for this version I tried to focus on content- communicate the ideas and be brief at the same time-
questions:
1. is the content understandable?
2. does it add to the context of the piece?
3. is it too dry and straightforward?
4. does it make sense?
5. does the aesthetic need to be more "refined"?
password: interlude
Sunoh Interlude from Sandra Chatterjee on Vimeo.
1. is the content understandable?
ReplyDeleteyes! It's spoken thoughtfully and sweetly. I think the "in charge" and "in charge of her body" are parts that people will grasp and I like the word "radiating" just as an image that creates a feeling.
2. does it add to the context of the piece?
Absolutely. I especially like how you say you're only seeing things in fragments. Maybe there's a way to allude to seeing the sections as we post them on the blog, so that's why it's fragmented.
3. is it too dry and straightforward?
No, I think it's sweet and compelling. It would be nice to somehow place it in a way that we know it's a long distance thing...like with a skype ring at the beginning or some other computer interface.
4. does it make sense?
to me, yes. It really sets up Hidden Tamarind nicely, but now I don't think we're doing the piece as we had originally imagining it...maybe more as a part of the pre-show. Instead we're thinking this might go before Ranri....So we might need to slightly rethink the content. Cynthia had some ideas and I think will tell you in her comment.
5. does the aesthetic need to be more "refined"?
no, I like it raw and intimate and thoughtful, as it is!
1. is the content understandable?
ReplyDeleteYes! Sound is very clear, and it all makes sense. :)
2. does it add to the context of the piece?
It demonstrates our feedback process, our different positionalities, and our/your perception of the courtesan. I agree with Shy’s thought about the Skype ring.
3. is it too dry and straightforward?
I think it is beautifully performed. Love how we can see you thinking but you did it all in a minute!
4. does it make sense?
It makes sense by itself, but I think its content may have to be reshaped a bit for the piece that follows and the arc of our show (which goes from lightest to heaviest emotionally...exactly the chronological opposite of how the material was developed).
As Shy mentioned, your response sets up hidden tamarind beautifully. But at the moment we are thinking of putting hidden tamarind in the pre-show: one of us would offer private courtesan dances for a dollar. Currently we were thinking to put your response between The Thorn, the Leaf, and the Butterfly and Ranri. However, we are thinking to revise Ranri so that taking off the sari becomes an act of discarding widowhood and an act of sensuality...and that it would end with Rasulanbai longing and moving towards the visual image of the tawaif projected on the back wall. This is not quite the radiant courtesan who plays with her audience, but it is a more complicated version of her than Ranri originally showed.
One fix might be revising your content slightly – I was thinking of our Skype call, when you said it was important to show both the sensually empowered courtesan and to acknowledge the abuse. Perhaps then your feedback to us is to show both sides of the equation: the courtesan in her full complexity?
Alternately, if you were to do a more choreographic response, and show yourself performing your vision of the radiant courtesan (something similar to hidden tamarind in its attitude, but not so long), that would also work.
5. does the aesthetic need to be more "refined"?
No, unless you felt like doing the choreographic response I mentioned above.
Babli, Shy and I just had a really nice rehearsal session on Ranri. It really emphasizes her sensuality now. If you don't feel like re-doing it, I think that it might work to use your footage as is now! If so, could you send the video to us via Dropbox (or any other electronic method of choice)?
ReplyDelete