THE PROJECT:

The Animation: 56k | T1

The Video: 56k | T1

The Performance: 28.8k | 56k | T1

Action Jackson is the name given to a project that challenges the idea of "dream" vs. "reality" and "man" vs. "machine". The mastermind behind the project is Basil Attar, a 4th year Convergent Media student at the University of Texas at Austin. At his aid is Terence Tang, a 4th year Radio-Television-Film student also at UT Austin. Together, they pieced together the project that combines sound, vision, and performance.

With a collection of Michael Jackson videos and animations projected onto a large screen, Basil will attempt to mimic and keep up with the moves that MJ is doing onscreen. Accompanying the performance is a mix of audio tracks, part of which comes from the MJ Sound Project for the Sound class.

The Vision class from which the project was assigned was entitled "Dreamscapes," which explored the realm of the subconsciousness. One recurring dream that comes to Basil's mind is one of him dancing like Michael Jackson. He found that in the dreamworld, some moves are more easily accomplished than reality, and vice versa. When assigned to create a dreamscape, Basil thought it would be interesting to compare his dancing with Michael Jackson's, as well as with a computer-generated animation of his dancing. This became the essence of his dreamscape.

Terence jumped on the opportunity to be part of the project. While Basil took on the jobs of executive producer, executive editor, and chief animator, Terence provided help in the areas of sound engineering, assistant editing, and web development.

One concept, as mentioned before, that the project brings forth is "dream" vs. "reality". The dreamworld is a place where possibilities are only limited by the mind. Physics and rules do not apply. If so, then what is it about the dreamworld that seems to hinder our actions? Why is it often impossible to run, yet at other times one can float through the skies like the wind?

Another concept is "man" vs. "machine". Technology is all around us, and at the rate that it is growing, we will soon be engulfed by it, if not already. Animation technology has made great advances in the recent past, as seen in films such as Monsters Inc., Final Fantasy, and the Jurassic Park series. Computer-generated figures have the potential to replicate reality. Using an animation software called Poser, Basil will challenge the animated dancing of Michael Jackson with his own physical ability.

APPLICATIONS USED: