Collaboration

To ensure that my video is to the highest standard, I wanted to work alongside a videographer with a reasonable amount of experience. Because of my budget, I wouldn't be able to afford a professional and so I sent out ads and casting calls today. Using websites like Model Mayhem, Mandy.com and Linkedin I sent out as many as the sites would allow. I put up a notice on the student bulletin board and emailed as many videographers that would trade for print via their personal websites.

For the dancers, I ideally wanted to have 15. I want to style five as the main characters from the musicals I chose and then each dancer to have two back up dancers, styled more naturally (to blend in and out of the crowd). I had clear pictures of the looks I wanted my dancers to have and they also had to be quite photogenic. With this in mind I decided to look for models with a high experience in dance; different but appropriate styles for each character. So today I also sent out a casting call for around 30 models/dancers around London, using the websites mentioned above. As I have no experience in choreography I wanted to either find a dancer/model with choreography experience or hire/find a trained choreographer.

From the beginning!

 I was extremely excited to get completely stuck in this project. I wanted to create a format that would truly bring the stylings in my head to life and what better way than to showcase my skills and passion for theatre than in a live performance? I had so many ideas buzzing around my head.  The ideal outcome of this project is to create a video of a flashmob that will promote theatre performances. The video will feature will be burned to a disc and also hopefully on my website and  and will attempt to go ‘viral’ through the mediums of YouTube. The idea to a do a theatrical flash mob is quite unique as most flashmobs are based around adverts for mobile phones and TV channels but through research its evident that it is done for fun purposes as well. Through carrying out a survey, going to the theatre seems to be the option that people neglect most because its believed to be too expensive and 'inaccessible' to many of those in the public. How ever there are plenty of shows that booked early enough or even those less known are completely affordable according to the subjects in the survey’s price range
This week I explored into all types of flashmobs, trying to get a feel of the type that I would end up doing.

Here are only a few examples I found:

Liverpool Street Station - (T-mobile Dance) was said to be one of the first to really 'leave a mark'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM 

Step Up 2 (small, but professional [film]) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaxJjd-jABE&feature=relmfu

I Believe She’s Amazing Flash Mob – Toronto Eaton Centre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfcKvevod3k&feature=player_embedded
  
Glee - II Flash Mob

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NhbK2bMTRbI#!

Flash Mob Decathlon Bailleul France

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fsL2Z7f4SpM#! 

Frozen Grand Central

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jwMj3PJDxuo 

Flash Mob Black Eyed Peas
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CttB6FmMgT4 

That wasn't even an 1/8 of what I found, from Prison inmates doing Michael Jackson's Thriller to one of the most elaborate wedding proposals to have reached the internet. There were hundreds, big small, professional, amateur and yet they all had the same feel good feeling; spreading awareness and bringing an incredible sense of unity. 

West End to Broadway...

From the hundreds of musicals that theater's offer firstly I narrowed it down to these:

-Annie
-Beauty & the Beast
-Cabaret
-Cats
-Chicago
-Grease
-Guys and Dolls
-Little shop of Horrors
-The Lion King
-The Phantom of the Opera
-Wicked

After much consideration, I narrowed it down to the five:

Chicago
Lion King
Phantom of the Opera
Wicked
Cats

I chose the above because I think that I can really play with the styling. The makeup is all very striking, exaggerated and popular. I wanted it to be popular because I want the characters to be recognised by the public.