AN EXPLORATION OF TRUTH AND MYTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

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.

The final piece was completed and presented in Troy, NY, in September 2007 and has begun touring to festivals internationally.

True Fictions is an 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 a original musical score created through the collaborations of 25 New York based musicians and vocal artists.

True Fictions is currently be being performed by:

Christopher Allen (audio & video)
Tim Cowie (audio & video)
Malcom Litson (audio & analogue operations)
Mark McRae (live guitars & keys)
Jude Greenaway (Audio Electronics)
Matt Waterfield (lighting & technical support)

This performance has toured to the following international festivals and arts venues:

The Armour, EMPAC, Troy, New York, USA, September, 2007
The Great Hall, Urban Screens Festival, Manchester, UK, October, 2007
Teatro degli Arcimboldi, Milan, Italy, November, 2007
ZEMOS98 Festival, Seville, Spain, March, 2008
IMAX Cinema, onedotzero festival, BFI Southbank, London, November, 2008

For more information, video and still images please check: avfolklore.blogspot.com

Project Produced & Directed by Christopher Thomas Allen
Assistant Production by Annie Kwan
NYC Production Co-ordination by Sarah Pace
Research & location Production by Helen Omand
Cinematography by Chris Allen & Robert Pyecroft-Rainbow
Photography by Chris Allen, Robert Pyecroft-Rainbow & Helen Omand
Edited by Chris Allen, James Price & Tim Cowie
Animation by Martin Banks, Tim Cowie & Blinkinlab
Field Recordings and Audio Interviews by Chris Allen, Robert Pyecroft-Rainbow & Jo Williamson
Studio Sound Recording & Initial Arrangements by Ben Allen
Music Production & Arrangements by Tim Cowie
Addition Audio Production by Malcom Litson & Jude Greenaway
_
Drums & Percussion:
Scotty “Imp” Lehman – Drums
Brian Fishler – DrumsPat Rock – Drums
Isabel Pupo Walker - Percussion
Rev Mofo – Drums & Percussion
Valerie Opielski - Percussion
Sean McCall - Vibraphone
_
Wind instruments:
Joseph Jarman – Flute & Saxophone
Martha Hyde – Soprano Saxophone
Welf Dorr – Tenor Saxophone
_
String Instuments:
Robbie Seahag – Bass & Electric Guitar
Jason Deiso – Bass Guitar
Valerie Opielski - Electric Guitar
Laurent Medelgi – Guitar
Jo Williamson – Acoustic Guitar
Luke Cissell – Fiddle
Tom Mayer – Double Bass
Brent Arnold - Cello
Mavrothi Kontanis – Oud
Chris Chalfant – Grand Piano
_
Vocalists:
Jo Williamson
Chanda Rule
Marrie Mascari
Adrienne Hecker
Melanie Moser
Kendra Flowers
_
MC’s:
Dezmatic
Emskee
Atypical
Nobs
_
Special Thanks to:
The Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, Salamanca
NYThe Ronathahonni Cultural Center, Cornwall Island, Ontario
Nichols Meat Processing, Altamont, NY
Kathleen Forde, Jason Steven Murphyand all the staff at EMPAC
David Lublin & Ray Cutler at VIDVOX
_
An EMPAC Commission supported by The Jaffe Fundfor Experimental Media and Performing Arts

Edited excert from the The Light Surgeons "TRUE FICTIONS" live audio visual performance project.

Produced & Directed by Christopher Thomas Allen
Animation by Martin Banks

Scotty “Imp” Lehman – Drums
Valerie Opielski - Electric Guitar
Laurent Medelgi – Guitar
Mark McRae - Guitar

Music arrangement by Tim Cowie

An EMPAC Commission supported by The Jaffe Fundfor Experimental Media and Performing Arts

more info on this project can be found at:
avfolklore.blogsport.com
lightsurgeons.com

Audio Visual Track taken from the TRUE FICTIONS: NEW ADVENTURES IN FOLKLORE performance project.

Produced and directed by Christopher Thomas Allen of THE LIGHT SURGEONS, UK.

Commissioned by EMPAC, Experimental Media and Performing Arts Centre, Troy, New York.

more info can be found here: avfolklore.blogspot.com

Music produced and arranged by Scanone
CGI Animation by BlinkinLab

Featuring:
Dezmatic
Atypical
Nobs
Emskee

Audio Visual reworking of the "Star Spangled Banner" taken from The Light Surgeons "TRUE FICTIONS" live AV performance project.

Vocals by Adrienne Hecker
Audio production by Malcom Litson
Animation by Tim Cowie

more info about the True Fictions project:
avfolklore.blogspot.com

more info about The Light Surgeons
lightsurgeons.com

TRUTH MOVEMENTS is a short film taken from The Light Surgeons Live Cinema performance TRUE FICTIONS.

It weaves a tangled web of conspiracies theories, divergent views and public oratory from the 5th anniversary of 911 together into a escalating argument about truth.

The film contrasts two points of view, protesters who want to re-investigate 911 and those who oppose their intervention outside the memorial on this national day of morning. The conversation flits from person to person as the exchanges of opinions become increasingly passionate and emotional. A group of US marines berate a crowd who proclaim that 911 was an “inside job”. Their heated exchanges reveal how even contemporary events are fought over and continue to be manipulated for commercial and political motives.

These conflicting opinions are musically scored with a building vibraphone melody, live drums and an Oud solo by Mavrothi Kontanis. This middle eastern instrument points a figure to the US response to these tragic events.

Original footage, stills and interviews recorded at ground zero by Chris Allen & Rob Rainbow in 2006.

Produced & Directed by Christopher Thomas Allen
Audio arrangement by Tim Cowie & Mark McRae
Edited by Chris Allen, Tim Cowie & James Price

TRUE FICTIONS is 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.

Supported by The Jaffe Fund for Experimental Media and Performing Arts

For more background information, video and still images about this project please check: avfolklore.blogspot.com

lightsurgeons.com