NYUTV x Verbatim Performance Lab
Research Communication Design, Animation on After Effects, 2018
Background & Objectives
In Fall 2017, NYU-TV together with NYU Steinhardt’s Verbatim Performance Lab collaborated on two projects: Lauer/Conway Flip & Moore/Jones Challenge. These projects use documentary verbatim theatre technique to investigate preconceived notions and biases in political, cultural, and social issues.
I was tasked to design a video loop for a research showcase that would illustrate:
-
what the 2 projects are about
-
the technicality of the recording
Format
The brief was to create a fairly but not overtly expositional design, but the viewer would still be able to glance at the video and understand what the projects are all about.
There are 3 screens: leftmost is a loop of Lauer/Conway Flip videos, the center is the expositional loop, and rightmost is Moore/Jones Challenge video.
Description & Recording Technicality
-
The recording equipment (cameras & switchers) are illustrated in line drawing style, to not draw attention away from the recordings
-
Video feeds are simulated using colored dots
-
Dots are also used to indicate the output of the switchers
Lauer/Conway Flip
This project reenacts a February 14, 2017 “Today” show interview between Matt Lauer and Kellyanne Conway, but played by actors of different genders.
The key idea this project proposes is that even if a woman and a man communicated the same words in the exact same communication style, the way you perceive them would still be affected by your notion of gender roles.
-
Table design for easy comparison.
-
The Lauers & the Conways are arranged in a column.
-
Each row is every possible gender combination.
Moore/Jones Challenge
In the 2017 special election in Alabama, Roy Moore (Rep) had refused to engage Doug Jones (Dem) in a formal debate. In this project, the creators gathered various existing media interviews of the two on different topics, recreated them using the verbatim technique, and arranged the clips into a video of a “debate” that could have taken place.
-
Political party indicated by the dual-tone of the footage
-
The name is labeled in the color as the tone, while the original picture is turned into B&W to not attract much attention while still being explanatory.