel so connected to the world of theatre artists.

More soon as I digest and catalog images and ideas for future use.

WONDERFUL RUSSIAN PLAYWRIGHT, GETTING LOST & CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!

Thursday:  walked more than 10 miles I am sure; got lost numerous times in the winding Danish streets as I followed insane directions (or lack thereof).  Found the world's best chocolate chip cookies right down the street from my hotel at my new fav Mormor's (where I now can buy my steamed lofat milk with a hint of chocolate without feeling like a fool).  During my foot travels found two killer bakeries selling delicious bread and pastries.  Think La Brea Bakery X 10--that's how large they are.  Got a great night's sleep again; so relieved!

BRIEF COMBINED REPORT:  briefly, the day was about the good (healthy breakfast and the discovery of a delicious egg on the breakfast buffet, chic pea & tomato salad for lunch)
and attending an interesting presentation on theatre for young people in Mexico as a form of resistance against the awful conditions that have been created for them due to the war on drugs plus going to see a staged reading of 5 excerpts of Russian plays (1 of them terrific & I am planning to get the play and mount it) for young people performed by excellent Danish actors
and
the "bad" (but delicious) gorgonzola cheese and bread crust, salad,  fizzy lemon drink & cookie
and
the ugly (getting lost in a bad part of town due to poor directions given by multiple people and missing a show that I had a ticket for--luckily it was not one of the multimedia productions that I came to see!). As I walked home from the train station feeling angry and frustrated, the skies opened up and, like in a Thomas Hardy novel, it began to rain.  And I had not brought my umbrella!

Risk Assessment #5 noted:  spend the money to activate your cellular roaming devices and gps so you can find your way around in strange lands!

MORE TERRIFIC THEATRE AND A NEW CONNECTION

Wednesday:  After a great night's sleep (at last and despite the bells) I took a long walk in the park near my hotel searching for the Little Mermaid statue but never found it; will try again tomorrow. Did chance upon a dramatic monument to those who died fighting the Nazis in WW11. Will visit the Danish Resistance Museum tomorrow or Friday.

FOOD REPORT:  with all due respect to my host city, I have had it with cold Danish breakfasts.  I give up.  One of the hotel clerks told me about a small cafe down the street that serves hot oatmeal for 28 crowns (I would pay 100 at this point).  I am definitely going there tomorrow morning!  In the meantime, I had fresh fruit, a little yogurt and muesli, toast and marmelade.  For lunch, a sandwich of thin slices of cheese, tomatoes and cucs (eaten between shows in Malmo).  Dinner from my old friend Cafe Oscar was 2 grilled shrimp skewers with tiny tomatoes and roasted new potatoes.  And a few pieces of really dark Swedish chocolate.  Yum.

FESTIVAL REPORT: Took the train again to Malmo and walked to the first theatre to see "Berlin, 1961" by a German theatre company.  The concept (they used a real small car on stage and it became a million different things--so inventive) was really well executed; the acting, direction and writing very strong and professional.  The play itself would be a bit too controversial for most American teenage audiences; some really sexist and offensive stereotypes (they were equal opportunity satirists--no one escaped--the Russian solider, the American pop star, the wailing German mother, the farmers from the American Midwest) and again, sexual actions that would never fly in the US for minors.

Walked across town to the next theatre with a cheerful producer from Wales who talked about a theatre project she her company would do that would take place on a 3 month voyage at sea (with the young people playing the roles of the actual historical characters).  The second performance that I saw today was stunning.  It was a Brazilian piece called "Almost Nothing" by a company from Sao Paulo that combined what appeared to be video backdrop with actors and wonderful puppets.  It was about the poverty endured by the those living in the slums and shanty towns of Brazilian cities and was done with such grace and style; almost like a series of moving tableaux interspersed with puppet manipulation.  The stage was covered with what appeared to be sand and the sand was used over and over agin to represent the "nothingness" that is given to the poor.  The majority of the piece was just movement (like Viewpoints compositions), music and a puppet or two but then a puppet stage appeared an a traditional Brazilian puppet show with dialogue was performed that mirrored the themes in the live piece.  I spent some time with the director and actors after the show talking to them about their process and exchanging email addresses.  The director was disappointed that the puppet show portion of the piece did not work in context and that the audience didn't get it.  I agreed but stressed to him how meaningful the content was and how beautiful the overall effect had been.  The company is called Sobrevento.  I would love to connect with them and study their style--both the puppet and live forms.  Note: I discovered that what appeared to be a multimedia backdrop was simply a backlit panel with photos of hundreds of feet stapled to it.  A cool technique that I can use!

