Finding filming and manipulation of moving image very entertaining, I get repeatedly involved in creative collaborations. Two most frequent ones are with Efthymions Chatzigiannis and Ana Barbour. These allow me to explore the world of VJ-ing and digital story telling with help of the latest audio visual technologies.
I also co-manage Oxford based Adobe User Group – Premiere and Post Oxford. This helps me to stay up-to-date with continuously changing world of digital media.
SYNAESTHETICS
Synaesthetics is a collaboration between myself (VJ) and Efthymios Chatzigiannis (music). It started back in 2008, when Tim was my trustworthy music supplier, composing tracks for my videos. With time, we shifted our collaboration from studio environment to live performances with real time processing of sound and video. In the meantime Tim converted me to Mac and Max/MSP, while I converted Tim to Android, Kinect and Audition. Influenced by Tim’s attraction to glitches and malfunctions I started collecting error screens from any device and software available.
Throughout our never ending conversations about how video parameters and effects can be represented by sound characteristics and vice versa, we got to the point when we decided to try and do it in practice and we labeled our collaboration in this field as Synaesthetics.
It is in front of an audience rather than during rehearsals that we first stumbled upon what we had been really looking for. Since that time we have been intensively exploring the intertextual relationships between vision and sound, through an investigation of the similarities and differences between audio and video processing techniques.
My usual way to create visuals is through collaboration with performers as well as through design of motion graphics and real time effects with the help of software like Max 6/Jitter, After Effects, AVmixer Pro, live camera and a range of controllers (Korg, Kinect).
COLLABORATIONS WITH ANA BARBOUR AND MALCOLM ATKINS
In 2009 Ana invited me to join her to work on a film for Danc’in’Oxford 2010 festival. Ana had seen my previous work and she trusted my camera and editing skills. I was pleased with the invitation as I liked Ana’s strong stage presence and choreographic vision. We teamed up with Malcolm Atkins, whose song features in the video, and Peter Green, who helped with technical aspects of the production.
Over next months we experimented with different light settings and choreography concepts. Finally we shot the whole film in one day, having eight dancers on the floor.
Since that time we keep collaborating and my role has expanded from camera work and editing to creation of real time projections using live camera and pre-made animations.
“MY TIME”
A live performance, combining dance, live camera, motion graphics and pre-recorded videos to express the impact of physical degeneration on the dancing body. The production is commissioned by Pegasus Theatre and Oxford Dance Forum for their ‘Moving with The Times’ programme for the Dancin’ Oxford festival 2011 and is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
CREDITS: Ana Barbour (choreographer, performer), Dariusz Dziala (live camera, VJ, motion designer), Malcolm Atkins (soundtrack).
DATES/VENUES: 10-11 March 2011 / The Pegasus Theatre, Oxford, as a part of “Moving with the times” event.
PRESS: The Oxford Times (03/03/2011), The Oxford Times (16/03/2011).
“STILL STANDING” is one of the continuing themes of “My Time”. The piece was performed as a part of “Matrix” performance on the 2nd and 3rd of June 2001 at the Pegasus Theatre.
CREDITS: Ana Barbour (choreographer), Dariusz Dziala (motion designer, video), Malcolm Atkins (soundtrack), Ségolène Tarte, Paola Esposito, Fabrizia Verrecchia, Paul Mackilligin, Ayala Kingsley (dancers).
PRESS: The Oxford Times (08/06/2011).
“FOOTAGE”
An experimental dance video, that has been originally made for Danc’in’Oxford 2010.
CREDITS: Ana Barbour (director), Dariusz Dziala (DOP), Malcolm Atkins (soundtrack), Peter Green (technical support).
SCREENINGS: Dancin`Oxford 2010, OxDox 2010, Xtend V – Dance for Screen (2011).
PREMIERE AND POST OXFORD (ADOBE USER GROUP)
Adobe user groups were launched in Oxford in 2008, giving local creatives an opportunity to addend free monthly meetings that allow improving knowledge on all aspect of digital media production.
Soon after the launch I started attending the groups’ meetings mainly seeking an opportunity to improve my skills. A chance to win an Adobe software bundle and and opportunity to network with people involved in creative industries gave me an extra motivation.
In 2011 I was kindly invited to co-manage Premiere and Post Oxford group. The group focuses on all aspects of video production, covering topic such as camera work, sound and video editing, creation of 3D content and many others.
The members of the group have an opportunity to exchange knowledge presenting offering short tutorials on using Adobe software (but not only), discussing the trends in video production technology and make friends.
My list of presentations includes so far:
17th March 2011 – “After Effects Expressions” – presentation of expressions in After Effects, including the reasons of using expressions, syntax, applications, examples and tips how to use them to simplify video editing process.
14th June 2011 – a talk about creating content for VJ show using After Effects, followed by live performance together with Efthymios Chatzigiannis and a jam with Neil C Smith.
20th October 2011 – “Phone Apps for Filmmakers” – a presentation of apps that can be helpful in video production and are available on Android Market. The apps were shown using a Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone plugged into an HD projector.
(in preparation) – “Demystifying camera” – a presentation of main camera features and vocabulary related to cameras – both in real world and in software applications (i.e. After Effects). The presentation includes an evaluation of After Effects and Photoshop, which use camera features (motion blur, lens blur, distortions etc.).