Pageant of Hope: Sketches

I am the director of Scene 6: Greedy and Scene 7: Destroy. Due today is a written proposal for the scenes, a title and sketches. The pageant was written by Inchi, who works at Dream Community and it is our task to interpret it and realize it. It is about hope and can be simplified as the story of Taiwan, which tells the journey from birth to death and then rebirth. It begins with a volcanic eruption that leaves a seed, it grows into an island and flower, an orchid. Animals and then people who are on the island discover the flower. Then other "people from somewhere else" discover the flower, name it and then fight over it. Then the "people from somewhere else" win and want to change it, the flower dies in the process, the "people who lived on the island first" cry. Then the "people who lived their first" call the upon the king of the sun and they are told to go to the end of the earth and retrieve the fire. After they get the fire, by using the rainbow, the flower is revived and everyone celebrates.

Based on the idea's we've tossed around, I think this pageant will look very different. There is talk, of course if the budget is approved, for a gigantic stage in the shape of a giant sun with rays that are ramps, hydraulic levels for the stage, a crane for acrobats, fireworks, fire dancers and more. The pageant field is one block long and the idea is it will be in the round.

Below are my sketches for my proposal: "Machine of Destruction." For the most part, we've interpreted this story to be about colonization and that the story of Taiwan is a story that has repeated itself since the beginning of time. I'm thrilled considering i'v been using these themes in my own work back in Philly. The artists directing the previous scene, Ben & Jessie, are excited that the "people from somewhere else" are robots. Jiving on that, I've envisioned the robots as this capitalistic machine that conquer, change what exists in their own image and leave to conquer the next island. My scene ends with the "people who where their first" becoming audience to their flower turning into a robot, of course during the robot dance. When the robots leave they cry and each carry fallen flower dancer.

But as I said, this is a proposal. The next step is for Leonson and Elena, the pageant co-directors, to take our proposals and present to us the final draft. Then we can finally start.