Month: March 2017

One of the key research points in my projection testing was seeing if it is possible to project a live stream between two different people; to have myself and the summoned ghost communicate directly, and allowing for a further degree of audience interaction. In order to see if this was possible, I set up a video call between myself and another person, projecting the results into a wall. From this, I learnt that it is in fact possible to project a live stream in this way. The video call was displayed from the projection, and was reacting to my movements in real time.

One that might occur during the live stream of the event is the possibility of a delay. A pre-recorded video can be timed perfectly to the script, creating a true conversational flow. Whereas doing it live could create a delay between the 2 conversation halves, making it seem less natural and more disconnected. To further this, if the connection drops during the presentation, then there will be no way to recover, and the Seance will end prematurely. This can not happen with a pre-recorded version. Although a pre-recorded version could be used as a back up in case of a lost connection, there would be no way to seamlessly link the two, breaking the illusion of having a real person there.

The environment used is another issue that will be faced by a live show. If the item is pre-recorded, it can be done in the same location, making it look like it is taking place in the location, or the background can be keyed out completely, making it not appear in the production, as learnt from the previous tests. However, for a live show, the projected person will have to be elsewhere. This location will have to look just like the location that the actual show is taking place, in order to make it feel real. The background could not be removed in a lifestream, and would have to match up perfectly; else it will be too obvious that the ghost is elsewhere, and not in the room with the guests.

 

After testing out the PicoPix, I tested a range of other desktop projectors in order to compare there effectiveness to the PicoPix.

An advantage of the PicoPix is its internal memory, meaning it doesn’t to have to be plugged into a source to work. The desktop projectors require a source to work. However, this gives them an advantage as it allows them to display a wider range of content, as it can display anything that is present on the source device.  To use these projectors, the source, as well as the projector, will need to be hidden from the audience.

One main advantage of being connected to a source device is the ability to display live content, such as a video call. This is not possible on the smaller PicoPix.

However, unlike the PicoPix, the desktop projectors lack the ability to display sound. This means that the sounds will come from the projectors source. although this could be a disadvantage, a laptop source can connect to an external speaker, allowing the audio to come from closer to the final image output. By coming from the projector, the audio is coming from a different location to the final image. An external audio output will be more ideal, to keep the audio and visual elements together.

The size of the projectors make them harder to hide than the PicoPix, and they have large fans in order to keep them working over large periods of time, such as the final exhibition. The presence of these fans means it could be dangerous to cover the projectors, as this could result in over-heating. This will mean that the projectors will have to be integrated into the environment or left out in the open. Not hiding the projectors is a more ideal solution in the final exhibition, then covering them and risking them shutting off. Ensuring that the projectors work is the main priority, and hiding them comes second.

To practice ahead of my ghost tour, I used the Phillips PicoPix to experiment with projecting pictures. By practicing in different settings, I can determine what works, and what doesn’t, ahead of the final piece.

The PicoPix allows for images to be stored directly onto the projector. This means it does not have to be connected to a device in order to display an image, making it easier to hide the device, as opposed to a big projector, as it does not need to be connected to a computer.

The first thing I experimented with was backgrounds, to see what wouldn’t show up when projected. The colours I experimented with were black and white. The black blended into the background, where as the white stood out too much. However, pictures with no background looked the best when projected.

The next element I experimented with was lighting. Obviously, the darker the room, the brighter the projected image would be. The darkness also adds to the atmosphere of the haunted setting. However, the images can still be seen when the lights are on. These are harder to see and look more faded, which could work well with the spectral aesthetic. This use of lighting can be used to create a contrast between the different ghosts in the event. It can also be used to ‘hide’ a ghost, and then bring it into the fore-focus by dimming the lights, and making the projected image stand out more. The distance of the projector from the surface the image is being displayed on also has an effect on the brightness. The closer to the surface, the brighter the image. However, this makes the image smaller. Distance will be a key part to consider, in order to get the correct balance of brightness to image size.

Positioning was the next element I experimented with. A key part of creating the illusion is hiding the projector. In order to do this, I tried shining the projector onto a mirror, and then using the reflection as the final projected image. I was able to reflect the image onto the intended surface, giving me more options when looking to hide the projectors in the exhibition. By angling the mirror, I am able to direct the image further from the projector location. This could allow for the projector to be hidden in a location the audience would not expect, making the appearance of the image more of a surprise and make the source easier to disguise. However, this could have negative effects on brightness due to the increased distance. If the source is hidden too well, then the audience could walk in front of it, breaking the illusion.