I hope that all are rested and rejuvenated after the holidays, though often for those of us in these industries it is a very busy time of year. In any case much appreciated the continuation of your eyes on my rantings.
I started this as one long post and realized that it should actually be two as it seemed as I worked through my thoughts that they were two related but distinct topics.
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“ What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes.”
-Harry Houdini
Magic-
Abracadabra………………alacazam………………………..POOF!!!!! And there lies everything in a production, film or experience except for the performers. Ok, so maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration but as far as the audience is concerned that seems to be how so much happens behind the curtain, so to speak.
Designers and creatives are taught for the most part that our art and creation are an integral part of any production. Yet it often seems that our work is to be seen but never to stand on the merit of effort of ourselves and the many others that it takes to produce it. So, it often feels that we act as magicians where what we create and produce are the coveted secrets and only the product is the viewable to the audience and client. As a result much is not understood in regard to what it takes to design, engineer and produce the works. And to some situations this is very detrimental to the over all value for us, our clients, audience and profession both fiscally and creatively.
We as designers spend weeks, months and in some cases years working to create purposeful design and effects to help tell a story and create an environment. This is not to cause controversy in the way in which we work within these industries but in hopes of starting a larger conversation within ourselves to start placing a higher value on our own work. We owe it to ourselves to understand that what we produce is art and should be treated and valued as such from the beginning.
Design is not just something that is in the background but that is a partner in the tale or the brand. This is not a wish to have design or effects take place or prominence over the performers but to reset the balance and understanding of it as an equal partner. Nor it is meant to take the true “magic” out of a production but to help ourselves, our audience and clients know that there is so much more value in what we do than what is recognized in most of our industries.
It is some wish that there be understand of those who produce our creative visions as part of the great vision and worthy of value as well. For without the technicians, stitchers, artisans and crafts people the creative vision will not be achieved. It has been too long in our industries where we have placed so little value on these individuals who create our “magic”. But this seems to be a potential topic for a later post.
Magic has a place but what we do is use a visual language to tell a story that both enhances the performers or speaker but that is an equal partner in representing and enacting that story.