TriggerShift: Creative Process Videography with a Documentary Videographer in Newcastle
In 2012, I had the opportunity to explore creative process videography while filming a short documentary about an innovative theatre project called TriggerShift.
As a documentary videographer in Newcastle, I’m always fascinated by how technology and art can intersect, and this project was a perfect example of that collision.
TriggerShift brought together a group of young people from North East England, working alongside programmers, musicians, visual artists, and illustrators. Over 15 months, they collaborated to create an interactive theatre piece using Microsoft’s Kinect camera—a device known mainly for gaming, but here repurposed into a powerful creative tool.
A New Lens on Technology
One of the most exciting aspects of filming TriggerShift was documenting how accessible technology like the Kinect could revolutionize live performance. As one participant said during the documentary:
“The technology isn’t necessarily that groundbreaking. It’s been around for decades. But what’s so amazing about the Kinect is it’s less than 100 pounds. Whereas before you’d have to be in the military, or you’d have to be a big company to get one, it would cost five, ten grand. Now you can just go buy one, plug it in and use it.”
As a documentary videographer in Newcastle, capturing moments like this—where young people realise the creative potential of everyday tech—is exactly why I love filming the creative process.
Youth Voices at the Heart
While technology was key, TriggerShift was ultimately driven by the voices and ideas of the young people involved. In workshops, they explored big questions like:
“If you could change the world, or your city, what would it be like?”
These discussions led to writing monologues, devising scenes, and designing visual and audio elements. Eventually, all these threads wove together into an interactive performance called API – Planet Ideas, staged as a game show where performers pitched ideas for a new world.
One young participant recalled:
“We started off talking about our ideas and how each of us wanted to create a show. Some wanted to feature artwork, some a musical piece, and some a drama piece. We voted and decided a dramatized connection with the computer would be a good idea.”
Filming the Creative Process
From a creative process videography perspective, TriggerShift offered incredible material. Over three days, I filmed workshops, rehearsals, and interviews, using a combination of Panasonic AF101, GH2, and the iPhone 4S. Each camera played a role:
- Panasonic AF101 captured high-quality interviews and wide shots of the theatre space.
- GH2 gave flexibility in low light and dynamic scenes.
- iPhone 4S was perfect for spontaneous moments and discreet behind-the-scenes footage.
Editing was completed in Adobe Premiere CS6 and Adobe Prelude, which made handling large volumes of footage more efficient and kept the narrative focused and engaging.
A Unique Theatrical Experience
The performance itself was unlike any traditional theatre. Using Processing—a Java-based programming language ideal for beginners—the young artists coded interactive visuals and sounds triggered by live movement. Kinect tracked gestures, enabling performers to control the performance environment in real-time.
This presented unique challenges for the cast, who not only had to deliver lines but also precisely time movements to sync with digital effects. As one participant put it:
“Doing a speech and working with the technology is completely different. It needs another way to get your head around. If one thing goes slightly wrong, you have to step back and change it live.”
Despite the complexity, the young people thrived. They directed scenes, controlled visuals, and even managed technical aspects of the show, giving them a sense of ownership and pride.
Audience Interaction and Installation
Beyond the stage performance, the team created an interactive installation upstairs at the venue, inviting visitors to design their own “perfect world.” Guests shared ideas like “space travel for everyone,” “equality,” and “a beautiful world where nobody gets hurt.”
Seeing people engage so deeply with the installation was incredibly rewarding, both as a filmmaker and as someone passionate about documenting creative communities in Newcastle and the North East.
Reflections
Filming TriggerShift reinforced why I’m drawn to creative process videography. Projects like this capture more than just performances—they reveal curiosity, experimentation, and the incredible spirit of collaboration.
As a documentary videographer in Newcastle, I believe these stories deserve to be shared, showing how technology and creativity can empower young people to explore new ways of storytelling.
For more of my films exploring theatre projects, you can visit my theatre documentary collection here.