Jonathan Burrows & Matteo Fargion Test Filming

Jonathan Burrows & Matteo Fargion

Test Filming May 2012

In preparation for the three filming days (16, 17 and 18 May 2012) Nik Haffner had distributed notes following the April 2012 research meeting. Day one was scheduled to film fragments of Both Sitting Duet & Speaking Dance. Day Two for The Quiet Dance & Counting to One Hundred. Day Three for Cow Piece, Cheap Lecture and the new work One Flute Note.
Jonathan & Matteo performing fragment of 'Counting to One Hundred'. Photo: Jessica Schäfer

The aim was to film in a similar “lab atmosphere” used to shoot the material of Deborah Hay. This meant filming for both computer vision and material that might later be published online. Jonathan and Matteo's material incorporates sound from multiple sources, clapping, vocal utterance, objects, musical instruments, pre-recorded, etc. so accurate audio recordings were critical. All recordings would need to be synchronised using both hand held clapper and a QR pattern shown to each camera.  
Florian Jenett, Dietrich Krüger (seated preparing for the audio recording), Martin Streit, Jonathan Burrows. Photo: Jessica Schäfer

For an impression of the lab set up, see the short videos at the end of this report. Piecemaker (operated by Martin Streit) was used to record and make notes during the fragment recordings. And the scores Jonathan and Matteo use in performance were photographed and scanned (these are all available on their website Seven Duets). A list of all fragments recorded during the May test filming and notes for the final September filming can be downloaded here.
Martin Streit filming the QR pattern. Photo: Jessica Schäfer

Because Jonathan & Matteo perform much of their material in a relatively confined space (sitting or standing) their project made more sense for using Microsoft's Kinect system as compared to Deborah Hay's. Setting up and running the Kinect system was taken over by Svenja Kahn & Jens Keil from score partner Fraunhofer IGD. Through participation in Microsoft's Kinect for Windows Testing and Adoption Program (TAP), Svenja and Jens were able to use and give feedback on pre-public release software for the Kinect.
Florian Jenett, Jonathan Burrows and Matteo Fargion with the two Camera Kinect setup in the foreground. Photo: Jessica Schäfer

The pre-release Microsoft Kinect software made it possible to record Kinect data first and then to estimate the human poses in a post-processing step -- something which was not possible with their public version at that time. Svenja Kahn's detailed report on the Kinect Setup and Recording for Jonathan & Matteo's test filming including information on Spatial Calibration and Camera Synchronisation as well as the feedback for Microsoft can be downloaded here.
Kinect screenshot of Matteo Fargion. Photo: Jessica Schäfer

Video Impression: Test Filming Jonathan Burrows and Matteo Fargion
Video: Anna Berger

Video Impression: Test Filming Jonathan Burrows and Matteo Fargion
Video: Anna Berger

Video Impression: Test Filming Jonathan Burrows and Matteo Fargion
Video: Anna Berger

Jonathan Burrows & Matteo Fargion Process Documentation Pages:

http://motionbank.org/en/content/jonathan-burrows-matteo-fargion

http://motionbank.org/en/event/jonathan-burrows-matteo-fargion-research-sessions

http://motionbank.org/en/event/jonathan-burrows-matteo-fargion-test-filming

http://motionbank.org/en/event/jonathan-burrows-matteo-fargion-guest-performances

http://motionbank.org/en/event/jonathan-burrows-matteo-fargion-final-filming

http://motionbank.org/en/event/jonathan-burrows-matteo-fargion-score-production-sessions

http://motionbank.org/en/event/live-online-2013-report