True Fictions is the result of a year long digital performance art project, produced and directed by Christopher Thomas Allen and commissioned by EMPAC, The Experimental Media and Performing Arts Centre in Troy, New York.
It is a live audio visual spectacle that fuses documentary film making, music, animation and motion graphics with cutting edge digital performance tools. A stunning collage of music and live cinema which explores the themes of truth and myth through a multitude of American and Native American voices; with an original musical score created through a unique collaboration between 25 New York based musicians and vocal artists.
The final performance was completed and presented in September 2007 at EMPAC and has gone on to tour other media & arts festivals internationally ever since:
International Touring:
EMPACThe Armour, Troy, New York, USA, September, 2007
Urban Screens FestivalThe Great Hall, Manchester, UK, October, 2007
Teatro degli ArcimboldiMilano, Italy, November, 2007
ZEMOS98 FestivalSeville, Spain, March, 2008
onedotzero festivalIMAX Cinema, BFI Southbank, London, November, 2008
Loop FestivalBrighton Pavilion, Brighton, July, 2009
TRANS FestivalWaterfront, Captalist Arts, Belfast, July, 2009
Mirowave FestivalRotuda3, HITEC, Hong-Kong, November, 2009
Hackney Film FestivalThe Others, London, September 2010
Freeform FestivalWarsaw, Poland, October, 2010
ON_OFF FestivalItau Cultral, Sao Paulo, brazil, June 2011
For more back ground information about how this project was devloped please visit: http://www.avfolklore.blogspot.com
For more video excerpts from the project please visit: http://vimeo.com/channels/truefictions
True Fictions has been performed by:
Christopher Thomas AllenAudio & Video
Ben AllenAudio & Video
Tim CowieAudio & Video
Robert Pyecroft-RainbowVideo & Analogue Operations
Malcom LitsonAudio & Analogue Operations
Jude GreenawayAudio
Mark McRaeLive Guitars & Keys
Matt Waterfieldlighting design & technical support
Project Credits:
Produced & Directed byChristopher Thomas Allen
Cinematography:Christopher Thomas Allen & Robert Pyecroft-Rainbow
Photography:Christopher Thomas Allen, Robert Pyecroft-Rainbow & Helen Omand
Edited:Christopher Thomas Allen, James Price & Tim Cowie
Animation:Martin Banks, Tim Cowie & Blinkinlab
Audio Interviews:Christopher Thomas Allen, Robert Pyecroft-Rainbow & Jo Williamson
Assistant Producer:Annie Kwan
NYC Production Co-ordination:Sarah Pace
Research & location Production:Helen Omand
Studio Engineer:Ben Allen
Music Production:Tim Cowie
Addition Audio Production:Malcom Litson, Mark McRae & Jude Greenaway
New York Musical Contributors:
Drums:Brian Fishler, Scotty ‘Imp’ Lehman, Rev Mofo & Pat Rock
Percusion:Rev Mofo, Valerie Opielski & Isabel Pupo Walker
Vibraphone:Sean McCall
Flute & Saxophone:Joseph Jarman
Soprano Saxophone:Martha Hyde
Tenor Saxophone:Welf Dorr
Bass Guitar:Robbie Seahag & Jason Deiso
Electric Guitar:Laurent Medelgi, Valerie Opielski & Robbie Seahag
Acoustic Guitar:Laurent Medelgi & Jo Williamson
Fiddle:Luke Cissell
Double Bass:Tom Mayer
Cello:Brent Arnold
Oud:Mavrothi Kontanis
Grand Piano:Chris Chalfant
MC’s: Atypical, Dezmatic, Emskee, & Nobs
Vocalists:Kendra Flowers, Adrienne Hecker, Marrie Mascari,Melanie Moser & Chanda Rule
Special thanks to:
The Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, Salamanca
The Ronathahonni Cultural Center, Cornwall Island, Ontario
Nichols Meat Processing, Altamont, NY
David Lublin & Ray Cutler at VIDVOX
Kathleen Forde, Jason Steven Murphy and all the staff at EMPAC
“True Fictions” is an EMPAC Commission supported by The Jaffe Fund for Experimental Media and Performing Arts NY