Ben Rompotis
Here We Go Again Project
The Concept
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022 came as a shock the geopolitical order around the world, and in particular Europe. Not since WWII has there been such a blatant violation of the right to national sovereignty. While the people of Ukraine suffer directly from the Putinist regime travelling west throughout Europe, people all around the world are also suffering as an indirect result of the War. We have seen global food shortages and a refugee crisis ensure that the consequences of this war have travelled further than the bullets and bombs ravaging an under siege Ukraine. For me the significance of this War could not be understated, and when it came time to work on a my major project, I took the opportunity to use this creative process to have to both comment, and try and make and understanding of what went wrong.
Through my research it became clear to me that not along ago, authoritarian power, in the form of a Stalinist Soviet Russia, threatened European stability before. So it got me thinking, how can it be that we are here again? I poured my frustration and my disbelief, but also my hope and optimism, into this project. I used a combined median of audio, music and film to construct a live composition that I hope challenges and informs the audience member to reflect on the dangerous role authoritarian power plays in global instability.
For the completion of this project, I moved to Berlin. Ground zero during the Cold War, where east met West, and where the ideological battlefield once divided this historical city. It was here that I felt it most appropriate to successfully bring my idea to life, submersing myself in a city that had felt the Soviet threat before, just as Europe faces a new Russian threat not so many years later.
Final Deliverable
HWGA Final Final Final.movProcess
Deconstructing and Destroying Authoritarian Power
To form the basis of my composition, it was important for me to take a symbol of previous Authoritarian power, and use audio tools to deconstruct, destroy, re sample and re create new sounds for performing live. It was important for me to ensure that the audience member, if curious, understood my position and my personal opinion on the topic, and I saw this process as a valuable way of communicating just that.
Ableton Walk Through.movComing Up With Inventive Ways To Perform
A personal goal of mine in this project was to try and push into areas where my skills could develop and grow. I chose to use software (Ableton) and techniques that were both new and inventive for me, to stay motivated and ensure that my project was strong.
TriggMe Boris Johnson.mp4Choosing The Location For Performance
I mean its Berlin right!?! I had no shortage of locations that would fit nicely into my aesthetic, but taking into consideration the amount of equipment, space and privacy needed, I chose Tempelhof Airport as the final location. For more information explaining my decision to perform here, follow this link here.
The Performance
Half a day spent coordinating, installing, shooting, performing and experimenting at Tempelhof Airfield.
Editing and Post Production
Struggling to find numerous collaborators in a new city, I decided to do the film edit myself. I have no prior experience with film editing (as you will see!), but relished the opportunity to figure it out and develop new skills in this area. The final edit always had further changes made, and after consulting feedback from multiple sources, constantly made improvements to the final final edit.
Collaborative Work
Admittedly, one of the biggest challenges I faced was finding collaborators in my new home to move this project forward. I didn't have a campus to use for gear, and other students to utilise for skills, for a considerable amount of effort went into building relationships and finding people who wanted to work with me on a VERY limited budget. My collaborators on this project were:
SAE Campus Berlin
Multiple facilitators across audio and film departments allowed me to borrow gear and gave me advice on where to find collaborators
Pearl Herbert
Life partner, artist, musician Pearl helped with performance, production, composition and editing notes
Florian Burgerhaus
Videographer, cinematography, lighting
Reflection
This project for me was a big leap into the unknown, focusing on developing skills in areas that I thought needed work. In particular;
Software and Technology
a) Using new DAW for production and composition in Ableton Live. Re Sampling and using tools to deconstruct and resconstruct elements of sound
b) Working with new hardware and equipment, especially dealing with powered generators for on site power
Overcoming budget constraints
Having to change processes and original plans because lack of funding meant I couldn't realistically achieve goals I set in pre production. Eliminating the audience participation aspect because I couldn't afford monitoring system for example. But still figuring out ways my project could be effective.
Collaboration and Liaison Skills
a) Honing my skills in cultivating work relationships and finding collaborators. Becoming comfortable with pitching my ideas to find people to work with.
b) Shoot locations and production planning and organising under incoming deadlines
With a big self improvement in these areas, I'm feeling more confident entering the industry where certain pressure circumstances involving projects will no longer hinder me through stress and self doubt. For me this was invaluable, and a big area I wanted to focus improving. Apart from this, I can't stress enough how rewarding it was to bring a heavily conceptual idea to life. I spent a lot of time thinking and reflecting on this one, focusing a little less on practical skills and really paying attention to ways in which I could communicate to the audience this idea and subject that has become so important to me. At SAE, I feel like we are taught extensively about practical and technical knowledge, then are left to ourselves with these set of tools to figure out the rest. I thought this project highlighted that I have learnt effectively a solid foundation of skills in the audio/sound realm, and all that was left was for me to use them in a way that helped me deliver something I was proud of. Success!
Contact Details
Name: Ben Rompotis
Email: b.rompotis@gmail.com
Social Media: IG @benrompotis