Francesca da rimini is an experiment in using a robotically controlled camera to capture ballet. Starring dancers Maria Kochetkova and Joan Boada, Francesca is based on a story from dante’s inferno and set to Tchaikovsky's Francesca Da Rimini. The entire performance was filmed with motion control camera movements designed to synchronize with the dancer’s every step. The camera moves as if operated by a third performer, fluidly orbiting around the two dancers from the intimate perspective of another artist on stage. Using a combination of motion capture, 3d animation, and industrial robotics, Francesca demonstrates how the synthesis of art and technology can bring a new perspective to a classic art form.
Executive producer: Edward King
Produced by: ashley Rodholm & Anastasia Babanskaia
Director: Tarik Abdel-Gawad
Director of Photography: Joe Picard
Editor: Ashley Rodholm
Motion Control: bot & dolly
Robot Operator: Matthew Bitterman
Motion Capture Studio: Phasespace
Motion Capture Technicians: Kan Anant, Curtis Cheung
Compositors: Travis Gorman, Chris Mccard
Key Grip: Aron Pruitt
PA: Sam Conkling, Matthew Bittermen, Pedro Figueira, Kenneth Johnson, Tutu Lee
Set Photographer: Alexander Reneff-Olson
Special Thanks: the bot & dolly team
Process Film; by Ashley Rodholm
Ballet Meets Robotics is a short documentary that offers a behind-the-scenes look at how cutting edge technology was employed in the short dance film, Francesca Da Rimini. Directed by Tarik Abdel-Gawad the short film stars principal dancers from SF Ballet Maria Kochetkova and Joan Boada. The ballet Francesca Da Rimini was choreographed by Yuri Possokhov and is based on a story from Dante’s Inferno and set to Tchaikovsky's composition of the same name.
The project as a whole was an experiment to synchronize a robotically controlled camera with the dancer’s every step. The camera moves were designed to fluidly coordinate with the choreography and orbit around the dancers to present an intimate and unique view on the performance. Using a combination of motion capture, 3D animation, and industrial robotics, Francesca Da Rimini demonstrates how the synthesis of art and technology can bring a new perspective to a classic art form.
Directed and Edited by: Ashley Rodholm
Process Cinematography by: Joe Picard, Sam Conkling, Pedro Figueira and Ashley Rodholm