While the theatre audience has a more holistic view of a stage performance it is also a static and distant perspective. Thus, film can uniquely bridge the gap between the performance and audience. However, when translating a stage performance to screen, the challenge is to create a film worthy of the live, physical dance experience of a theatre audience, an experience immediately altered when filmed.

Long used methods of filming a choreography created specifically for stage include long shots intercut with mid-shots and close-ups, often filmed facing the stage. Using this method leaves the long frames with small figures and little detail, whilst the mid-shots and close-ups typically fall within the discretion of the cameraman who decides what part of the choreography is seen and what part is not. This has the effect of creating a new choreography, different from actual choreography that is being filmed.

Opal Productions’ concept consists of filming both on and off stage activities in parallel from both on and off stage angles during rehearsals as well as during the show. Later in edit we the use split screen to show the long shots which preserve the identity of the choreography in one screen whilst the mid shots and close-ups run at the same time in a second, smaller screen above, focusing on colours, texture and facial expressions. The following excerpt is a simple example and starting point for what can be accomplished when translating live dance onto two dimensional film using split screen. As it demonstrates, this technique can create transitions between the different aspects of a performance whilst keep the vibrancy and essence of the performance itself.



Title: Alice im Wunderland
(70:00mins, miniDV, 2007)

Art direction: Tracy Bernhardt
Director of the SC Eching Ballet department:
Waltraud Stoelzle
Choreographers: Tracy Bernhardt,
Nicole Gensberger, Lena Scholz
Performers:
SC Eching Ballet department
Light and sound: L.Lammel, M. Lammel, B.Lammel
Video production: Janine- Opal Fischer

Synopsis: Stage adaptation of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

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Title: Alice im Wunderland
(70:00mins, miniDV, 2007)














Quicktime is required to view the video.
Download it here