Projections in Theatre

Projections can enhance a performance, yet they can also make them look messy if not presented properly. Here are two examples of professional uses of projections.

War Horse
In War Horse they have a large screen that covers the whole stage for the whole performance so they can project whenever to make the performance more effective for both the audience and actors. They have six projectors; 3 sets of two projectors. To create an image they turn of two sets of projectors and with the remaining two make the first layer of an image using a square grid. Then the next two are turned on and they project on top and finally the last set do the same. The projectors are set up on a curved circle front, then using media server technology, they run the show. Using this they can morph and distort the image so the picture the audience sees, is what they artist originally intended.
As we do not have as many resources as a show like War Horse, we may not be able to use the same software. However some of their work may help with our projections. For example, they only use 6 projectors for a wide stage and this creates a precise, refined image. As our stage is on an even smaller scale we could project on a whole wall using very few cameras.

Travelling Light
For this performance they used a camera and projector combined as one, a devise made in the 1890s. However they needed a way to show their projections to the audience. To do this they needed to plan the set, the costume and the story; all important elements when creating multimedia. They decided to do a film shoot to create a group of recordings- filming them almost like a real film. They filmed very simply on a film camera as they wanted an honest and real experience for the audience. However they could create inventive shots without a lot of work; the simplicity made the piece more impressive.
When preparing for our performance of 1984 it will be important to plan what we need to do thoroughly. If we don't, our multimedia may get too complicated as we won't have a clear idea of what we want to achieve. Also, like in travelling light, we need to take into consideration the story, costume and space to make our multimedia as effective and smooth running as possible.