Bridgman Packer

I was unable to make it to the performances because of a mandatory work weekend (Red Cross Gala, no requests off). However, I watched the excerpts and youtube videos that were available online for Bridgman Packer's performances.

I find projection interesting and I enjoy interpretive dance, I felt predisposed to like Bridgman Packer's performance pieces. Projection seems like an untapped market for filmmaking and photography, so I also think that Bridgman Packer have an advantage in being unique in their field.

The excerpts for Voyeur were an interesting take on Edward Hopper's photography. They matched the images very convincingly with their costumes and posture. Their performances were like photographs coming to life. They seem to move together with accuracy and passion. Sometimes their movements are jerky, but it adds to the authenticity of their actions- they are moving with their emotions, since they cannot express them vocally. The camera acts as a third character, displaying their movements simultaneously. The cinematographer and editor of their films should be given more credit for the work he does. He creates the illusion, which sometimes overshadows their dance. The simple set piece allows for creativity, flexibility with images, and movement. The use of windows speaks a little too literally about "voyeurism." The act of watching is expressed by the male character, the windows, the audience, and the camera. The  double images look particularly realistic when Bridgman is projected in front of himself. Voyeur is a clever and visually interesting blending of mediums, though their dance is overshadowed by costuming and projection.

There was a video available for behind the scenes of the bed scene in Double Expose. They describe their characters as various archetypes. This film is drastically different from Voyeur, with different subject matter and a variation on the same technique. I appreciate that they change up their style with each performance, as projection can come off as a gimmick rather than an art form. The simultaneous images are impeccably executed, creating an illusion and a trick of the mind that plays well with the audience. I was very engaged when watching these videos, and seeing the behind the scenes first, I was able to appreciate their technique alongside their spectacle. The different characters are signified by their body language and costumes. My favorite part is when their are two separate mattress projections, and the characters move from one to the other, interacting with themselves physically and with their projections.

Overall, Bridgman Packer is a unique and illusory dance company; though their dancing leaves something to be desired when it comes to technical prowess.