My notebook

Actually, I don't get use to record my research process, because in my country, our education style fouce on the final work not the process. So I use to remember everything in my mind. However, after I came here I realized that record research process is important as well. And then I try to do it on my notebook and online blog.

Here is some pages of my notebook:

I went to see BILLY ELLIOT.

I went to V&A and Harrods with my flat mate.

Case study-- Talking birds

the research about the stage design of Chinese opera in the past.

I interviewed my friend who study theater in Taiwan. 

Life-drawing

This term I attended life-drawing class. In the class we had to quick sketch the nude model (about 10~20mins). It was a challenge to me, because I have never ever sketch something so quick. I always draw slowly. However, after few classes I could do it! At least I could sketch about 60% in 15mins.

I think this course helped me to practice sketch something in a short time. Most important of all, I learned about how to measure a figure with a pencil. In next term I need to start to practice location drawing. I believe the skills what I learned in the course can help me when I sketch location.   

Here are some of my work:

Up-Close 2009-06-14 Production Designer Tim Yip-I CCTV-International

Up-Close 2009-06-14 Production Designer Tim Yip-I CCTV-International

Model making

This week superviser recommended me try to do model making. So I found a place, a corner  which is in front of Newton building.

I like the material of the well. Because the building is old, time left "something" on it. 

Actually, I have never done model making before. So I was so nerves when I started.

I bought lots of tools and materials and they were so expensive!!!!!! Anyway I spent one day to make it. I tried to paint on it because I wanted to create the old feeling. But the color was quit different.... I think my first model was not good enough. I have to improve my skills in the future!! I believe I can do it better!!!!

Here is the photos of my model:

And these are my notes:

Whatever, I really enjoy doing model making!!!!!!! It is so interesting!!!!!

Cool technology

I studied muti-media before. If I can I hope I can put some muti-media work in to the work what I am going to do. Few weeks ago I saw a cool clip on the Internat. It was a girl in a picture, and she tried to broke the frame. It was a little bit creepy but really cool.

This series was "Asylum door"

Here is another work. 

I think it is suitable to my work. Because in the story what I choose, Dou E became a ghost in the end. This kind of technology always can surprise audience. But the problem is I don't have much money to build it..... 

Music video (case study) --- What's The Trouble On Your Mind

What's The Trouble On Your Mind is a new song in Taiwan. When I saw the music video first time I could not stop crying, because the melody was so songful, the lyric was so touching and the image of the video was so beautiful. 

The production design of the music video was exceptional, the designer used the rooms which was not big and painted on the walls. It made rooms became many kinds of space. Especially, if you see this MV carefully, you will find out some of actors and actresses are fake, they are just part of the paintings on the wall. This design made audience feel like it seemed they were looking at paintings. But because of live actors and actresses, audience also could feel the reality in this MV. On the other hand, all the rooms were behind the frames. The whole space was a gallery.

Furthermore this song was talking about "life" so the design was very appropriate. The director lead audience in to gallery to see "life"; since life is live, the characters in the paintings are also live. That is why this MV is so impressive.

What's The Trouble On Your Mind by Sodagreen 

there's no flower that never dies‭ ‬

there's no‭ ‬tide that's always high

there's no light that always shines

what's the trouble‭ ‬on‭ ‬your mind


there's no scar that never fades

there's no wound‭ ‬that always stays

there's no desperation‭ ‬that‭ ‬won't go away

so why‭ ‬the sadness on your face


Time‭ ‬goes by without a trace‭ ‬

Life‭ ‬goes on without fanfare

Don't be afraid of any moment‭ ‬that you‭ ‬have

Life goes on and on and on


On and on and on and on

 

    

  

Site-specific (case study) --- The whale

The whale is one of talking birds's show. It's a 3 mins moveable show. The show is about a  sailor who want to communicate with his lover on the land. The most special thing about it is the mini show is played in a whale-shape submarine, so audience have to go in to the submarine.

It is cute!!! I always think "the show" should be long time and play for many audience, but the whale is different. They give audience another experience about "show". It's short, just one actor in it and happen in a small space. People can pop in when they see the submarine. Not like typical show but still cool!!!!  Whatever, I think I need to broke my stereotype of anything.

Space

My supervisor recommended me that I can start thinking about what kind of space I want to use. So yesterday I spent all night to read the original story and the film which was based on the story. The original story was really hard to read because the language was about 700 years ago. And I also read some background about the generation. It makes me understand more about "Injustice to Dou E ".

Here are locations in this story:

1. Dou E's house

2. Doctor Sai's Chinese herbal medicine shop 

3. Wasteland

4. Ancient Chinese court 

5. Scaffold

6. Dou E's father's room

Here are my conditions of the space:

1. The space is separate from morden city.
(Just like Disney land, if people cannot see the morden buildings, they will feel they are in the story.)

2. The space is big enough for people to walk around.

3. It is in a massive building.
(That I can control the light even temperature and smell.)


4. the all stage include outdoor and indoor. 

To be a volunteer

I went to be a volunteer last weekend and this weekend in London. What I did was helped a team which named "You Me Bum Bum Train" built their stage.

Here is their wedsite http://bumbumtrain.co.uk/index.php

Although I didn't get the ticket (those tickets were sold out so quickly) but it was really nice that I still could go to help them. Because I already signed the contract about I couldn't leak anything about the show, what I only could say is the stage is awesome!!!!

Went to be volunteer was interesting. I could see what were they doing before the open day. They taught me do some basic work such as well papering.

Anyway, when their show finish, I will write more about what I have learn from them.    

Guang-Yan Nieh

Guang-Yan Neih

Today I read a magazine which named Performing Arts Review (It is a Taiwanese art magazine). In the magazine there is a interesting article about Guang-Yan Nieh who is a well-known theater designer in Taiwan. It's talking about him experiences, idea and etc.

Although it was a short article, I still learn many things from it. 

Gunang-Yan Neih mentioned about "design" is when you face a specific situation and then you have to try to think about questions, find the answers and solve the problems in the end. On the other words, it's about deconstruct, analyzation, organization and creation.

What I do now is exactly what he said. I have to find the questions of my research and solve them. 

He said that theater was a place which for people to communicate, connect and interact.

People could get the experiences when they went to theater. So I think when I start doing my project the first thing is thinking about what kind of experience I what to give to my audience.

Every time when he does his disgen, he start from "his life" because performance is life. It is cool!! Combine life and design together.

I believed that people who is successful because of his/her attitude. It is good to learn their attitude!   

Chinese Opera

Injustice to Dou E is one of famous chinese operas. I know this story but I have never seen the chinese opera before. I find some clips on the Internat which are really fascinating. Anyway, although I don't want to design for the typical chinese opera. But I think know the knowledge of chinese opera will help me to do my project.

The stage design of chinese opera is very different from westen opera. Almost nothing on the stage; usually there are only one table and two chairs.

    

The table and the chairs can be anything. For example, some times the table can be a mouton, a bridge or a bed etc. But most of time the desk is a desk.

The table is a bed now!

At frist I wondered about why there are only few things on the stage, after I read some information I found out that was because in the past chinese opera was played in public space, the function of the stage should be easily moved. That why in chinese opera just few stuff on the stage. Nowadays, it became a characteristic. People enjoy use their imagination when they see the play.

Not only the stage but also props were simplified.  

This is a "house".

The person is riding a house. 

Chinese opera is amazing, it shows the beauty of Chinese culture. And I think use imagination is a good idea! Sometime if things are too real, it will become not interesting any more.