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Approaching an interactive audience

Multimeida productions

By Cindy Lam

Courtesy of Zuni Icosahedron

Lighting and stage design for the multimedia theatre production 2001: Hong Kong Odyssey.

Cindy Lam

Cindy Lam

Programs for the multimedia production M: Garden Kung Chi Suing

Every theatre performance is multimedia,” said John Wong, a digital image designer for the independent cultural collective, Zuni Icosahedron.

Mr. Wong defined multimedia arts with insight.

He feels performance and multimedia co-exist to produce a piece of art.

Said he: “Different arts have different emphases.

“For instance, the vocal part and the stage are the focus of operas; the plot and acting are the essence of dramas.

“For multimedia theatre, it’s multimedia that motivate creators.

“When producing multimedia theatre productions, we try to work on music, special sound effects, rhythms, lighting and stage installations. We call such attempts multimedia experiments, he said.
For example, Looking for Mies, a performance shown in August, was a multimedia music theatre which integrated digital arts, sound, electronic music and different media installations to show architectural concepts.

Another production, 2001: Hong Kong Odyssey, which was shown in late 2000, combined sound, images, text and body movements.

“Everything is special and unique,” said Mr. Wong.

He said Zuni’s aims are to explore and expand possibilities of different elements, and combine them into a piece of art. Looking for Mies was one example.

Mathias Woo, the director of this theatre production, was responsible for stage installations. He used 10 bars, each consisted of 150 fishing lines, as the projection screen of the images. This resulted in a 3-dimensional picture.

Added Mr. Wong: “If they are given 60 light bars, they will use all of the 60. If there is 600 square meters of stage area, they will use the whole area.”

Producers of multimedia theatre make an effort to explore new possibilities. Mr. Wong introduced the performance Sigmund Freud in Search of Chinese Matter and Mind, shown in February last year.

“In addition to multimedia experiments, the traditional Chinese opera Kunqu and advanced technology were blended.

“Based on Freud’s theories, the original scene from a masterpiece of the Ming Dynasty was interpreted in a new way.”

M: Garden, in which M stands for the theme of memory, is another multimedia production. It was shown in September.

Being the producer of M: Garden, Kung Chi Suing, gathered music, video imagery, theatrical gestures and spoken words in the performance.

Emphasis was put on music, with such types as avant-garade, classical and mainstream pop.

“The main hindrance is that there is no precedent,” said Mr. Kung. “Although I am not the first one to produce multimedia shows, others seldom use music as the main stem.”

Mr. Kung tried his best to enhance the quality of the multimedia production of M: Garden.

Being a classical and modern musician, Mr. Kung created a unique group of international artists.

He invited pop artists for the vocal and instrumental parts; an actor for story-telling; and experimental musicians, classical artists, movement coordinators, ballet and modern dancers for other parts.

For the technical parts, professional and experienced innovators were invited to handle videography, art direction, scenarios, costumes, lyrics and lighting design.

Teamwork is vital to the success of a multimedia performance.

“We spent much time cooperating with each other to bring out the theme,” said Miss Eman Lam, the vocalist in M: Garden.

“To combine elements efficiently and to produce an astonishing effect, teamwork is needed.”

“This theatre has really been everyone’s work,” stressed Mr. Kung.

So, fusing various components and dissolving boundaries, not only in the aspect of media applied, but also in the area of interpersonal cooperation, is a key characteristic of multimedia theatre productions.

Mr. Kung sees multimedia performances as a new theatre attraction.

He said multimedia theatre has become a trend, and this has opened a new format for presenting music.

Said he: “Nowadays, audience are reluctant to sit through a long theatre production.”

However, Mr. Wong of Zuni said theatre productions have not been widely appreciated, or even known by the public.

“They are based on concepts instead of a clear story or musical piece.

“They are so abstract that the audience should have certain background knowledge to understand the performances.”

Miss Lam of M: Garden agreed.

“On the one hand, sensational components touch the audience and makes multimedia arts special.

“On the other hand, not everyone has aesthetic sentiments to get the message. Many students ask what themes we have been trying to bring out.”

She said concerts might be a better choice for entertainment.

“There is a bigger audience in concerts, and everything is carried out more casually,” said Miss Lam.
Participating in the theatre, she feels under great pressure.

She thought M: Garden was so artistic that it required higher quality not only from audience but also from performers, because more interaction of components was needed.

Since Mr. Wong thought that multimedia performances are not very well-known by the publc, he has been involved in Zuni’s school programs to publicize this type of performance since 1988. “We provide information, discussions, suggestions and resources to stir up students’ interests in creative activities.”

The school program this year includes three stages: a demonstration of multimedia theatre, a series of workshops on multimedia experiments and a finale performance.”

Said Mr. Wong: “The audience plays a vital role. They are active, and even interactive.

“We never give a standard clarification to our themes. We allow the audience to think.”

Mr. Kung said, “Everyone has their own views and perspectives. I want my audience to find their own unique way to get involved.”

Rachel Mok Tsui Yee, who has worked in multimedia productions like M: Garden, said, “I do not fully understand them, but I really enjoy the process, especially the parts with multimedia experiments.

