There has been an incredible amount of creativity that has gone into (RED)™. Some really talented video artists have come together to support the Windows and Dell (PRODUCT) RED™ campaign to Get a More Powerful PC. Using a little stop-motion photography, some ingenious materials and a whole lot of imagination, their results are extraordinary. Check out this video, “Dominoes”:

        
Video: Dominoes

One of the artists behind “Dominoes,” Tim Fort, was kind enough to write about his experience creating the video. We’ve all played with dominoes as kids, lining them up and knocking them down, but Tim takes the game to a whole new level:

As an International Man of Kinetic Artistry, I find myself going to interesting spots around the globe: Belgium, New York Mills, Las Vegas, and the latest, Seattle. Earlier this month, I found myself in a studio space at Seattle Grip and Lighting, working on a project for Microsoft and their Windows (PRODUCT) RED. My assignment was to design, in dominoes, various motifs: a computer, (RED) logo, a pill, heart, Africa, and musical notes. These icons represent what happens when people buy something (RED): people buy a computer, which is (RED), which raises money for medication, a sign of solidarity and love, going to people in Africa. The music notes are for the street karaoke part of the event where everyone can raise their voice for awareness of this cause. As with most video shoots, there was a lot of effort and creativity crammed into two long shooting days. It's the kind of work, though, that I find stimulating--working with bright, artistic people in an energetic environment where one's own efforts have a large impact on the final video.
 
Since the world of domino tumbling and other kinetic art is still so far on the cutting edge of the art world, it's a learn-as-you-go situation in which one often encounters unforeseen pitfalls. On this shoot, I encountered a pitfall in the form of flaky white paint on the set which caused the dominoes to stand crookedly and fall unexpectedly. However, I learned over the years that production houses can fix things with astonishing speed, and in our case, salvation came in the form of four large plexiglass sheets delivered post haste to Seattle Grip and Lighting. Once that imbroglio was resolved, the domino tumbling proceeded at a rapid pace. On that first shooting day, we completed the (RED) mosaic, the computer, and the pill.

On the second day of shooting, I completed the large domino heart, followed by the musical notes.Then I tackled the largest and most challenging domino set-up: an outline of Earth with a filled-in Africa. It wasn't just an issue of creating a recognizable globe, but also getting the complex pattern of dominoes to fall in the correct sequence. Luckily, the Earth pattern of dominoes worked the first time.  While I had a few small mishaps due to Flying Elbow Syndrome, I was fortunate in that all of my domino set-ups worked correctly when the cameras were rolling. After we finished the main shooting, we got a few shots of one of my other kinetic-art techniques, a kinetic flip-book of sorts that I call a Muybridgeoscope, and got some excellent shots of animation sequences.
 
Thanks to the efforts of Jessica, Vince, Celene, Kristen, Michelle, and Sarah, we got terrific footage of 6,000 dominoes. I'm very curious to see the finished video and how it will be implemented in a video-wall display. Not only did I enjoy working with dominoes, but this project was rewarding in a deeper sense as my efforts will help the (RED) program to save lives in Africa.
 
Tim Fort, July 21st, 2008

 
What I took away from watching Tim’s work is that the power of (RED) is truly a chain-reaction. A finger enters a computer screen, and with one simple push of a domino, patterns result that symbolize how Windows and Dell (PRODUCT) RED helps to eliminate AIDS in Africa. The stream of falling red dominoes flow to create an image of a computer, which then turns into a (RED) banner. The sale of these (RED) Dell PCs help to fund life-preserving antiretroviral (ARV) medication for people living with AIDS in Africa – hence the next domino patterns of a pill, a heart, the Earth and Africa. Once we see the musical notes – a nod to our collective power when we come together and raise our voice – the patterns begin over again and the cycle continues. When you make the purchasing choice to buy a More Powerful PC, the resulting flow of funds to help eliminate AIDS in Africa is as effortless as the falling dominoes effortless – unlike Tim’s intricate work.

You can check out Tim’s video along with all of the other captivating videos in all of their full glory at the Raise (YOUR) Voice events throughout the country – just check out the schedule in the upper right hand corner of this blog.