Concept Development - testing wallpaper!

With the 'random factor' code not working on the internet, but only on 'presentation' mode in Processing, I decided to move from the digital to the analogue arena. In order to bring life to the project I added sound to the vision in the form of music. From my ibook in a studio, I would project the 'wallpaper' and add music and movement.

This first test was based around David Bowie's 1977 song "Heroes" for which Brian Eno composed the music. Supposedly Bowie watched two lovers by the Berlin wall and thought of them as 'heroes' divided by the concrete. Bowie was living in Berlin around this time trying to detox from the fast life of L.A.

My first interpretation of the song is based on a quote from a Neil Hannon song called 'The Beauty Regime' (Divine Comedy - Regeneration, March 2001). Halfway through the song Neil sings:

"If your life, depresses you, just live it through, your favourite movie star..."

I'm never going to be a movie star, but I liked the idea of surrounding myself with my favourite actors and placing myself at the centre of it all - a hero, just for one day!

There is also something quite obsessive about the backdrops - like what one would see on a school girl's folder, visually expressing a teenage crush. Another feature of the work is the 'media-overload' of images. We can't escape Hello magazine, even if we don't buy it!

Using Processing, the 'random factor' script that I wrote and images from Google I created these 1000 x 700 pixel 'backdrops' that were then projected onto a space in my studio. Of course these images were borrowed as I am only a 'wee' MA student. But if I had the backing, I would purchase them officially from stock photography albums. For now, they are published behind my password area on this site, for your eyes only.

The illustration below explains how the actual movie was made. It was complicated to set up due to the angle of the projector and the camera. As this was the first film I only had a few backdrops. The next stage will use all of them in one shoot.

Below are stills from the first 'trial' movie. I used 'Ashes to Ashes' first (as I like dancing to it!). But the next movie will be "Heroes". If you have the patience, you can view the video, although it might take some time to download.

I was not expecting a silhouette when I made the video. It does look a bit like the Ipod adverts. Hopefully I will move away from this in the final as it will be more movement than dance.

Of course I credit Mr. Bowie for the use of these songs and in no way are these being published for public use (password protected), and all photos and original music are borrowed for this MA project only.