THE COMPANY BEHIND the highly successful ‘Street Scene’ project in Elgin has turned its attention to Forres.
The Findhorn Bay Festival in September will see the Moray town centre being turned into a giant movie screen, showing video depicting the daily life of its people.
Visual Arts firm Wildbird are behind the project and have teamed up with the Forres Business Association to create the visual spectacular.
Now local individuals and business owners are being invited to two sessions next month when they can find out more – and perhaps take part in filming for the project.
Wildbird, a Moray-based visual arts company specialising in theatre, film making and moving image, aim to produce an extravaganza of scenes scaled to fit with historic properties in Forres town centre. These will then be showcased at the Festival, which runs from September 21 to September 26.
Short films and portraits of local people will be projected onto windows and viewed from the street, bringing vivid light and colour to the High Street, Tolbooth Street and adjacent lanes. The community of Forres will be reflected back on itself in Street Scene’s unique style.
Marc Hindley, Chair of Forres Business Association, told insideMoray: “The business association is working with Wildbird to identify properties to use in the Street Scene.
“We are looking for first and second floor windows along the High Street, and lanes adjacent, to feature in the project.
“We want to get as many businesses as we can to be involved so that the whole high street becomes a creative and vibrant canvas. It’s fantastic that Forres will be hosting another must-see event this year, and one which shops and locals can benefit from.”
Projections used could be of people performing ordinary and extraordinary acts – a couple kissing, a woman comforting a crying baby, a haunting, a simple portrait, or abstract or absurdist content. It could even depict a behind-the-scenes look at a some of the activity that happens in Forres businesses.
Wildbird will use ‘green screen’ filming techniques and engage with members of the public, local businesses and employees to capture the content for the exhibition.
There will be a chance for participants to create specific pieces as well as be part of the project spontaneously in passing. Wildbird will also provide opportunities for volunteers to get involved and learn technical and creative skills as part of the process.
The Forres Street Scene project is one of four successful ProjectARTS applications that was awarded funding in the first round through the Forres Creative Place programme delivered by Findhorn Bay Arts.
Filming of the scenes is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 4 in the Forres Community Centre Foyer from 11am to 3pm and on Tuesday, June 7 in Canary Dwarf at 116 High Street from 12noon to 4pm.
Those wishing to be kept up to date with arrangements and to help make a scene with Wildbird should contact: Graeme Roger 07599 429281 or graeme_roger@hotmail.com or Chris Lee on 07963 845917 or chris.wildbird@gmail.com.