FIRST PROMO PHOTO BRAINSTORM
Hi Chia and Laura! I’m preparing to create the first promo photo for the new Houseworld. I’m not exactly sure if I’m on the right track. I’d really appreciate your feedback. Here’s what I’m thinking so far….
*you can click any of the photos to enlarge*
BOTO’s first promo photo
In our prep for BOTO, we took this photo years before the show officially opened. It ended up being a helpful way to build anticipation.
Although the final show ended up looking very much like this promo photo, I don’t think this is strictly the only way to approach it.
The first promo photo I’m imagining for Houseworld will be in the spirit of the show, but will likely use a setting that will not be the final Houseworld venue.
CONCEPT: The Monster surrounded by balloons in a domestic interior
The concept that is first attracting me is The Monster (Laura’s first costume is nearly done) in a domestic interior (a bedroom? a living room? a kitchen? dining room?) flooded by balloons.
The balloons signify the surreal dream spilling into the otherwise normal world and also foreshadow Little Jean’s Memory Cave, which will be returning. I like the idea of normal furniture (a floor lamp, a dresser…) poking up out of the sea of balloons.
Here are two pics from 2015 that feel like ancestors: A) a guest in the 2015 balloon room, and B) stumbling upon the Houseworld living room that’s been filled with surreality.
We’ll try posing the Monster without accessories, but also maybe playing the harmonium… maybe listening to the Shell… maybe holding a balloon… things of that nature.
Photos of Laura’s new monster costume in development
The setting? Rent a nearby airbnb, stage the shoot
My first intuition for the setting is to rent an airbnb with a room that has an air of compelling domesticity. I’m posting some screenshots of my favorite rooms I’ve found so far. Obviously, not every item in the airbnb photo would be kept in our staged version.
Unfortunately, the airbnb options so far aren’t as abundant as I expected. I can’t tell if my photo concept is inherently flawed, or if it needs a clarifying detail, or if I simply need to keep digging. Or maybe the room has already been found and is one of these…!
Trying to clarifying what I’m searching for
One strategy I’ve toyed with is that I first need to find a non-airbnb image (or 2 or 3) that embodies what I’m searching for. I’ve Google Image searched a little bit, and it seems that I’m intuitively trying to get away from contemporary looks. Maybe what I’m looking for is something dated, or retro, or vintage. But these initial Google Image results have also not been euphoric.
In fact, seeing them displayed on this webpage, it appears to me that the interiors found through the limitlessness of Google Images are not obviously better than the rentable and proximate New York airbnbs.
What’s your first reaction, Laura and Chia? Am I on the right track? x Andrew