| S.C.O.U.P.E. TROUPE PRESENTS,
a film Be Gone Gishon Purpose Statement: Through art making, we will explore the power of personal transformation. This will bring about a sense of self-awareness for artists and audience. We are playing with the idea of personal transformation. The way to get there is two fold. To explain the steps we will be using broad terms that we are defining for our specific needs. One is meditation. We are using meditation here as anything that expands one’s reality. This type of awareness will give a new perspective on life for the participant and take them one step closer to self-awareness. The trick for this meditation process is to always come back to what your are learning. As soon as you get stuck in negativity then the transformation stops. Our picture of self-awareness includes an on-going effort to grow. The other broad term we are using is art making, which is a way to digest our experiences. In the making of art, no matter what the medium, it is a recording of an expression that can be saved and studied for further comprehension of the act. It is a way to reconcile emotions and their sources through symbols and images. Art making is an essential step for us in having personal transformation and growth. With the right combination of meditation and art making we think that personal transformation is inevitable. Our lives continue to grow and blossom into self-awareness which we invite our audience to take part in as well. Narrative: We have chosen a narrative to help ground our creative process into something that is tangible. This is the story of Adam & Eve, which includes within it a creation myth. Be aware that the act of creation in this story will also mirror our own creation process as sculptors/film makers. Through the process of creation there are always pairs of opposites. One perspective, and the awareness of it, cannot come into existence without it’s opposite. It is the power of becoming aware of an opposite perspective that brings about a stellar transformation. This dynamic is what we can call tragedy on the stage. It is a tragic thing to become aware of one’s opposite because it is a loss of innocence. (When making your film feel free to include humor. Often, as S.C.O.U.P.E. Troupe, we seem to have a tragic sense of humor, which is all fair game here.) For this reason of working in opposites we have decided to tell our story backwards. The actions will be shown in reverse. By this it is not meant that the two will un-eat an apple nor should anything be shown in reverse. Instead each artist will discover an action or scene that represents an opposite transformation. An un-tragedy or an undoing. We are operating under the assumption that the audience will already be familiar with the original story of Adam & Eve. When they see our “reverse” version it will already contain within it a sense of opposites. As the original story unfolds from the supreme consciousness of God manifesting into what we know as human life and interactions, each scene will have to be negotiated in terms of returning back to God. By working in this way we are avoiding the risk of getting caught up in the politics of this story. The controversial themes no longer hold their power because both the doing and the un-doing are included as options. The theme in the story that we do want to focus on is that of sexuality. Now, the significance of the story of Adam and Eve is the realization, for these two characters, of the implications of their sexuality. As the story unfolds we can see that pleasure is not simply a wonderful experience but has the potential to overwhelm or possess us to an extent that we are controlled by it. Adam and Eve, after they become aware of the decay and fragility placed upon them by eating the forbidden fruit, have the capacity for pleasure. This is the major changing point in the story where God becomes distant to them. It is by focusing here that we can unlock the mysteries of personal transformation in our own version of the story. Each artist is asked to investigate the story of Adam and Eve (it is very short) and discover key elements of the transformation that takes place when the two eat the fruit. We have chosen film to represent our art making. This way, we can delve into the imaginary scenes and sets that make up our myth while still remaining portable in our display methods for the audience. Each scene will be given out to one or a team of creative visionaries to come up with their desired result. Kjell and Tom are overseeing this project as the co-curators/directors of the whole production. When each team finishes their given scene, it will be our job to edit everything into one full production. As collaborators, please be aware that what you give to Kjell and Tom may end up looking different than what you originally thought. The scenes will be given out with very minimal information. The creative teams will not have contact with each other during the filming process. Only in the end will you be able to see the full scope of our joint efforts. That way, the content is free to be expressed in unique ways, un-inhibited by what comes before or after. If you have any questions as you go feel free to check in with Kjell and Tom about details. YOUR ASSIGNMENT (if you choose to accept it): Take your set of scenes and make a video of (approx.) 5 minutes length per scene. (This gives room for the final edit). Everyone will do the apple scene, two scene of your choice (if possible), and a shorter clip of the opening sequence. (We will be contacting you about which scenes are available for you to choose from.) The opening sequence is abstract in nature as it has to do with the cosmos. We want everybody to contribute some footage towards creating an awesome opening sequence. This will also give a sneak preview of all of our working styles. When you look at the break down of the scenes below, it is the first two scenes that we are talking about here. These shorter clips can be of 1 minute in length per creative team. In each scene you will be given the basic narrative sequence and then you turn it into the “undoing” of that action. Remember, we are looking for a sense of opposites as a way of returning to an all expansive God, literally in the story and logistically as art makers. As this expression can become very abstract, please ask Kjell and Tom any questions about your specific scenes. As you begin your process, keep in mind that we are operating under the guise of “sculpture.” What that means is that the physicality of the visuals carry a lot of weight. This is still a very open pallet. Sculpture can carry within itself any medium including time. The text that we are providing gives the names of characters and places in your scene descriptions. It is important to include all of these given elements in your personal version of the scene. This does not have to be a literal translation. You are free to make changes with your creative licensing. The important part here is that you portray the essence of these elements and their relationships with each other. A first draft of your video clips are needed no later than September first, 2007. Please send a high quality QuickTime format video to Kjell and Tom. That way we have time for editing. The draft that we receive should include more rather than less; we would like as much to work with for the final edit as possible. Five minutes is great! May persistence and stealth be your friends and the taste of creative in devours be your food! All the best to Everyone!! Thanks for your participation This is a S.C.O.U.P.E. Troupe production. Check out ScoupeTroupe.org soon, website coming mid January. Peace & Love, Here is our the breakdown of the story into chapters, edited for filming purposes. BOLD SCENES ARE STILL AVAILABLE 1) Heavens & Earth / Sky, earth, landscape, space, dawn / Abstract / fast sequence of images/ No bodies / spirit (Scene 1 was the entire universe - fast motion. Scene 2 is slow, a Big Breath at the end of the day.) Tyler Macniven ( Oakland, Ca ) Jesse Harley ( Los Angeles, Ca ) Julie Travis ( Oakland, Ca ) Devin ( Berkeley, Ca ) Joe Kowalczyk ( Berkeley, Ca ) Sam Lehman ( Puget Sound, Wa ) ----------------------------- Kjell Peterson ( Berkeley, Ca ) Tom Franco ( Oakland, Ca ) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is the original score of Adam & Eve Genesis 2 1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. 4These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 11The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 13And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 18And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 3 1Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 20And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. |