Fulldome projection, digital video.
Sound by Helga Pogatschar. 12 min (work-in-progress)
Moonwalk is a stroll on the moon through time and space. It is an experimental film in both genre and form, designed for projection on a traditional planetarium cupola - a hemispherical film. The film is composed of found footage, astronomical photographs, sound bites, poems, stories, and drawings; a history of humanity’s relationship with the moon. In the film, the subjective moon coexists in space-time with the factual moon.
Expanding filmic space into a three dimensional architectural space is an aspect of many of Waite's previous works. In Moonwalk she uses the space as an element of the montage, distributing sound and image over the vast projection area so that elements can be presented in parallel without overlapping. The long time required for the eye to seek the next segment of the film becomes an aspect of the film’s rhythm. The audio systems used in these theaters also give the opportunity to create a fantastic three-dimensional soundscape.
Film form and content consistently extend into the physical realization of Waite's video installations. The montage of the film is constructed by the viewers bodies’ movements, evoking kinesthetic perception. Working in the Full-dome format continues in this structural vein. The cupola itself echoes the shape of the moon. The expansiveness of the circular theater gives room for moving perceptions of the film.
The hemispherical Full-dome format presents an aesthetic and technical challenge to create a new form of imagery. Moonwalk is created by combining traditional film with two and three dimensional computer animation, digital compositing techniques, and 5.1 channel surround sound.
Recent technological developments have made it possible, via working with synchronized, multiple, high-definition video streams and 3D computer graphics technology, to project high resolution, full-motion video undistorted onto a surface. This new technology is used primarily in science museums and the existing films made for this format are almost exclusively educational films for children. Waite's Moonwalk is conceived as an experimental, poetic film that still addresses astronomical themes, but uses this exceptional format for its immersiveness, it’s expansive scope, and the visceral presence of the space to create an art film.
