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Steven C. Kemp
The Physicists by Friedrich Durrenmatt

Author: Steven C. Kemp

Performance space: Hungarian Theatre of Cluj

Theatre company/company produced for: Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, Romania

Month & year of original production: October 2012

Description of items intended for exhibition:
Video clip

Project description:
After a successful run in La Jolla, CA as a graduate thesis project, several years later, we were asked to present a new production of 'The Physicists' in Romania in Hungarian. The set is a german villa converted to a mental institution that slowly transforms into a prison. By fully creating the set in 3D and rendering animations of the transformations I was able to easily overcome language barriers and successfully communicate with the local staff.

Artform:
Set Design

Designers:
Set designer: Steven C. Kemp
Costume designer: Emily DeAngelis
Director/choreographer: Lori Petermann

Image gallery

Steven C. Kemp - The Physicists by Friedrich Durrenmatt

PHYSICISTS RENDER 1 - OPENING SCENE
3DS MAX rendering of the set built in AutoCAD in 3D. This is a render of the initial scene where Dr. Mathilde von Zahnd has returned the institution to a presentable state for the inspectors. The set affords as many hiding places and spots of observation by the staff as possible such as both overlooking balconies, opening panels for spying and pipes utilized throughout in comedic moments of listening into 'secret' conversations.

Steven C. Kemp - The Physicists by Friedrich Durrenmatt

PHYSICISTS RENDER 2 - MOBIUS MONOLOGUE
3DS MAX rendering of the set built in AutoCAD in 3D. This is a render of Mobius as he speaks to his family. The unobtainable beauty of the outside is spotlighted in this scene with the sun setting and light rushing in from the windows highlighting the brilliant green shrubbery outside.

Steven C. Kemp - The Physicists by Friedrich Durrenmatt

PHYSICISTS RENDER 3 - PRISON LOCKDOWN
3DS MAX rendering of the set built in AutoCAD in 3D. This render depicts the lockdown of the institution starting with the removal of the portraits in the upper portion of the formerly beautifully upholstered walls. The dictator portrait of the Dr. is brought in to lock off the cells and all access to the outside is closed off by reinforced steel doors. The ceiling grid lowers illuminating the Physicists in their new 'cells' of light.

Steven C. Kemp - The Physicists by Friedrich Durrenmatt

PHYSICISTS RENDER 4 - CELL DETAIL
3DS MAX rendering of the set built in AutoCAD in 3D. This detail shows the interiors of the cells as essentially 'tumors' added on through time to the structure of the German villa. Each unit is its own pre-fab bunker brought in intended for detaining the patients.

Other media

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9847233/PORTFOLIO_ANIMATIONS/PHYfinale.mov
PHYSICISTS TRANSFORMATION ANIMATION
This is an animation of the 3D set created in 3DS MAX and composited in After Effects. The animation shows the full transformation of the set throughout the entire length of the play from the innocent mental institution converted from a German villa to complete prison with a pipe organ as an instrument of world domination.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9847233/PHY_PROD_PHOTO.JPG
PHYSICISTS PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPH
photo credit: Steven C. Kemp

Production photo depicting the lockdown as the Dr. is about to reveal the death machine behind the curtain which is the pipe organ she had accompanied 'Einsten's' violin. As shown in the animation the organ flies out as the frame around the upper balcony stretches revealing the map of the world that the organ is now bombing through strategic command controls.