The recent show by Film Speak and White Sands (Dec. 14) joined forces responsible for some incredible parking-lot performances back to the setting where the magic began. Film Speak’s Gerald Perez and White Sands’ Steven Head were behind the extraordinary parking lot project that dazzled the Orlando art world back in 2012 – first at the Tiny Waves one-year anniversary party (Peacock Room) and then at the Accidental Music Festival (Plaza Live) – by using the sound systems in people’s cars as the PA and ingeniously syncing them into an organic sonic whole like some post-classical urban symphony. It was one of the coolest live experiments I’ve seen anyone do in this city, exceptional enough to earn an Undie award that year for “Best Sound Experience.”
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Liv Jones
Film Speak in the Guesthouse parking lot
Around dusk at the original scene of their outdoor alchemy behind the Guesthouse (formerly the Peacock Room), an ad hoc setup of instruments, video equipment and screens is assembled across two parking spaces and a wall.
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Liv Jones
White Sands in the Guesthouse parking lot
The waning sunlight quickly succumbs, first to the faint force of yellow lot lights and a sliver moon, and then to the tweaked, saturated colors of Broken Machine Films’ video. Once Perez starts to play, Film Speak begins.
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Liv Jones
Film Speak in the Guesthouse parking lot
Perez's electronic soundscaping this time comes with more pronounced noise and drone. In volume, tone and movement, it feels more aggressive. But the milieu factors in. Something about being out in the night air – beyond the politics and expectations of a room – feels especially apt for the norm-defying multimedia expeditions of Film Speak. It’s finally a physical setting renegade enough for their concept.
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Liv Jones
Film Speak in the Guesthouse parking lot
Afterwards, White Sands performs. With the quantum benefit of Broken Machine Films’ visual accompaniment, Head’s compositions go from ambient to astral.
Yet another cogent case for alternative show settings.
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Liv Jones
White Sands in the Guesthouse parking lot
click to enlarge
Liv Jones
Film Speak and White Sands in the Guesthouse parking lot
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