We are rehearsing and presenting on Tuesday at the Hayworth Theater. Concurrent with our production is another play called:  "A Very Dark Place".  So the marquee hilariously reads:

PROJECT FOR LOVE: A VERY DARK PLACE

Feedback!

a tv behind the projection with the same image continues the columns

The masters thinking....

Interrogator improving

The Ultimate Control Room

The Hayworth

We are rehearsing at the Hayworth Theater right now. We are getting internet from the second floor window. Gotta do what you can to stay connected...

Ok the set up is: 

Armondo standing behind the screen.  Projector projecting onto his body and onto the screen.  He is facing a live camera connected to a projector.  What we the viewer are seeing, is the live feed of the camera, being projected into Armondos' shadow, hence the matching of shadow and live image.

Our Poster!!

At first we weren't sure how we felt about this poster, but the more we understood it as a reinvention of our countries' two flags, we can see its brilliance.

Rehearsal 11_8_09

Interrogator Progress

Cuban Flag

The Cuban government's current, official version of the meaning of the Cuban flag states that the blue stripes refer to the three old divisions of the island; and the two white stripes represent the strength of the independent ideal. The red triangle symbolizes equality, fraternity and freedom, as well as the blood shed in the island's struggle for independence. Finally, the white star is meant to symbolize freedom.

Originally: The red triangle (triangle of masonic significance) stands for the blood shed to free the nation, which is placed where the star is, symbolizing the sky turned red from the blood shed in battle. The white star in the triangle stands for independence.

American Flag first to use stars

The five-pointed star appears in the flags of 35 countries, and is thought to have first appeared in 1777 on the flag of the newly declared United States of America. 

Five Pointed Star

This star is also the most widely used military symbol and is found on the tanks and fighter jets of all the superpowers, as well as in the armed forces of all other countries on officers. 

The fivepointed star is also a symbol of ideologies and appears together with other structures to denote different creeds and belief systems: with the hammer and sickle it representsCommunism; 

 with the crescent moon, Islam;

The Relative Speed of life, Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez

While you travel at the frantic pace of DSL and cable Internet, I move at the speed of the bus that connects to La Víbora at Línea and G. Each post depends on a countless chain of events that normally don’t go well. From my isolated PC to a flash memory and then to the public space of a cybercafé or a hotel. For this, without detailing all the complications, the elevator does not work, the gatekeeper asks me to show my passport to sit at the computer, or there are frustrations to sign on, plus the slow-speeds imposed by proxies, filters and keylogger.

Cuban Blogger Yoani Sánchez

Bypass machines that disconnect, the cries of babies that echo. Stamps that mark papers to deny and condemn; kilobytes that carry my voice on the Internet without my needing to move. Someone who frowns at me while talking on the walkie-talkie of control. A bird called Twitter who raises me up with his feet. Offices with uniformed people who confirm, “You may not travel at this time,” although I am already thousands of kilometers from here, in this virtual world that they cannot understand nor fence in.

Cuban Blogger Yoani Sanchez

So Yoani Sanchez who is becoming a globbaly recognized blogger writing from Cuba posts this video of her trying to get a visa to leave Cuba. Apparently she was denied for 1 year to travel and she was going back to try to see if her restrictions were lifted and they said "no". Most of the video is just an audio clip but it is amazing to listen to her rip the immigration person a new one.
What's really weird is that her conversation sounds like one bw Amante and the Interrogator:
Clerk: At this time you cannot travel.

Yoani: Why don’t you want me to put one foot on a plane? What are you afraid of? What can this 110 pound person do? Create a tsunami? Why then won’t you let me leave the country?

Clerk: I already told you…

Here is the translation for the whole Exchange:

Yoani: Who is last in line for information?

Clerk: Yoani?

Yoani: Well, I need to know if you have lifted the ban on my traveling that has been in effect for a year.

[Informational text] From here the recording is audio only.

Clerk: You still cannot travel.

Yoani: Still? And when will you lift this prohibition.? Do you have an idea? I need to know.

Clerk: Prohibition?

Yoani: Well, not allowing me to get on a plane is a prohibition.

Clerk: You are still not authorized to travel.

Yoani: And for what reason?

Clerk: I do not know the reason.

Yoani: I have no pending legal case, I’m not being prosecuted before a court. Pay attention to this citizen. I’ve already come many times. You know me here. What I want to know is if this prohibition is unending. If I will one day be able to leave the country. If I continue trying. What do I have to do?

You know this is a violation of my constitutional rights. You people are violating my rights as a citizen, the ability to travel, to leave and enter my country. It is very serious. That a military institution denies a fundamental right of a civilian citizen, it is like the right to an education, to food, the right to travel.

