The Photon Ballet $15 March 13, 2007

$15
or join Siggraph for $35 (Computer Animators Society)

Los Angeles ACM SIGGRAPH Chapter:
presents
2nd Tuesday, MARCH 13, 2007 –
The PHOTON BALLET

With Thomas Dolby,
Frank Serafine,
Matt Venuti
Donna Sternberg, digital artists Michael Masucci & Kate Johnson of EZTV,
Marco Schindelmann, Director of the Synthetic Theatre,
“LITTERATI”
and ART INSTALLATIONS. .. including Mr. Sander Wolff and the Maxxon Paint Artists

MAIN STAGE :
Thomas Dolby,
Sole Inhabitant Tour
In the late 1970s, synths and electronic music were the exclusive province of superstars, academics, and seasoned studio pros. Then came a new generation of young rebels, led by Thomas Dolby. Thomas Dolby and his songs are living, breathing entities. They have grown and matured. What is a state: of: the: art gizmo today may sound dated tomorrow; Dolby has always kept timeless fundamentals: evocative timbres, thoughtful lyrics, and memorable melodies: at the heart of his music. His current live show offers an opportunity for both artist and audience to get back up to speed with his classic material... before the next leg of his absorbing journey commences. His performance at the Photon Ballet will include a three: piece horn section and a jaw: dropping real: time sequencing performance, enhanced by the multimedia visuals created by VJ Johnny Dekam. A fitting return to the stage for one of the pioneer artists of the MTV generation.

Frank Serafine
Accomplished sound designer / supervisor Frank Serafine, whose credits include “"Star Trek" films, "Tron", "Brainstorm", "Addams Family" "Poltergeist 2", "The Fog"" "Virtuosity" "The Day After" and "Hunt for Red October", etc., will perform while generating visuals. A great deal of cleverness and "thinking outside the box" is often required to create sound effects that exhibit a good match to arbitrary visual elements. Serafine has done this successfully, time and again, for years-on projects ranging from theatrical motion pictures to themepark rides. In addition, Serafine is a classically- trained musician with a long history of credits in a number of different genres, including jazz, rock and symphonic scoring.

Matt Venuti, (of the Venusians)
Matt Venuti, founder of the SF based Venusians that were favorites of Anon Salon/Sea of Dreams, Burning Man, Craigs List, Squid List and early tech events is an original and one of a rare breed to musician: technologists who are able to use technology for maximum emotional impact. When you hear his hypnotic grooves and rhythmic textures, you might not be aware that you are listing to an EVI (electronic valve instrument) that sounds as much like a fine string section in one moment as it does a thrash guitar in another. Played like a trumpet, it's always amazing to watch (as he demonstrates so aptly on stage or at NAMM). With Matt's original compositions, you can be taken anywhere, and it's often a great surprise where you end up. His latest venture is in the world of the "Hang," (pronounced "hong"). This is a hand: played steel: drum like instrument that looks something like a flying saucer. And like a flying saucer, Matt's playing is likely to transport you to some other world. He'll be playing a little of the Hang as well as his EVI along with pre: sequenced tracks at Photon Ballet.
current release: Dance of Helix.
The Hang

Donna Sternberg, digital artists Michael Masucci & Kate Johnson of EZTV, Donna Sternberg & Dancers's piece:
10 minute excerpt from the evening: length "Rage to Know": a live multimedia dance collaboration between choreographer Donna Sternberg, digital artists Michael Masucci & Kate Johnson of EZTV, and astrophysicist Ken Philips, Ph.d of the California Science Museum. The project combines elements of contemporary Quantum Physics and String Theory, with contemporary dance and 3D & 2D digital animation & video. This excerpt will feature interaction between four dancers and the Lightcrane(tm) mobile video projections systems created by Masucci.

Marco Schindelmann, Director of the Synthetic Theatre,
“LITTERATI”
Featured Artists: MLuM
Guest Artists and/or Particpants: FLOOD; Scary Culture; RCC Dancers
Brief Description: Synthetic Theatre
Dancers and singers are on stage with white paper sets and costumes. Upon which projections will be cast. Paper will be all torn up as part of performance, making shattered projections. As a matter of convenience, 'clean up' is also part of the choreography. Also, there will be video feedback interactive with musicians.

Marci Javril
Her transmutated image was splashed in multiple trails across giant video projection screens in the late 80's. She solo choreographed specific movement forms to interact with Technology, using real: time computer animation & image processing by Ed Tannenbaum, and collaborating with other artists using the Fairlight Computer Video Instrument: both precursors of the VideoToaster (1984: 92).
She is now an expert (hula) DanceHoop'er and can improvise an incredible mix of dance theatre with technology.
Her article published in Whole Life Times & a brief hoop.mov from
Burningman 2005: www.VitalEnergyCenter.com/burningman.html

Mr. Sander Wolff: "Transduction"
Founder, LongBeachCulture.org, could do solo on digital electronic drum sculpture (which triggers simultaneous water fountain display projection, put in to a timed sound.

Maxxon - Paint Artists will demo BodyPaint 3D and allow audience interactivity. 3D Painting, Texturing, UVW Editing for all Professional 3D apps Forget flat compromises and paint in three dimensions. BodyPaint 3D offers the ultimate control over your materials and textures with complete layers, filters, real-time ray-trace painting and tablet support - all optimized for working in 3D. BodyPaint 3D offers direct translation plugins for Maya, Softimage XSI, 3ds Max, and Lightwave.

sponsors include:
MICROSOFT
EZTV
MAXXON

PRODUCERs : Joan Collins Carey, Robert Gelman, Michael J.
Masucci, & Mark Bava, & the SIG: ART Co: Chairs: Sheriann Ki Sun Burnham, and Jennifer Grey

Official Website: http://la.siggraph.org/html/index.htm