Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Christopher Russell.
Hi Brian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When COVID hit, I got sent home from Chapman University and continued classes with online learning. I am studying Strategic & Corporate Communication, as well as Theatre Technology. The world of theatre had come to a grinding halt as covid continued. I have a history in video editing, so I knew there was a way to perform theatre virtually. I started brainstorming different techniques of bringing actors from their individual homes and putting them into a virtual space. I did a production of Beautiful Thing with P3 Theatre company, which had very basic video editing. Then, we did Greater Tuna, which placed actors into virtual sets. From there, I got hired to be a stream engineer for TogetherLA: A Virtual Stage Festival. This was a festival that brought together 35 different theatre companies in LA. I got promoted to be the Broadcast Engineer on that project, meaning I was operating the entirety of the live broadcasts. Working for that festival taught me the professional workflow of broadcasting and immensely helped me expand on my current knowledge of broadcast. All of these projects were awesome and I loved them. But one thing was holding me back – placing actors into a virtual space made it feel more like film and not theatre. So I thought – how can we make this feel like a theatre space? The answer was to invent a way to place actors onto a stage as if they were in person, fit with lighting, costumes, and sets like the real deal. I have begun to utilize Unreal Engine to place actors into this virtual 3D space. It has been immensely exciting to create a new way to do theatre and brainstorm new ideas with teams of amazing individuals!
Wow, that’s sounds really innovative. In our experience, innovation whether in the arts or elsewhere is never easy – there are a lot of novel challenges and issues to work out. Can you share what some of those challenges were?
For each performance, it is important that: 1) The video is high quality 2) The sound is high quality 3) The actors are all in sync 4) The actors can see themselves as they perform We had to create a balance of all of these by trying out various platforms. It was a huge mess at first. But those messes have led to new workflows and more reliable ways to perform live theatre and broadcasts!
What else should folks know about your, your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Broadcast Engineer/Digital Theatre Designer For my role, I create the visuals and graphics for digital theatre and broadcast productions, as well as help the actors set up technical equipment in their homes (remotely guiding them how to set it up), such as green screens, studio lighting, microphones and cameras. I then place all actors into a virtual theatrical space, making them appear as if they were on a stage!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
When technical problems arise, there is always a solution. Be sure to show your team that a solution is in reach and be calm as you troubleshoot. This is a new medium for everyone, and you are the expert on this system. If you get stressed, then the team will also get stressed, so stay as calm as possible! Watch lots of virtual theatre productions to get inspiration! This new medium of theatre is being developed simultaneously from lots of different companies, so explore how others did it, too!
Contact Info:
- Email: BrianChristopherRussell@outlook.com
- Website: www.BrianChristopherRussell.com