While waiting for the train, I chatted with a Danish professor of theatre history who told me about a company called Odin Theatre that was born out of work with Growtowski.  Road the train back to Copenhagen with a delightful Russian playwright named Ksenia.  We have sons the same age and it was nice to talk about our kids, our lives and our professions.  She invited me visit her in Moscow and to a reading of 5 excerpts of Russian plays for teens that will be performed in English by Swedish and Danish actors tomorrow at the Russian Culture Center.  Looking forward to attending.  And looking forward (hoping) for another good sleep tonite!

Before we left Malmo, Ksenia told me to throw a coin in the canal --a Russian tradition that is supposed to ensure one returns to a place again. I certainly would not mid coming back.

UNEXPECTED & MOST APPRECIATED CONNECTION WITH LA COLLEAGUES

Tuesday:  church bells (many), rain (some), very little sleep the night before, crazy directions to a small theatre, massive amounts of wandering around the town and getting lost (consequently LOTS of exercise) and a chance connection with 2 delightful theatre folks from LA (Debbie Devin & Jay McAdams from 24th St Theatre) that resulted in dinner at Mama Rosa (Italian/Mexican) restaurant after a not too terrific performance by a French-Canadian company, then a brisk walk home in near freezing weather and guess what?  SLEEP! It has never felt so good to be rested.

FOOD REPORT:  almost missed breakfast but did not really mind.  Cannot take one more bowl of cold cereal.  Where oh where is the hot oatmeal I love each morning?  Am going to search for a cafe that might serve breakfast. Had a cup of stamed milk (for which again I was not charged) at the Festival Center.  Lunch was a hunk of good bread crust, Greek, chickpea and green salad.  And lots of water.  Dinner was pizza (an "Al Capone", hold the ham and light on the cheese which was a joke because there was about a pound of cheese on the limp crust.)  The pizza was tasty but I couldn't really eat much of it.  When the young waiter came to clear our table he asked, "what was wrong with your pizza?"  "Too much cheese".  He replied, "but I told them to use less".  LESS is different in different languages!


FESTIVAL REPORT:  a really mediocre production of a play called "Starved" about teen angst; poor acting, poor direction, so-so visual effects save for one moment when the teen was ranting and chanting and the video images were of him disintegrating into pieces---that was powerful.  Debbie & Jay were sitting in front of me; we had reintroduced ourselves to each other before the show and afterwards I asked if they would mind if I joined them  for dinner.  (OK, I admit it, I have been feeling isolated and I jumped at the chance to sit and eat with like-minded, intelligent, creative and funny --we had lots of laughs-- colleagues.)  Dinner was fun and it was a welcome change to converse while eating.  And then Debbie said they were paying for me.  Too generous.  I owe them a pizza in LA and hope to see them again soon--if not at the Festival, then back home.

FINALLY, THE HOPED FOR DIALOGUE WITH THE DIRECTORS

MONDAY

Today I will try to be brief.  I am getting the feeling that I am writing too much, but then again, I have a lot to say!

Food report:  finally found a little take out shop right down the street from the hotel called Chilimili.  Advertises itself as serving "really healthy food". Guess what?  They do.  I had a combo of sides:  chickpea salad, "spicy bulgar" (that was actually whole wheat couscous), and lentil salad.  Just the fiber I was pining for.  That,  accompanied by a really good tzatziki and a little bread and lots of water felt really good.  I know you are supposed to honor the food of the country that you are visiting, but Copenhagen is very cosmopolitan and seems to serve some of everything.  And if you don't eat meat, creamed soups or pickled fish, it is hard to branch out.  So I will not beef guilty.  (I may have to try the Mexican place around the corner just out of curiosity)

FESTIVAL REPORT:  At the Festival center, I saw an installation called "Happy Glimmer" done by a French visual artist who regularly collaborates with theatre companies. It was delightfully “low tech” but with all the elements of visual effects that might be done with a computer. I am going to see a production on Saturday for which he did the visual effects; will report more then.  I spent some time talking with him and his colleagues after I saw the installation and he walked me thru each exhibit and explained how the effects were done.  He had used miniatures, simple lights, lenses from various sources and screens.  Very compelling and doable.  I am going to think about using this technique next fall.

