The Works of Boyd Branch
- Upcoming: The Veterans Project 2016
- November 9th 2016 @ FilmBar 7pm
- Info @ facebook.com/asuveteransproject
- Upcoming: Ru Mad Ophelia?
- by Howl Theatre Nov 2-11 2016
- Info: http://tinyurl.com/rumadophelia
As a theatre artist and designer I am interested in how digital technologies can extend the reach of live performance.
I work with theatre directors, art centers, museums, universities, climate scientists, sustainability engineers, military veterans and other groups that share a desire to connect more profoundly with others.
My work involves engineering digital environments that augment live performance with the reach of the web, the memory of hard drives, and the expressiveness of technical imagery.
My multidisciplinary path has led to biofeedback driven immersive theatre installations exploring the neurochemistry of morality. Neuro
The engineering of media systems that foster critically engaged dialogue between cross disciplinary specialists. The Veterans Project
Designing interactive projection environments for the stage such as Charles Mee's Soot & Spit.
And digital tools to help scientists learn the skills of theatrical improvisation. sideCoach
“Our thoughts, feelings, desires and actions are being robotized; 'life' is coming to mean feeding apparatuses and being fed by them. In short: Everything is becoming absurd. So where is there room for human freedom?” -Vilem Flusser
As assistant professor at Arizona State University I teach courses in design, digital media for live performance, science communication, and improvisation. These courses each reflect a deep interest in the relationship between art and science and underscores my attempt to answer Flusser's question about freedom. By teaching artists how to think and design with the formal strategies of digital technology, and scientists how to abandon formal strategies for communication and to speak artistically I believe novel spaces of human freedom are being constantly discovered.
-crop-u27133.jpg?crc=4235720090)
Current Position
Visiting Assistant Professor, Arizona State University 2013-Present
School of Film, Dance and Theatre, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Affiliate Faculty, Office of Veteran and Military Academic Engagement
Fellow, Center for Science and the Imagination
Honors Faculty, Barrett Honors College
Education
Arizona State University
MFA, Interdisciplinary Digital Media & Performance
May 2013
Universiteit Utrecht, NL
MA, Theatre Studies
June 2007
Certifications
The Torch Theatre, Tempe AZ
Certificate in Longform Improvisation
March 2016
University of Utrecht, NL
Certificate in mime/ physical theatre
December 2006
SW Shakespeare Conservatory, Scottsdale AZ
Certificate in Acting
July 2002
Fellowships
US State Department Exchange Program, Kinnaird College, Lahore, Pakistan
September 2015
Center for Science and the Imagination, ASU
2012-2013
Fulbright Fellow, Netherlands
2006-2007
Publications
“Embodied Historiography: Rupture as the Performance of History.” Co-authored with Erika Hughes. Performance Research special volume, “On Rupture.” Dec. 2014.
In progress: “ Engineering Performance Analysis Tools for Science Communication.” Anticipated submission date: December 2016.
Invited Lectures (selected)
SALT program, New York Academy of Science. Two-day residency teaching improvisational science communication workshops. August 2016.
Lahore in Miniature: a three-week residency at Kinnaird College in Lahore, Pakistan, September 2015, with multiple master classes and lectures. Presented research and/or worked with at least 600 students. Sept. 2015.
“Communicating Science Through Improvisation,” The International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology (ISSST). Dearborn MI. May 2015
“Improv for Science Communication,” Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium. Purdue University. Sept. 2014.
“Improvisation and Science Diplomacy.” Science Diplomacy and Leadership Program, Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes at ASU. Washington DC. June 2015.
Conferences (selected)
“The Veterans Project: Embodied History.” Presented at the Responsibility, Morality and the Costs of War Symposium at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Nov. 2015.
“Edge Habitats: Platforms for Exchange Between the Arts and Sciences“ Paper presented at the National Annual Conference of the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Oct. 2015.
“Hacking the Young Mind.” A workshop presented at the annual AATE Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Aug. 2015.
“Beyond Disciplines: Teaching Artistry as Applied Transdisciplinarity.” Workshop presented at the annual New York University Forum on the Teaching Artist, New York City, NY. April 2014.
“The Theatre of Science: Devising Science Based Theatre Experiences”
Paper presented at the International Science Fiction Theatre Conference Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK. April 2014
Grant Funding (selected)
Institute for Humanities Research Seed Grant, $5,000. “sideCoach: A digital tool for coaching public performers.” Awarded April 2016.
Institute for Humanities Research Seed Grant, $12,000. “Embodied Historiographies: The Veterans Project.” Awarded November 2013.
Herberger Research Council Project Grant, $3,000. “Lived Histories: The Veterans Project.” Awarded October 2013.
Commissioned Projects
Walton School of Sustainability, $12,000. “Blue Bike Presents: Shoe-Pocalypse”. February 2014.
Mesa Center for the Arts and The ASU Center for Science and the Imagination (CSI), $12,000. “Neuro: A Chemical Romance.” Presented at CSI’s Emerge Festival April 2013, and the Spark! Festival of creativity. March 2013.
Mesa Center for the Arts, Festival of Creativity. $8,000. “Desert Flow.” March 2011
Mesa Center for the Arts Arizona Centennial Festival, $8500. “Blue Bike Presents: Flight-Ovation.” April 2011.
Digital Media Installations
Designed over 25 media installations for theatre, dance, musical concerts, museums, and festivals in the United States, Netherlands, and Pakistan.
AZ: nominated for four ‘Zoni’ awards for media/scenic design.
Regional: La Jolla Playhouse, Childsplay. Off-off Broadway: New Ohio Theatre.
Directing
Directed over 12 productions including two U.S. premieres and five original productions at regional theatres, festivals, colleges, and high schools throughout Arizona.
Performance
Acted in 8 professional theatrical productions throughout Arizona and the Netherlands.
Skills/Proficiency
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Premiere
- Adobe Muse
- Adobe After Effects
- Cinema 4D
- Troikatronix Isadora
- Dataton Watchout
- Derivative TouchDesigner
- Python
- Processing
- Arduino
- Adobe Illustrator
