The assignment was to create an interactive experience using projections. I knew that I wanted to base my assignment in story-- the kind of over-the-top campy stories that sometimes work their way into theme parks. Here was the idea: when the synthesizer quite literally fell from the sky sometime in the mid-20th century, two scientists were tasked with analyzing the extraterrestrial object. After they failed to uncover its astonishing properties, it was sent to The Lab to be tested by the members of my very captive projections class. As my classmates tampered with the keys of the synthesizer, all sorts of things went awry with the scientists streaming live from the television. For example, one of the scientists is suddenly turned into a poodle, and only a mystery key is able to return him to his original (inferior) form. As the experience goes on and more keys are pressed, the world leaps forth from its black & white stuffiness into the vibrancy of the 1980's. 

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I first wrote the script for the intro video (watchable below) and then set about collecting archival footage that could set the tone for the start of the experience. A couple of friends were kind enough to play the two kooky scientists, mostly improvising their roles as I gave guidance and direction. I projection mapped a cardboard box to look like an old television set, and programmed a midi keyboard to play high-pitched, alien frequencies when played as well as executing the events on screen in a sequence that was both random and made sense. As more keys were pressed, vibrant flowers bloom behind the television, and eventually the tv and the scientists themselves break out into full color. At the end of the experience, the scientists realize that something fundamental has changed in the world, and they are finally ready to rock. The full experience and intro video can be viewed below.