The judges said:
Wow! We laughed; we cried...this piece was great and a true multimedia installation. When the first computer box introduced itself on the projection screen there was
a momentary and audible groan from at least one juror. But those fears were quickly alleviated as this humorous and wonderfully informative piece took us on a
fascinating and entertaining journey through the early history of the personal computer and the individuals, communities, and companies that developed the PC and
the software that made them widely accessible. The producers clearly understood both the importance and relevance of the content and its potential snooze-factor.
Each time the complexity of the content challenged our attention spans, the producers responded brilliantly with media, lighting effects, and well-crafted dialogue
and drew us back in. This is a terrific example of how important, complex content can be effectively communicated through the creative use of technology, theater,
and good script-writing.
The producers said:
In Rise of the Machines, artifacts come alive in an immersive multimedia experience combining motion graphics, multi-track audio, music, archival video,
and theatrical lighting to tell the story of the beginning of the personal computer industry. The goals were to display as many microcomputers and graphics as
possible from the collection in a very limited amount of space; to communicate the emotional and complex stories behind these rather dull looking machines in a
lively, humorous, way for our middle school target audience; and to provide a high-paced media intensive experience to reach this "wired" audience.
In particular, music was a key ingredient: the visuals are choreographed tightly to a '70s music score. Inspired by events at the Homebrew Computer Club in Silicon
Valley, where early computer pioneers freely shared their inventions and ideas, we display artifacts in the audience area and behind an 18' scrim where they argue
with one another and brag about their superior features. According to visitors, this experience is the high point of the exhibit. They love the sound track,
the large scale media, the surprising effects, and have expressed gratitude for making it more than just another boring movie. Most importantly, they appear to
have actually learned something.
The judges said:
From the first viewing the jury found this piece seductive and we found ourselves coming back to it again and again—even referencing it as we evaluated other
entries. This is an innovative idea that supports the powerful content it seeks to communicate. Due in large part to the clever integration of film and the physical
structure of the well, the piece captured the sense of community at the well, the intimacy found at the well, the important ideas and stories shared at the well in
slave communities. However, the feeling of being there; eaves-dropping on these everyday and sometimes extraordinary conversations was a powerful experience with
history and it helped us appreciate the lives of these women and the communities they represented. We couldn't shake this one and in the end we needed to praise
it.
The producers said:
Created for the "Slavery in New York" exhibition at the New-York Historical Society, The Well was designed to bring the experience of 18th-century
slaves to a diverse museum audience. As visitors approach The Well and then look down into it, they first hear and then see the reflections of four female
slaves in the water below. As the slaves discuss their daily lives, they look back at the visitor. This simple visual device opens up a new window into the lives of
slaves in early New York City. The concept and storyboards for The Well were developed by Michael Roper of KPC Design's Experience Media Group. The script
was written by the curator for "Slavery in New York," Richard Rabinowitz, based on historical documents, court proceedings, and escaped slave posters of
the period. The Well elicited a very powerful response from visitors and became a signature exhibit for "Slavery in New York." Michael Roper
was executive producer for The Well. Northern Light Productions' Judy Richardson and Miguelangel Aponte produced and directed the video
shoot.
The judges said:
The clever use and professional integration of media and technology is compelling and the jury was won over by the seamless presentation—lighting, water
flow, mist, projections, and audio. The technical achievements of Blue Planet Theater set a standard that should be used as a benchmark as these
experiences are developed in the future.
The producers said:
The goal of the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, located in the Atlanta Georgia area, is to provide visitors with an educational experience about
protecting one of our most precious resources — water. The target audience and curriculum is intended for grades K-12. Upon leaving the Center, visitors
will have been introduced to a philosophy of sustainable design, water conservation and resource protection. The Blue Planet Theater is the signature experience
of the Center. Through the use of four unique screens — including a water screen and topographical map that rises out of a pool of water during the show,
visitors are enveloped into the story of our water. Visitors young and old are taken on a journey through the history of water on our planet, how it shapes the
environment in which we live, the specifics of the water resources in Gwinnett County Georgia, and the importance of taking care of the water resources on which
we all depend. The outcome of the Center both through its sustainable design practices and the educational content has been tremendous. We've received requests
from government officials around the state for additional video and educational materials to educate their own communities on water resources and sustainable
design.
The judges said:
Tribute, three films by Monadnock Media for the Tribute Center in New York, were beautifully created, compelling and powerful statements about the people
impacted by 9/11. Concentrating on the strong community and culture that existed within the World Trade Center, and the bravery and dedication displayed by many
in the aftermath of the tragedy, kept poignant focus on the people involved, more so than on the horrific event. The jury was impressed by the quality of this
project.
The producers said:
Tribute WTC Visitor Center is the beacon for hundreds of thousands of people who visit Ground Zero. The Tribute Center, created by the September 11th
Families Association, has the mission to share the personal stories of 9/11 — extraordinary humanity in the face of tragedy. Monadnock Media worked with Tribute
staff, Meriam Lobel and Wendy Aibel-Weiss, to create productions that would serve as anchors to the Center's main galleries. These multimedia pieces are artistically
integrated into environments and designed to pulse large crowds through small spaces. The three productions are:
- World Trade Center: Community Remembered, produced by Tracy Litwin - A dynamic video is projected onto a model of the Towers and an adjacent screen,
evoking the vitality of a lost community.
- Aftermath: Rescue and Recovery, produced by Claudia Levin - A video organically projected onto a photo mural of the devastated WTC site, reveals the
stories of those that worked tirelessly during this horrific period.
- Tribute, produced by Steve H. Bressler — A wafting, meditative projection on silk projects names that softly appear and disappear. This 4
½ hour-long projection is surrounded by a collage of photographs and memorabilia shared by the family of victims.
Films were edited by Carolyn Moore.