“I like the pattern, the presentation, and the room for imagination they provide for the audience.

“I love multimedia performances.”

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Cindy Lam	Cindy Lam

Programs for the multimedia production M: Garden	Kung Chi Suing
Every theatre performance is multimedia,” said John Wong, a digital image designer for the independent cultural collective, Zuni Icosahedron. Mr. Wong defined multimedia arts with insight. He feels performance and multimedia co-exist to produce a piece of art. Said he: “Different arts have different emphases. “For instance, the vocal part and the stage are the focus of operas; the plot and acting are the essence of dramas. “For multimedia theatre, it’s multimedia that motivate creators. “When producing multimedia theatre productions, we try to work on music, special sound effects, rhythms, lighting and stage installations. We call such attempts multimedia experiments, he said. For example, Looking for Mies, a performance shown in August, was a multimedia music theatre which integrated digital arts, sound, electronic music and different media installations to show architectural concepts. Another production, 2001: Hong Kong Odyssey, which was shown in late 2000, combined sound, images, text and body movements. “Everything is special and unique,” said Mr. Wong. He said Zuni’s aims are to explore and expand possibilities of different elements, and combine them into a piece of art. Looking for Mies was one example. Mathias Woo, the director of this theatre production, was responsible for stage installations. He used 10 bars, each consisted of 150 fishing lines, as the projection screen of the images. This resulted in a 3-dimensional picture. Added Mr. Wong: “If they are given 60 light bars, they will use all of the 60. If there is 600 square meters of stage area, they will use the whole area.” Producers of multimedia theatre make an effort to explore new possibilities. Mr. Wong introduced the performance Sigmund Freud in Search of Chinese Matter and Mind, shown in February last year. “In addition to multimedia experiments, the traditional Chinese opera Kunqu and advanced technology were blended. “Based on Freud’s theories, the original scene from a masterpiece of the Ming Dynasty was interpreted in a new way.” M: Garden, in which M stands for the theme of memory, is another multimedia production. It was shown in September. Being the producer of M: Garden, Kung Chi Suing, gathered music, video imagery, theatrical gestures and spoken words in the performance. Emphasis was put on music, with such types as avant-garade, classical and mainstream pop. “The main hindrance is that there is no precedent,” said Mr. Kung. “Although I am not the first one to produce multimedia shows, others seldom use music as the main stem.” Mr. Kung tried his best to enhance the quality of the multimedia production of M: Garden. Being a classical and modern musician, Mr. Kung created a unique group of international artists. He invited pop artists for the vocal and instrumental parts; an actor for story-telling; and experimental musicians, classical artists, movement coordinators, ballet and modern dancers for other parts. For the technical parts, professional and experienced innovators were invited to handle videography, art direction, scenarios, costumes, lyrics and lighting design. Teamwork is vital to the success of a multimedia performance. “We spent much time cooperating with each other to bring out the theme,” said Miss Eman Lam, the vocalist in M: Garden. “To combine elements efficiently and to produce an astonishing effect, teamwork is needed.” “This theatre has really been everyone’s work,” stressed Mr. Kung. So, fusing various components and dissolving boundaries, not only in the aspect of media applied, but also in the area of interpersonal cooperation, is a key characteristic of multimedia theatre productions. Mr. Kung sees multimedia performances as a new theatre attraction. He said multimedia theatre has become a trend, and this has opened a new format for presenting music. Said he: “Nowadays, audience are reluctant to sit through a long theatre production.” However, Mr. Wong of Zuni said theatre productions have not been widely appreciated, or even known by the public. “They are based on concepts instead of a clear story or musical piece. “They are so abstract that the audience should have certain background knowledge to understand the performances.” Miss Lam of M: Garden agreed. “On the one hand, sensational components touch the audience and makes multimedia arts special. “On the other hand, not everyone has aesthetic sentiments to get the message. Many students ask what themes we have been trying to bring out.” She said concerts might be a better choice for entertainment. “There is a bigger audience in concerts, and everything is carried out more casually,” said Miss Lam. Participating in the theatre, she feels under great pressure. She thought M: Garden was so artistic that it required higher quality not only from audience but also from performers, because more interaction of components was needed. Since Mr. Wong thought that multimedia performances are not very well-known by the publc, he has been involved in Zuni’s school programs to publicize this type of performance since 1988. “We provide information, discussions, suggestions and resources to stir up students’ interests in creative activities.” The school program this year includes three stages: a demonstration of multimedia theatre, a series of workshops on multimedia experiments and a finale performance.” Said Mr. Wong: “The audience plays a vital role. They are active, and even interactive. “We never give a standard clarification to our themes. We allow the audience to think.” Mr. Kung said, “Everyone has their own views and perspectives. I want my audience to find their own unique way to get involved.” Rachel Mok Tsui Yee, who has worked in multimedia productions like M: Garden, said, “I do not fully understand them, but I really enjoy the process, especially the parts with multimedia experiments. “I like the pattern, the presentation, and the room for imagination they provide for the audience. “I love multimedia performances.”