From: simon green
about our crew big day out for info:
i didn't see anything on telly... driving back with tony to drop off kit
etc. but heard reports that some footage got into mainstream media.
also, it was shown all over the east. some of it beamed direct into the
telly. we can never work out who saw/listened to it and where they were.
but many watched and heard. also, we were able to miss out media censors
which was very inspiring. showing footage from middle eastern news
agencies mixed in with historic stuff around the movement and around
bush and bliars cosey relationship etc. as well as positive soloutions
(showing direct actions and demonstrations from all over the globe).
jeff brown was out on the demo with his camera and came back on the
first wave... we were able to stick up unedited footage (jeff can edit
pretty well in camera).. and show it to the demo as it walked into the
square... they could see images of themselves back in park lane, banners
waving... taken only an hour before)
a report for the record...
the visual show = two live cameras, about eight laptops, mini dv in,
mx50, scan converters, digital still camera in.
credit where it's due (written from a "production" context i do not
speak for stop the war coalition here... but as production co-ordinator
for the trafalgar square bit. part of the whole team working for the
steering group. STWC analysis of the day can be found here:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/ please have a look see for the political context).
creative visual material was via marc silver, michael heap, armand, jeff
brown, leon, stuart, sally, margo, max.
vj mix was done by michael heap, armand, marc silver, nick hillel,
nickin (and tso might have touched a bit of kit at somepoint)
dj mix was done by tony spence and simon green (on a political inspiring tip)
we were able to do some winging it a/v. with our dj mixer (gorgeous
vestax house mixer.. which ironically raya has on our inventory so we
knew it well and used about seven inputs in the end) we were able to
take sound direct from the mx50 and sometimes meandered around film,
spoken word.. and pre prepaired loops via armand, michael and yeast.
fair play to tony who i think had his first "a/v" experience as a dj...
and enjoyed it.
also, production wise it was a pleasure working with the contractors.
the soundsystem was incredibe... 8k rig flown off tripods with repeaters
all around the plinth of nelsons column), the screen provided by
creative soloutions, driven in on a lorry and rigged... genny via
backroom, fences via SGB driven down from coventry. all contractors were
fully supporting the demo and we had a great time mixing and working
with them, negotiating prices... both in the run up and during the day,
and since as it goes... the movement goes on. and finally the GLA who
were so patient, they made us jump through hoops, sometimes about four a
day... not as part of some conspiricy but because the david gray show
held there a few weeks before had "damaged" the structure of the square
and it had to be fixed. at expense to the london community. fair play to
the GLA for taking the chance and letting it all happen. the last
permission to be negotiated was for the screen and up until about 4.30
on friday i still hadn't recieved it "officially". then suddenly
permission arrived... viz crew (marc silver was creative co-ordinator)
did extrodinary job pulling everything together late into friday night.
also the square "keepers" who work all day sweeping up bird seed and
dealing with lost children etc, etc. they had a great time and a typical
magical moment was stood on top of the steps right near national gallery
front door with the head security bloke from the national and a square
keeper rep negotiating the noise levels. me thinking "it's too loud
we'll never get away with this" ... and the two establishment reps
saying "don't worry turn it up a bit... sounds very good".
ahem.
we played with the kit from about 11.30 (well done contractors for
getting in so rapid. the get in time was 7am and it went like clockwork)
we got the rig up and running for about 11.30 and then procedeed to do a
kinda raya thing, freestyle... music and images. we got a fluffy party
going in the square and the atmosphere was united... with people (many
tourists at this stage of the day)... dancing and laughing around the
fountains. nattering in the sunshine.. watching the images...
communicating with each other. then the demo finally arrived at about
2.15, it poured into the square and continued to arrive for a further
hour odd. not sure how many came but trafalgar square was "rammed"... a
result. the demo was a total "success" as far as these things can be...
people came from all over the uk, and europe and the world to show
dissent for this illegal war on iraq and the attempt by western pressure
to push palestine into the sea. the atmosphere changed into one of
seriousness and quiet. the speakers started to cue up for the mic... we
went into live production mode. music off. mics on. live camera on full
time via armands camera position.. with vision mixer crewed via marc and
nick hillel and michael. mixing images of live speakers cut up against
some of the history of the movement and evidence of brutality. it looked
amazing. and sounded amazing... nice to have such "quality" available
for the people using the mics. we continued the live production through
untill the speaches finished and then played a few tunes with freestyle
images at the end. tony finished it musically with "come together" think
it was. to close the day at around 5.45... then take down. take down was
incredible most were out by 6.30. sweet.
best wishes...
simon