Clerk: At this time you cannot travel.

Yoani: Yes, I have heard it already, I repeat. But what I want is to have the person who made the decision give me the answer to my face.

Clerk: I am giving it to you.

Yoani: No you are not giving me the answer, you are repeating to me the same thing it says in those papers. Why can’t Yoani Sanchez leave the country? Why are you so afraid of my being outside of Cuba?

Clerk: At this time you cannot travel.

Yoani: Why don’t you want me to put one foot on a plane? What are you afraid of? What can this 110 pound person do? Create a tsunami? Why then won’t you let me leave the country?

Clerk: I already told you…

Yoani: You are being ridiculous. But no, I don’t want to repeat. You are making a travesty of life.This institution, that you represent, this permission to leave, some day this is going to end. My grandchildren are not going to live under these conditions. When I tell them the story of how the institutions of my country violated my rights, my right to travel, they’re not going to believe me.What will you tell your children? That you dedicated yourself to violating the rights of Cubans? Is that what you’ll say? Because really, I feel sorry for you for what you are going to have to tell your children in the future.

Me, no. I’ve never violated the rights of anyone. I only want to exercise my right. And act like a free person. Why can’t I? Why? Why do you routinely deny me permission? Who is the person who makes the decision? Why don’t they stop being a coward and show their face? And say to me, “Yoani Sanchez, you are not traveling for one, two, three…” But no.

No, you are saying to me, “No.” You are not giving me an explanation, the why. I am not being prosecuted in court. I have no pending cases, I’ve never been a soldier. I don’t have State secrets. I’m not even a doctor, and you have prohibited medical personal from leaving for five years. They need to be freed. I am none of that. I am a person dedicated to letters. Why can’t I leave. Ah… I do know why I can’t leave, but I am waiting for you people to tell me. Because you have an ideological filter. This country is a huge prison, with an ideological boundary. And the citizens here are judged by political colors. Here there are first citizens, and second, and in the fifth category… I don’t know what category I’m in but I must be in the basement, no? Why?Because of an ideological filter.

But one day this will end. Because this Nation has nothing to do with ideology, or with a party.This nation existed before you and it will exist after you. And then you are going to have to give an accounting of all the violations you visited upon Cubans. In truth, I’m very sorry but the future does not belong to you. The future is ours. I am 34-years-old, I am going to live it, I am going to live it. I am going to be very happy when I can travel freely. And all you are doing is tightening the rubber band. When I can step foot outside this country, the consequences will be much greater because you made it happen. Every day more people read my blog, because you also have made that happen. More people are amazed and greet me in the street, because you have caused that. With your prohibitions and your authoritarianism and your police watching everything. The only thing you’ve done is to make what I do more attractive. So then, if I have to thank anyone I have to thank the organs of State Security, the Ministry of the Interior, and Immigration who have contributed to the phenomenon of my blog growing bigger and bigger.Really, thanks very much!

October 29th, 2009

AP Interview: Cuba FM says ready for talks with US

By PAUL HAVEN (AP) – 5 days ago

UNITED NATIONS — Cuba is willing to hold talks with the United States "on any level," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Wednesday in conciliatory remarks aimed at the Obama administration.

Rodriguez said in an interview with The Associated Press the island nation was waiting for a response from Washington to Cuba's offer to broaden discussions.

His comments came despite a testy exchange between the top Cuban diplomat and a senior U.S. official just before the U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn America's 47-year trade embargo.

This year's U.N. vote was 187-3 in opposition to the embargo, up from 185-3 last year, with only Israel and the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau supporting the United States. Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained both years.

It was the 18th year in a row that the General Assembly has taken up the symbolic measure, and the first since President Barack Obama took office in January, promising to extend a hand of friendship to Washington's traditional enemies.

That change in approach has been noticed by Havana, Rodriguez said.

"We are prepared to have a dialogue with the government of the United States at any level," the foreign minister told AP after the vote, adding that such talks must be held on the basis of mutual respect and sovereignty.

He reiterated that Cuba formally offered in July to hold expanded talks with the United States to cooperate in combatting terrorism and drug trafficking, and to work together to fight natural disasters, among other things.

"We are waiting for the North American response," Rodriguez said. He also said Cuba has been pleased by progress of ongoing talks on migration and re-establishing direct mail service. He called those discussions "productive and respectful."

Talks are happening...

Last month (september), Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Bisa Williams became the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Cuba in several years. Her trip to Havana was ostensibly to discuss the postal issue, but she extended her mission and had broader talks with Cuban officials. 

10.29.09 U.N. again condemns U.S. embargo of Cuba: The vote was 187-3, with two abstentions, as the United Nations once again denounced the U.S. embargo of Cuba.

