NinaAnnotation

what?

It's a recording of a rehearsal of theatre play Beyond our power in The National Theatre in Oslo. In this scene the main character is getting shot with a revolver. He is in a wheelchair, the shooter is not. This scene is about terrorist attacks and in what ways can we fight the evil. The character with the gun takes the rights to kill a person who puts so many other people under misery and pain, but why does that? Can you ever stop the evil? Is it ever okay to kill for a higher cause?

In this scene the effect doesn't work, and the blood doesn't spread from the chests so the vfx team runs up and trys to understand what is the issue, and gets the blood to flow.

how?

This effect with the blood is done by the VFX person. We have tried it before with another person in a rehearsal space, because somenone has to press the button for the blood to be splashed. This is the first time we have tried this action on stage, we tried both the blood and the scene atmosphere. I have filmed it because nobody else was. This was may a way to memorize the act and the process of rehearsals in Oslo.

why?

Every thatre play is a unique act, it is inimitable. Repetitions might appear similar to each other, but because it's a live act, it is always influenced by many things, like actors' mood, audiences' response, public atmosphere, ... So when the show is over the audience can only use their memory, since they are part of a once in a lifetime experience. By filming it, I will have this memory recorded, so that I can remeber it and see it as many times as I want. But it is interesting how impossible it is to also record the atmosphere.

choices?

We were trying out how this scene would take place on stage, it was the first time we were trying it on stage with this actor. We had the whole vfx team there, because it was one of the last rehearslas before they were cancelled due to covid. We decided to work with the actor who was shot, so he would be able to rehears that, but the shooter was not the original actor.

what came before?

We had a trial shooting in a rehearsing space with the stage management department, because they do this a lot for movies, but not so much for theatre. So it has to work properly everytime you use it. Although this director is not hidding anyting that happens on stage, so if it went wrong that would also become part of the show.

what will follow?

The show was not finished, because Norway got into a very strict covid lockdown in the middle of rehearsals, which were than cancelled in the middle of February 2021. We don't know if this show will ever be finished and realized. In case it is, it might be completely different since theathe is also a reflection of conteporaniety and personal stages of everybody engaged.

3 questions from the question generator

What are its limits?

We started to work on the show during covid and were not able to finish it. At the moment the theatre and this auditorium is being renovated, so it would be in another place if realised. Money is also a limit, as it is a big show.

How does it change?

As I said before if we start a new version, it will be different because theatre is always a reflection of the time in which it is made. Also maybe we don't have the same actors, maybe the team is different and maybe it will be performed in another space. But these things are always exciting.

What would you change?

I want to see this play be made, so I would change the fact that we would have to stop. It talks about power and money, it is provocative in that way, so I am curious what would the show look like in the end. The tickets are expensive so people without the funds couldn't go, and therefore 'rich' people go to see a play that criticizes them.

https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/Methods30-11-22

Notes Lau:

What:

A recording of a rehearsal of theatre play. And Nina was assistent of the scenographer.

In this scene someone is getting shot with a revolver. Is it possible to stop evil?

How:

The blood effect was done by the VFX - men. The blood doesn’t spread. It was recorded by NIna’s phone.

Why:

In theatre it is not recorded. You will remember what you see. You’re part of this one of a limetime experience. Each time a theatre play is different.

Choices:

We were trying out how it looks on the stage. It was part of the rehearsals. It was the first time we were trying it.

What came before:

We were doing a dummie with stagemanagement-department.

What will follow:

We don’t know if this play will follow or if it will be canceled.

What are its limits:

Covid, we can’t finish it. Money-wise. It was a big show.

How does it change:

Maybe we are gonna do another one.

What would you change:

I would really like to see it played. It felt a bit provocative.