Dream Shadows
Story Synopsis:
"Dream Shadows" is an operatic performance by myself and Amy Khosbin in which a lonely mad scientist, Professor Umbra, is surprised when a mythical bird character in his imaginary world comes alive. Umbra chases the beautiful beast but is saddened when he does not succeed in catching her. When he finally gives up, she returns and the two fall in love. She turns him into a bird man and they fly off together.
Instrumentation:
The story is told through two main instruments, the Shadow Puppet Sequencer (Michael Clemow, 2009) and Dream Squawk (Amy Khosbin, 2009). The Shadow Puppet Sequencer is the instrument through which Prof. Umbra expresses his fantasies. It's a table on which are placed cutouts of the characters in his world. Through the use of a camera and a computer, these shapes are turned into sounds that are both representations of the characters as well as their soundtrack. Animating the characters by hand alters the sound and drives the narrative. Dream Squawk, is a bird costume and vocal performance tool. Dream Squawk is the means by which the magical bird beast from Umbra's dream literally calls herself into being.
Michael Clemow and Amy Khoshbin
Dream Shadows from Semiotech on Vimeo.