Reflection 28

The link to my presentation is http://www.voutounos.com/presentation.html

There has been a discussion with my colleques about their presentations. The first group was questioned about their presentations:

Paul, Birgitt, Angelina, Lucy, Gary, Chris and Susan. Their projects are progressing really well and i had the opportunity to ask my questions.

I had to edit the short clip in the park for my presentation and combine it with the rest of the presentation in the link shown above.

Reflection 27

The representative of the municipality, Mr Glafkos came and met me in the park. He agreed on the spot that i have decided to build the proskinitari. I have made the request in November of 2006 and after 11 months i had the green light to proceed. The lesson that i have learned is to take action the earlier you can if you decide to be involved in projects that you need approval by goverment authorities.

The next day after the final approval i would receive the rock . I was looking to find the rock in  nature but the probel was that more rocks where of an erratic size.  I wouldn’t like to find a rock that was cut like a symmetrical cube neither. So in a near factory i found the rock and i arranged a telescopic handler to carry the rock and put in in the middle of the park where i wanted.

I have also started Iconography lessons that are organized by the Latsia municipality, my area. I want to be tought the technique of iconography and practice it with an experianced teacher. Mrs Athinoulla is my teacher. The first lesson covered the preparing of the wooden boards.

Reflection 26

The students arranged their presentation dates and i am waiting to start mine. The municipality authorities are a bit lost in their paperwork but they said they would send a representative to accept the place in the park that i suggest for the building of the proskinitari. I have found the rock that was suitable with my plans in a nearby marble processing factory. This rock is from a quarry in Limassol town.

I have worked with my digital image too. I will post an updated image showing the progress soon.

My presentation will be constituted by the individual objectives of my project and a video of the placement of the rock in the park. It will be an unforgetable moment for my whole life and the moment will be recorded. 

A rock will scream in the neighborhood park.

www.proskinitari.com

The www.proskinitari.com is ready to welcome web surfers around the world. The site was meant to have a neat design and i hope it is one that is not confusing the user.

It has 3 buttons. The one is the one side of a molivdovoulo (seal made of lead). It represents the Mother of Jesus Christ Theotokos. Theotokosis a compound of two Greek words, Theos God and tokos parturition, childbirth.

The second button that is the back side of the molivdovoulo reprsents the Archangel Micheal.

The third button has an abstract scene on a vessel.

The three objects were found in Karyes of Thermi in Lesvos along with many other findings. The Saints Raphael, Nikolaos and Irene revealed their skeletons and their story. The first button links to the story of the Saints.

http://www.proskinitari.com/The_Saints.PDF

The second button links to a photopage with some documentary photos:

http://www.proskinitari.com/Photographs.html and the third very important button links to an interactive page where the user can submit a request to the Saints.

This interactive page is a guestbook that saves the requests of Christians. They are submitted periodically to the church and a priest prays for the Saints mediation. Health problems of many people have been resolved miraculously. Many cases are documented and this site hopefully will make the Saints known beyond the Greek world.

The flash rollover buttons that become dark red when pressed and the icon of the Saints that becomes silver have symbolic meaning. The dark red color symbolizes the blood of the Saints that was spilled for their faith. The silver icon represents the glittering glory of the Saints that can protect humans and stand as shield in front of any evil and assist them.

Reflection 25

A lot of work is ahead concerning written matterial that has to be submitted. The key dates according to my tutor Andrew Stiff are:

19th November -  Unit 2 essay [Concise discussion paper] hand in.
21st November – PGPD Hand In
4th December – Assessment

An online seminar will take place soon for students to present their work in progress.

I am looking forward for the tutorial with Andrew Stiff next week.

Reflection 24 – A short movie – Proskinitari

A short film  will be one of the outcomes for my project. I have came into an agreement with reputed actors and will be a solid work of 12 minutes. I have submitted a scenario to a governmental organisation for achieving financial support. Filming have been scheduled to start sometime in April. The cast for my film will be:

• Sofoklis Kaskaounias
• Niovi Charalambous
• Doros Gabriel
• Antreas Kaskaounias
• priest (Father Linos)

Sofoklis Kaskaounias and Niovi Charalambous are very famous actors in Cyprus with great performance in cinematography, tv and theater. Antreas Kaskaounias is the son of the actor, Doros one friend of mine with great acting and music talent. Father Linos is a priest in the nearby church of my neighbourhood.

Some photos for the two famous  actors are shown below:

Sofoklis Kaskaounias is a great comedian but he is able performing in a diversity of roles. His achievements in theatre, tv and cinematography confirm his outstanding perfomance. He performed in the  film “Kalabush” (90 min)  http://www.docfestival.gr/2003/uk/process.php?movieid=758&eventid=123 and was also awarded in 2004 with the best Cypriot actor award.

Niovi Charalambous is a renowned actress that will play the wife of Sofoklis in the short movie. Her career has started in 2000 when she finished the dramatic school and very soon she was established in the theatre and tv scene.

The summary of the scenario is the following:

Father Linos (Father Linos -church of Saint Philippos) and a child Andreas (Andreas Kaskaounias) bless the houses of neighborhood with holy water before the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. While they are prepared to go to the park with the proskinitari of Saint Rafail a rich businessman Lampros (Sophocles Kaskaounias) is preparing to leave his house and attend a professional appointment. Fotini (Niovi Charalambous) his wife with the angelic is trying to convince him to stay for the Agjasmo of their house however uselessly.

Doros (Doros Gabriel) neighbour of Lampros  sees Lambros in his car and says good morning. He tells Lambros that he want to show him his bouzouki and to play a song that will take Lambros to  paradise. However Lambros gets angry because he had to leave for his professional appointment. So he starts the engine and leaves another “obstacle” behind him. Coincidentally he meets father Linos and the child. The furious car almost woul strike the young boy that kept the container with the holy water and basil. Lambros was ashamed. For a moment he thought to leave but instead he steps out of teh car and comforts the fearred Andreas.Father Linos blesses Lambros with the holy water. Lampros bends also worships the Cross. Young Andreas and the Cross were the “obstacles” that stopped him  finally.

The three of them are  directed to the proskinitari. Fotini being at home senses a change that happens. After the “Agiasmo” with the holy water at the proskinitari and the house of Lambros, Lambros drives small Andreas home.  He buys him an icecream from a a kiosk and he feels sad and happy the same time. The lost appointment was not so much important anymore. Doros with his mpouzouki plays alone in his house a song. The song that would take Lampros at paradise… The accidental incident was the reason that  changed  Lampros. The priest called him and God was presented  in a setting that was made only for Lambros.

A moment that may hide the Anastasis – Resurrection can be hidden in a crossroad. A moment that may seem an incident of routine perhaps is a spark in the eyes in order to  really” see”.

The full scenario was written in 6 pages with the scenes on the left and the dialogues at the right of each page.

For the movie i have bought a stereo microphone and a dead cat windshield, microphone boom pole, a canon hdv camera hv20 and a wide lens.