In the evening, after a long and winding walk to a small theatre in the 4th floor walk up of a 1970’s style coffee house (American pop star and folk posters lining the walls; a Bob Dylan tribute scheduled for that evening), I saw what has to be the most unique production I have ever witnessed:  “The Girl From Leningrad”, by a Russian company, is an anti fascist puppet show mixed with video and still images of the Siege of Leningrad combined with contemporary video footage.  For ages 12 and up, it was a history lesson like I might choose to do but with unbelievable visual effects.  Hard to explain in brief--at times is appeared that the puppets were in the vido as 3D images.  (Really amazing  but too long.  This seems to be a theme here--over written pieces that could use a good 10-20 minutes chopped off.  Every single person, no matter from what country, has remarked about this). However, the story line was so powerful and I was a bit saddened but not surprised to learn that most Russian children are not being taught the history of this brave fight that the Red Army waged against Hitler’s attempt to starve and destroy the city.  This is why the company chose to do this piece, to honor those who fought and died and survived.  A slide at the beginning says:  “This is dedicated to our grannies”.  I get chocked up just typing it.

I spent some time talking to the director after the performance and he showed me "backstage"; the puppets, the light set up, the screen, the puppet props.  Then he explained how they were able to use front projection that left a space for the “actors” (the puppets).  I took his card—he has a theatre school in Boston where he teaches puppet technique and incorporating the multimedia.  A year from now when he is finished touring I may try to connect with him there.

With images and emotions swirling in my head I will try to sleep and am looking forward to Tuesday’s adventures!

BUT IS IT REALLY "THEATRE"?

I have come to accept that my mode of functioning here in Denmark will be to fall sound asleep between 11-midnight, sleep for a few hours, then stay awake until I can't anymore.  Then sleep some more.  So here I am at 1:51 AM.  Thoughts about Sunday's productions swirling around in my brain.

Today (or by now I should say yesterday) was a great day.  Full of walking, talking and seeing performances. Meeting new people, finding common language stimulating and familiar.  And finally feeling "part of" this experience.

Taking the train to Malmo, Sweden was less complicated and more efficient than I had expected, albeit with a few odd twists.  When I have traveled outside of the US or even to other cities like NY or San Francisco, people generally take me for a local.  Not sure why that is. In other countries, I am usually not taken for an American (often a point of pride since many Americans are not looked on too fondly). This came into play today on the train when a Swedish man was standing over me barking an order to me--first in Swedish, then in German!  At first I didn't know he was talking to me, then I looked up and he kept saying something about "platzen".   Having grown up with a mother who spoke lots of Yiddish to her relatives and friends when she didn't want me to know what she was talking about and being a lover of German theatre, art and culture, I knew enough German to figure out he was referring to wanting to collapse or maybe sit down.  When I still didn't move, he switched to English, telling me in no uncertain terms that he had reserved this seat and showed me his ticket.  I immediately apologized and moved.   Also, if you have occasion to ask a Swede or a Dane for walking directions, please be on guard.  Many seem to say "it's just around the corner" or "it's only a few hundred meters" much like we from LA say, "it's not far" or "it's just across town". Just like the visitor to LA who drives for 45 minutes to an hour to get some place that we take for granted is all in a days typical distance, so I found myself walking long distances to get to various theatre venues, stores, etc.  Stopping along the way to make sure I was on the correct route, each person I met said "oh yes, its just up ahead". I  have been getting LOTS of exercise which is a really good thing since fat free milk seems to not exist in any coffee bar (nor does decaf as I pointed out yesterday.  I was given my second cup of free steamed milk yesterday by a barista who found my desire for a latte without the coffee either quaint or just too pathetic and did not include it on my bill)

