In this blog post, I’m excited to take you behind the scenes of Symphony of Order, an immersive video installation featured at Light to Night 2024, hosted by the National Gallery Singapore.
This project was a unique opportunity to blend storytelling, technology, and artistry into an experience that engages viewers from all angles—literally. It explored harmony in the environment, blending archival texts with visual art. It was a unique opportunity to collaborate with Sarah Choo Jing on a creative and technological milestone that pushed boundaries in storytelling.
Exploring the Concept: Harmony in Motion
At its core, Symphony of Order celebrates the rituals of communal dining and the balance it represents. The concept was deeply inspired by the architectural setting and texts of the Rotunda Library & Archive within National Gallery Singapore, where the video is displayed.
To complement this circular space, we chose to depict a traditional Chinese dining setting within a restaurant. The circular dining table became the perfect metaphor for the interconnectedness and shared experiences that the installation aimed to highlight. Food was arranged in the foreground, while characters encircled the table, interacting with one another in the background.
The circular dining table, equipped with a 360-degree camera (Insta360 One RS 1-inch) mounted on a Lazy Susan, became the centrepiece of our storytelling. As characters spun the Lazy Susan to share dishes, the rotation was captured in dynamic, fluid visuals. This spinning effect not only added a rhythmic visual element but also mirrored the rotunda display at the installation, creating an endless loop of engagement for the audience. Whenever the Lazy Susan was spun to access food, the entire 360-degree frame rotated, producing a mesmerising effect when projected onto the rotunda.
Planning the Shoot: A 360-Degree Challenge
Filming in 360-degree presented unique challenges. Every angle had to be considered, as the camera captures the entire environment. Here’s how we approached it:
Set Design:
We worked within the existing restaurant environment, using its food and items and only supplementing with additional art. The 360-degree camera was mounted on a custom rig atop the Lazy Susan, ensuring smooth rotation and stability. Since we had only one set of food but needed three takes, we had to be meticulous in planning each shot to maintain continuity.
Lighting the Scene:
We used the restaurant’s LED cove lights as general fill lighting while the Aputure MC4 lights served as the main kicker. Directed outwards from the camera, the MC4 lights ensured the talents were well-illuminated and separated from the background, creating a warm, intimate glow without interfering with the dining atmosphere.
Capturing a shared moment—behind the scenes of Symphony of Order, where dining becomes an art form. Choreographing the Action:
The characters’ movements had to be carefully planned to avoid collisions and ensure smooth rotations. We rehearsed multiple times to synchronise their actions—reaching for food, passing dishes, and engaging in conversation—while maintaining a slow, deliberate pace.
Testing Distances and FOV Distortion:
Since the Insta360 One RS 1-inch camera captures a full 360-degree field of view, we tested various distances for objects and characters to ensure they appeared natural when projected onto the rotunda. We also experimented with the amount of FOV distortion required during post-production using the Insta360 app. This was crucial to maintain a cohesive visual effect when displayed on the curved rotunda surface.
The Editing Process: Adapting for the Rotunda
The rotunda’s unique display required a tailored approach to editing. Here’s how we adapted the footage for projection:
Wireframe Mapping:
The projection team provided a wireframe of the rotunda display. This served as a guide for aligning the footage and ensuring the visuals flowed seamlessly across the curved surface.
Seamless Looping:
To create a continuous, immersive experience, we edited the video to loop seamlessly. This involved careful timing of the Lazy Susan’s rotations and the characters’ movements to ensure a smooth transition from the end back to the beginning.
Distortion Correction:
Using the Insta360 app, we adjusted the FOV distortion to ensure the footage looked natural when projected. This was especially important for the food in the foreground and the characters in the background, as any distortion would break the illusion of a cohesive dining scene.
Color Grading and Final Touches:
We applied a warm, inviting color grade to enhance the dining atmosphere, ensuring the visuals matched the intimate tone of the piece. Final touches included subtle motion blur to smooth out the rotations and transitions.
The Result: A Symphony of Visuals
The final piece is a harmonious blend of form and function. As the characters interact, the spinning Lazy Susan transforms the dining table into a living, breathing entity. The viewer becomes part of the scene, immersed in the cyclical rhythm of the meal.
As visitors step into the rotunda, they’re enveloped in a communal dining experience that’s both familiar and captivating. The spinning visuals and 360-degree perspective encourage reflection on the harmony of shared traditions and the nuanced connections within family interactions.
The rotunda is accompanied by 12 individual vertical screens, each displaying a profile shot of one character staring into the camera. A voiceover of their thoughts plays through these individual screens, adding another layer of depth and introspection to the installation.
When projected onto the rotunda, the video takes on a new dimension. The circular motion of the Lazy Susan aligns with the architecture, creating an engaging and immersive experience that draws viewers into the narrative.
Conclusion
The process of creating Symphony of Order was both a technical and creative journey, blending traditional dining rituals with cutting-edge technology. From conceptualising the setup to refining the visuals for rotunda projection, every decision was made with the goal of creating a meaningful and engaging experience.
This project is a testament to the potential of 360-degree storytelling and the magic that happens when art, history, and technology come together.
For more details about the installation, visit the National Gallery Singapore website here.
Watch a video documentation of the work below.
To stay updated on further explorations into the craft of editing and filmmaking, subscribe for more insights and discussions.
Opmerkingen