The problems of video projection

When you're doing projection design you have to get used to being somewhat of an afterthought. Every theater project must have a scenic designer, lighting designer, costume designer and sound designer. But in LA small theater, a video projection designer is always optional. The thing I dislike the most about the job is dealing with the hardware. It's always different, it's never set up, and I'm usually expected to install it. You have to deal with projectors, going video or computer, running lines, installing projectors, rigging dowsers (or trying to convince someone to do these things). And then you have to make sure that the system actually works. This job would work best split into two parts with one person handling the software and one person handling the hardware.

The interesting part of being an oddity is figuring out how to interface with other people. It's sort of fun figuring how to get a screen into a set design or figuring out what the lighting designer is going to do. On this show I've had the most interaction ever with the other designers. It's also the first time I'm doing video (two large screens) as opposed to projection. I'll lose scale, but I'll gain resolution and presence. Interesting to see how that will turn out.