The first production I saw was "Two Dimensional Life of Her": stunning visual images, almost scary; layer upon layer of video projections, props, over the top sound effects, gigantic shadows --or were they shadows?; animated puppet-like figures made of either cut paper or just pencil drawings; images of this woman, cleaning and scraping and searching; and FIRE!  At one moment, the entire room was on fire, flames leaping from giant video screens, the sounds of fire flames crackling and roaring and we were trapped.  Then a woman--the artist/performer appeared and talked to the audience and to her creations and demanded that they show us a happy ending.  More images, then she climbed back into her video image twin and waved to us as a signal for us to applaud.  Then it was over.  But was it theatre? Or was it a film?

Certainly, the visual elements were captivating.  The perf was for ages 10 and up and it would seem to me that much of it would have frightened most 10 year olds that I know. (However, according to an  article in the Assitej journal, what is age appropriate for American children in comparison to children in most other parts of the world (particularly Europe) is very different.  What was missing was STORY and actors.  Like a giant video game, the series of images just kept coming at you, pulling you along for the ride.  But I was at the Theatre and I expected actors or at least live or shadow puppets.  Instead, I felt like I was at the movies and that the screens just happened to be on a stage interspersed with some dramatic props .  And when the actor/creator did appear for a few moments, the “acting” was so poor and the effect so anticlimactic, that it would have been better if she had stayed backstage.

Conclusion:  there is absolutely a way to utilize all of the technology that she employed heighten a theatre piece.  But I would have to begin with a compelling story and effective acting and then layer it with the multimedia effects.  It would be exciting for kids to see and would certainly draw them into the live theatre experience.

Risk Assessment #4 noted:  as indicated in the conference materials, we were to have been able to converse with the artist after the show.  This did not happen.  However, there will be an opportunity to meet with other participants to discuss our responses to the shows is various “Tea Time” moderated discussions.

The second show I saw was a South African piece called “Every Year, Every Day I Am Walking” (for ages 13 and up) about the growing number of children left homeless and dislocated due to ongoing African wars. Performed by two actresses, it was moving but over written.  It went on forever, repetitive scenes and motifs that could have been accomplished in 30 minutes instead of 70.  That said, the most interesting aspect was the use of VERY low-tech effects accomplished by the use of children's toys as props, cutout paper dollhouse scenery, a pop up wire mesh “city”  and real fire!  Yes, the actor literally burned the paper house down.  Flames engulfed it and it fizzled.  Again, at the end of the piece, she burned letters--this time in a metal tub.  The interesting thing was that the video fire in “2 Dimensional Life” was more real to me than the actual fire in “Walking”. The actual fire took me out of the theatrical zone and into worrying about whether or not the stage would catch fire while the video fire catapulted me deeply into theatrical super-reality.

I returned to Copenhagen by train, riding with a young woman from Philly who was studying theatre for the VERY young--ages 6 mos to 6 years.  There is a large contingent of folks here interested doing theatre for that age and a number of performances geared for that age group

After searching for a restaurant that was open (most close on Sundays) I returned to my local Cafe Oscar and talked the chef into making me pasta w/veggies.  I also had a delicious grilled shrimp skewer.  Oh how I long for food made without lots of butter and oil!  And, once again I was given a free steamed milk.  The kind barista could not bear to charge me for a latte without coffee

More to see and do on Monday.  Excited about the prospects!

OFF TO SWEDEN

After being awakened about 6 different times to the sound of numerous church bell "concerts" at all hours of the night and morning, I went down to the breakfast buffet for (yet again) yogurt, fruit, muesli and a little bread and cheese, tomato and cucumber.  In a few minutes I will be on my way to the train to Malmo, Sweden to see what I hope will be a brilliant production.  From Australia, "2 Dimensional Life of Her" (http://www.assitej2011.info/side.asp?lang=3&side=15&id=254) is the reason I was initially interested in coming to the conference.  From the program description, this performance artist does exactly what my fellowship research focus is all about.  She uses multi media (as well as visual arts techniques) to create a compelling theatrical experience.  Stand by for more after I see the show.

