My next thing to do was to start sourcing the equipment I would need for the project. My original plan was to try and get four projectors and have eight screens for the inner ring that was going to have the personal issues on them. I thought using eight would be pretty easy to do if I just used the modern computers which are available to meet at uni but after looking at other art pieces and talking to my teachers using old TVs instead would have a meaning of their own. As the big projections will be on new high tech projectors having the smaller problems on old technology (specifically CRT TVs) gives my piece that contrast and the meaning I would aim for it to have would be that the older tech is showing more personal problems that often get forgotten about but are always there much like the technology the clips will be shown on. It is also more aesthetically pleasing and shows more effort to source some older TVs, having looked on eBay they were expensive as posting something that big is not cheap so I decided I would cut the eight that I originally was looking at down to two that being if I was going to buy the TVs myself. There was also the issue of what do I do with them after, luckily however one of my teachers also works at another part of the campus that is a few miles away and knows that they have a number of old CRT TVs lying around. He is going to send me a picture of what they have other there so I can pick which ones I want to use and he will bring them over, I am now going to look at having four screens in a square to almost enclose the viewer.
As for projectors I knew at the start of the project that getting four could be an issue as they are expensive pieces of kit. I emailed both the IT desk at uni and the technician of my courses department. I received quick replies from both (see below) and it seems like there is one available for use guaranteed as well as another one I could possibly use in the art department. I also emailed the IT desk who said they do have some but wouldn't tell me how many and I would have to go through the hassle of having my teacher take them out for me as they don't let students borrow them. I will enquire about how many IT have available but for now I look to run some tests with the one that's in the department and is available to me so I can get an idea of the format projectors use as well as seeing things like how big the image will be and what sound options I have.
I am going to be continuing with my research into different artists and mental health related art installations as well as starting to run tests. As soon as I can get the old TVs bought over I can start looking at what format they need the footage I get to be in.
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