The United States found itself up against virtually the entire world Wednesday as country after country at the United Nations denounced the nearly 50-year-old trade embargo against Cuba, which the island government says is as strong as ever under President Barack Obama.

It was the 18th time the U.N. General Assembly voted to condemn the embargo, and the first time since Obama took office in January. In a near unanimous vote -- 187 to 3 -- the only nations to side with the United States were Israel and Palau, a country of 21,000 people in the Pacific.

Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained.

ISOLATED POSITION

Experts said the vote underscored Washington's increasingly isolated position on Cuba, and highlighted how little Obama has moved on the topic since taking office.

While the buzz in the U.S. is how Obama is warming relations with the long-hostile nation, Cuba's government says much of the talk is a media gimmick. ``The vote represents the fact that the continued consensus around the world is that the United States policy doesn't make any sense,'' said American University dean William LeoGrande, an expert on Cuba. ``The more time passes without the Obama administration doing something significantly different than [former President] George Bush did, the more hollow the promise of change for Cuba policy looks.''

Calling trade sanctions an act of genocide and economic warfare, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said the embargo has cost the country $96 billion.

`ARROGANCE'

``The blockade is an uncultured act of arrogance,'' Rodríguez said, according to the Associated Press. In a report submitted to the General Assembly, Cuba asserts:

• The food sector alone lost $121 million because of the embargo last year.

• The nation spends $5.2 million a year refrigerating stockpiled eggs in case there are shortages.

• Increased shipping of educational materials from Asia cost $1.39 million, which Cuba could have used to buy 40 million pencils or a half million boxes of crayons.

• Cuba can't buy child-size specialized medical supplies for sick kids -- and the report made the point of listing the kids by name.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. called Rodríguez's speech a ``hostile'' relic of the Cold War.

``Here we go again,'' Ambassador Susan Rice said. ``I suppose old habits die hard . . . We will not respond in kind to painfully familiar rhetoric that we have heard in years past -- rather, I am prepared to acknowledge that there is a new chapter to this old story.''

She stressed that the Obama administration had renewed family visits to the island and loosened restrictions on U.S. telecommunications companies to do business in Cuba. Talks are under way for direct mail and migration, she said, and the American companies last year sold Cuba some $700 million in food. In 2008, the United States was Cuba's No. 5 trade partner.

NOT RECIPROCATED

``Regrettably, the government of Cuba has not yet reciprocated these important steps taken by my government,'' she said, adding that Washington has the sovereign right to conduct economic relationships how it ``sees fit.''

Lifting the embargo would require an act of Congress, but Obama has the right to issue licenses that would chip away at it.

``The United States is standing on principle,'' said the University of Miami's Jaime Suchlicki. ``We cannot have a policy that stands for democracy, human rights and elections and then suddenly lift the embargo and get friendly with Cuba. It would be a major contradiction.'' (oh really? and dealing with saudi arabia and china isn't?)

Amante Interrogator Mirror Test

This is from a couple of weeks ago but never got around to posting it....

Rehearsal 10_31_09

One camera is on Chi-wang's face and the other camera is on the back of his head.  The camera on the back of the head is connected to a projector projecting on the front scrim and the camera on the face is connected to a projector projecting on the back scrim. (Note we are using the camera on the laptop here because we didn't have a second camera, but typically this setup would be with two DVX cameras.)

If you cover the lens of the camera on the face (camera 1) and turn around to greet the camera typically filming the back of the head (camera 2), the back projection quickly drops out creating a flash of light and the front image suddenly becomes way stronger. It seems that the address is suddenly on the audience.

Its important that you can see the interrogator in the same near the projections. (note picture is of Aleigh Lewis because actors were not present).

Romeo Castellucci

Interrogation Room

Dariusz Kowalski presents his new film Interrogation Room at Kunsthaus Graz in the uncanny situation of an accessible stage. Shown together with its own film set and its model, the exhibition investigates the extent to which spaces, visual mindsets and power structures correspond. The starting point of the film is set in a mirror room or interrogation room very familiar to us from psychiatry or criminology, which he looks at from three angles: as a model, as a walk-in installation and as implementation in the medium of film.

The various approaches analyse an ambivalent situation in the transition from observation to surveillance. At the same time, Kowalski investigates complex issues of mindset in the way people see architecture and film.Interrogation Room thus sets up a correspondence between the exhibition area and the cinema auditorium. The exhibition is a cooperation between Kunsthaus Graz, the artist and Diagonale 2009. A shorter version of the film will be shown as the official trailer before every film throughout the film festival.

Scenic_4

Scenic_3