By the way, do not believe the weather channel (or any other) forecast for Denmark. According to today's online info, it is suposed to be sunny and 76 degrees.  At this moment, it is raining.  Good thing I brought a swell raincoat and umbrella!  (as soon as I typed this, the rain stopped and the sun came out.  Good thing my raincoat folds up into a small square and fits in my backpack)

UNFORESEEN PERKS AND PITFALLS: "risk assessment" come to life!

Last night was rough.  I had planned to go on the journey to Malmoe for the opening gala performance but I, like others who arrived terribly jet lagged and exhausted, did not make it there. I laid down to take a short nap and woke up too late to get to the bus that would take me to the train that would take me to the other train to Malmoe!  My original plan had been to spend the travel day and the next day recovering, getting to know the city and getting adjusted.  I was correct to make this plan and should have just given in to it.  (Risk Assessment #1 notated)  That is actually what has transpired.  Read on....  

After eating a small dinner of a smoked salmon sandwich (inferior bread--I only ate the bottom crust & too much mayo-based "herb cream"), I fell asleep in what seemed to still be the light of day at about 9:30 PM Denmark time (which was actually 8 hours earlier LA time) and woke up at 2:45 AM and could not get back to sleep.  The sky began to get light at around 4:45 AM and I was wide awake.  I began to get worried that I would not be able to sleep at all during this trip; I texted my family, full of angst, and a response came back to me from my son telling me to "relax".  This apparently did the trick, because I finally got back to sleep and slept for about 3 more hours until I was awakened by the church bells--there is a huge church behind the hotel and the bells ring day and night.  It's a good thing they only ring to mark the hours late at nite and from 1-6 AM, otherwise I would be doomed!  A bell concert is going on right now for no apparent reason; the second one within an hour.

After eating healthy choices from the massive  and delicious buffet that comes with the room charge, I spent all late morning and this afternoon solving my laptop charger problem (I had failed to bring a converter for the 220 voltage and my laptop was on the verge of battery demise).  I walked for blocks and blocks following several different people's directions to places where I could buy such an item.  I finally found the little electrical shop and a kindly man not only changed some of my Euros to Danish money (by the way, the festival organizers told us that we could use Euros everywhere in both Denmark and Sweden--wrong; no one wants to accept the Euros so all of my proudly acquired Euros are of no value; I am changing them. Through this quest however, I got to know the area, found a supermarket so I could buy some bottled water and a yogurt drink for my queasy stomach--traveling is hard on the digestion!

Back at the hotel, I plugged my laptop charger into the newly purchased converter and it worked for a few minutes---I actually got up to 31%!  Then the laptop stopped charging.  I was sooo frustrated.  I took it down to the festival center office, they charged it for me to about half battery and then I decided to go to the Apple store, thinking my charger was broken and that I needed to buy another one. Now at a real Apple store, the peppy salespeople would have been right on it, immediately diagnosing the problem before I had a chance to fully explain.  But this was a faux Apple store with a small section in the back of a video store reseved for Apple products and both of the young salesmen were a bit mystified by what to do.  It didn't help that their English was minimal and my Danish non-existent.  Luckily, a friendly teenage customer knew exactly what I needed.  He told them to give me the 220 piece that fits into the Mac charger.  It worked!  I was all set to buy it when the guy told me to keep it--no charge.  As I walked to the metro I realized that I have one of these at home in a drawer--it came with the laptop--I just never knew what it was for.  Oh well, at least now I have a functioning computer so I can continue to fulfill my blogging commitment.  (Risk Assessment #2 notated)

By the way, if you come to Denmark, do not expect to be able to find decaf in a restaurant or most coffee bars.  While my laptop was receiving its first charging, I went into the festival centre cafe for what I hoped would be my ritual cup of decaf with half soy milk and half non fat milk (my good friend who is a Pete's double espresso type calls it a "why bother") only to find that there was no decaf and no non fat or soy milk.  I settled for a cup of steamed (probably whole---horrors) milk and a pear. The young man behind the counter must have felt so sorry for me--he refused to charge me for the milk!

This festival is really labor intensive to navigate.  The theaters are very far apart and if you want to see multiple performances in one day you have to really plan your time efficiently.  The location of the presentation I was going to attend today got switched and I had to scrap if because I did not have enough time to get there.  I am going to have to give myself at least 2 hours tomorrow morning to get to Malmoe for the two performances I plan to see. (Risk Assessment #3 notated)

As I eat my dinner of asparagus, roasted new potatoes and grilled swordfish (a bit dry---ok, it's a hard fish to get just right but at $28.50 American, they should be able to pull it off), I am looking forward to a good night's sleep, a fully charged laptop (now up to 67%) and a full day of theatre and bus/metro and train travel.....

ARRIVED IN COPENHAGEN!

I have arrived after a very long and uneventful flight.  First from LAX to Toronto, then on to Copenhagen. The plane was an hour earlier leaving from Toronto than had been indicated on the itinerary and I almost missed it.  Luckily I listend to the boarding announcement carefully and ran to the gate just in time.

The festival team was delightfully helpful at the airport and I got to the hotel in record time by metro and bus.  Everyone is friendly and it is a gas to hear so many different languages being spoken all at one time.  Copenhagen, what little I have seen of it so far, is charming.  Very old, cobbled streets, beautiful gardens and a park right across from my hotel. The weather is unbelievably fair--not cold at all like I was expecting.  But it can change at any time I am told.

My hotel room is small, just enough for one person to feel cozy. It is an attic room with a window that opens for fresh air.  Very clean and simple.  I am going to journey to the festival center to check in later today, then on to the Malmo opera house of the opening gala performance event.

I forgot to bring a voltage converter so I may run out of battery for my laptop before long.  Will buy one tomorrow--for some reason everything is closed today.  It must be a holiday?  will find out.

More anon....

Finishing up and getting ready....

As luck (or fate) would have it, I have a performance going up at Sequoyah the night before I leave for Copenhagen!  A wonderful piece that I adapted from the same project I did last year at LACHSA---about children in Japanese American internment camps and a cut version of A Thousand Cranes about the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima.  Crazy busy (making final adjustments to a very simple slide show---I actually did my first power point without assistance) and soooo impressed with the studnets' work.  I am excited about the prospect of taking the mental images of their wonderful work with me to the festival.

On a sadder (frustrating) note, the First Year project at LACHSA performs when I am in Denmark.  I love the work I have created with the students (all of the first year teachers have taken on ancient creation and flood myths and I have also produced a student written "modern myth"------and will not get to see it (I have my final rehearsal with them tomorrow).  Luckily, I have wonderful and talented colleagues who will oversee the work in the final stages.

I wish I could take a group of students to perform for their peers in a far off land.  Perhaps my multimedia techniques will make that happen----even tho it will be from a distance.

ALMOST TIME TO TRAVEL!

I am getting more and more excited about my upcoming trip the the ASSITEJ theatre festival.  I was feeling a bit daunted by the thought of landing in the Copenhagen airport and having to sort out the logistics.  Although I am a great independent traveler, I haven't been abroad for many years and never totally on my own.   Then received an email from the conference team with details about how there will be a manned conference station at the airport and we will be guided to the ground transportation.  Very relieved.  Coincidentally, just heard a feature about Danish customs on The Splendid Table.  The Danes are apparently VERY into being "cozy", attentive and nurturing to their guests.  I am looking forward to being taken into the Danish fold!

AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY

I have just recently discovered a teacher retreat that will be a terrific compliment to my research question activities.  I am in the process of applying and fingers crossed, I will be awarded one of 12 FULLY FUNDED slots.  It takes place in August at Otis College of Art and Design and focuses on 5 days (free room, board and classes) of learning about using media arts.  Participants will learn pre-production, production and post production skills including editing--one of my most feared technological areas.

"This five-day intensive retreat is designed to reinvigorate educators teaching practices while expanding their art and design skill-set through a series of workshops, presentations and field trips. With a cadre of instructors who are experts in their field and access to state of the art facilities, participants will develop and produce a documentary/narrative short video throughout the week."

Unbelievable.  A perfect fit!

Am actually enjoying writing the proposal.  Each student has to give a 20 minute presentation during the 5 days and part of our application must include the title of our presentation.

My title:  Using 21^st Century Multimedia Technology to More Fully Engage Students in the Exploration and Production of Live Theatre

Stay tuned for the outcome..........

HAMLET'S CASTLE

I have signed up for a tour to Hamlet's castle while at the conference.  It is one of the featured extra activities and I am planning to be a total tourist.

Here is a link to the castle website.  Looks grand and maybe (hopefully)  haunted????

http://www.copenhagenet.dk/CPH-Kronborg.htm

LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING EVERYONE ON APRIL 13

I am excited about meeting the other fellows at the event at Disney Hall this coming Wednesday.  Everyone's research question sounds interesting and the combination of perspectives will surely serve to both unite us and heighten our awareness of what is out there to explore.

On another note, I am continuing my quest to learn more about what to expect in Denmark and Sweden.  Have just learned that, according to a British journalist, the Danes are the happiest people on earth.   Will enjoy learning their secret! More to come........

THINKING ABOUT 2 DIMENSIONAL LIFE OF HER

 As I struggle to make a slide show for my current LACHSA project come together, I am thinking of how gratifying it wil be to be able to have the technical skills necessary to infuse my work with the kind of visual elements other artists come by easily.

One of the pieces i will see in Copenhagen is described below.  i can't wait!

"Fleur Elise Noble’s 2 Dimen­sional Life of Her is a per­for­ma­tive screen work par excel­lence… An essay on cre­ativ­ity, con­trol, manip­u­la­tion and ways of see­ing, 2 Dimen­sional Life is witty, tech­ni­cally deft and engross­ing, offer­ing more dimen­sions than its big­ger fes­ti­val coun­ter­parts.“

Keith Gal­lasch, Real Time

Win­ner of the 2010 Green­room Award for Video Design (The­atre — Alter­na­tive and Hybrid cat­e­gory), 2 Dimen­sional Life of Her is a visual per­for­mance made of draw­ing, ani­ma­tion, pup­petry, pro­jec­tion and paper.

Set in an artist’s stu­dio, a richly imag­ined par­al­lel world is awoken where every­thing that was thought to be still or flat becomes some­thing else. Her draw­ings repro­duce them­selves, drift between sur­faces and move in and out of three dimen­sions. She loses con­trol of her cre­ations and absolutely any­thing becomes possible…

Illu­sion­ary, cap­ti­vat­ing and cheeky, 2 Dimen­sional Life of Her won Best in Show in the Under the Radar pro­gram at the Bris­bane Fes­ti­val 2008. This show is 98% visual and runs for 40 min­utes and is suit­able for ages 4 and up.

EXCITED AND LOOKING FORWARD!

I have now booked my conference package, my travel pass, 5 performances, a tour to Hamlet's castle, my hotel and airfare!  The whole trip seems very real and totally exciting.

As I follow the webpage, I can see that the conference is filling up and that more and more participants are signing up everyday.  I am interested to learn who they are, from which countries and from what backgrounds they come.  I can't wait to dialogue with theatre artists from all over the world!  Will investigate and report back

On the food front, just heard an American baker talk about Danish rye and the wide varieties of breads available in Denmark.  Will look forward to sampling those!

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

I tried to pay for my conference registration yesterday and kept receiving an error message.  Very frustrating, especially since I have to turn in my updated budget and timeline by Wednesday!

I emailed the conference registration team and they responded, saying there were some internal bugs in their system that should be fixed by now.  Will resume the effort tomorrow, along with looking into booking my flight which I hope will go more smoothly than the first attempt (SAS did not recognize the conference code and would not give me the discount --more on that when it is resolved)

MY FIRST BLOG!

I cannot describe how excited I am to have received this fellowship!  Am in the process of registering for the ASSITEJ conference and am looking forward to spending a whirlwind 9 days in Denmark and Sweden seeing theatre, networking, meeting other theatre artists (and seeing Hamlet's castle).  There are so many exciting productions on the schedule.  My fellowship focus leads me to see an Australian interactive performance piece and several other productions featuring multimedia.  More about these soon.

And of course I can't lie---I am looking forward to eating some delicious Scandinavian food--especially the fish.

Need to book my hotel now.  More later.