The Killer News
What is "The Killer News"?
What is it about?
What's so "killer" about it?
Press?
Is "The Killer News" a globop(genre) show?
What is Digital Conductor?
What is "Globopera"
Who is in "The Killer News"
Globop is a new brand of live, multi-cultural, multi-media entertainment which provides creative, information-based program content and designs to help festival event networks raise awareness and support for the numbers of socio-environmental challenges facing life-forms today of all walks, flaps and swims, Globop provides production support for its program designs to help festival event networks present audiences worldwide with performances as fascinating as they are provocative. top
Where did the word “globop” come from?
[global be-bop hip-hop opera]
Globop: (noun)
1. Contraction derived from the words: global, be-bop, hip-hop, and opera (global - diverse permutations of instruments played in concert applying a chance-medley of conversant and exotic musical theories, be-bop – improvisational, hip-hop - contemporary, opera – multi-media, narrative). 2. Name originally used to describe the music of Hong Kong based band Flying Funk (c. 1999).
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When and why did Globop begin commercial operations; with what interests?
Globop was incorporated in October of 2002 in the State of Louisiana (New Orleans) to begin preparations for “Earthrise” (Festival) Tour de la Republique de Togo to raise awareness of the extremely high rate of exposure of its population to chemical pesticides and demonstrate a need for relief. Globop, Inc. continues today with its international mission of peace and goodwill with an expanded field of interests which include: environmental protection, social justice, education/research, performing arts, dance, theater; film/video, arts/cultural programs, and music. top
What is the nature and description of the “Earthrise” Project?
Globop will provide a full program of live, inter-active, musical and visual entertainment including workshops and discussions ranging from HIV/AIDS prevention and animal/environmental protection to communication/languages-etudiants and career advancement in the performing arts. An emsemble cast of actors and musicians will perform live, and on screen, the narrative composition entitled “Earthrise” (A mute, love-lost orphan boy runs away to find himself, and his voice.) which will also showcase local talent including the Togolese National Musical Ensemble promoting an effort to increase potential for national economic self-sufficiency through amplified cultural contiguity between all nations and peoples. The live performance events, the workshops, and evidencies of the debilitating health and welfare issues with which many of these local populations struggle - particularly the infirmities caused by widespread use of agricultural pesticides and by poverty, will be documented. top
Globop functions as a diversified market group comprised of Globop recording label; Red Step Films production company; Theatre/Sketch Comedy (TSC) Group; Globop Channel for television and inter-active web-media networks, to include Globop IA. top
Steven P Reed, the Founder and President of Globop, Inc. (est. 2002) partnered with Mikel Prester (VP ’02-03) in the summer of 2001 in New York to implement a design plan for developing innovative universal media entertainment for a global audience. Autumn of 2002 Reed and Prester began consultations with Curtis Smith (CLA ’02-03) regarding a business plan for the off-Broadway production of “The Killer News” (c. 2003) at which time Thomas Burns (VP “04-05) arrived to provide technical support. top
It is being said that Globop is an “anti-apathetic”, what does this mean?
(“Are you going to the GUME this weekend?”)
Sounds like a medication but has more to do with motivation; Globop is perdurably creating opportunities for people everywhere to actively participate in entertaining people everywhere. They can visit any Globop Universal Media Event (GUME) through live and/or virtual media channels, get involved, and make a difference. Rather than just stand and clap and cheer in adoration of some fine performance, Globop encourages its audiences to enjoy events by re-focusing their energies toward creative participation and considering themselves, in a roundabout sort of way, a part of the band playing music composed of all the music of the world for the good of all people and their cultural development.
Globop audiences refuse to let certain “homogenizing” effects of narrow world market economic policies, which already intrude somewhat upon natural development of basic cultural tradition and innovation, and thus are in a position to determine major cultural paths taken by the apathetic and unwitting consumers of this world and thus to determine, almost by accident, the cultural destiny of an entire planet. top
If we’re going to be doing business together as a planet with a plan, what is the planet going to plan for the future of its cultural legacy?
Globoppers can celebrate the diversity of the cultures of the world while protecting and invigorating it with awareness and creative exercise. And with the knowledge that by showing support for the humanitarian mission and cultural vision Globop presents, audiences are also helping make the world a brighter place one ticket at a time. top
Underscored by a live band and surrounded by TV and video screens continuously airing the evening’s news, as well as what’s happening outside (as if they were windows) and other psychedelic imagery, The Killer News, is a sensory assault for the “Viewers [characters]” of a farcical world of which there are reasons to be afraid. top
The audience are flies on the wall of a studio news room/ living room where a couple watches TV while packing for the airport.
TV on channeling the waves: The story opens with “The Big Bang” displayed on large movie screens . . . As the history of the universe unfolds through the ages to present day the Killer News Network (KNN) report begins. Major headlines are announced live by two anchorpersons (R. “Buzz Frayes and Houda Thunket) who interact with roving reporters via “satellite” video and who essentially narrate the lives of the Viewers as they ready themselves for a trip to the airport – however, she is the only one flying. The show tells a humorously cautionary tale reflecting the psycho-geographic impacts of post-modern info-media on our ever-changing lives!
“'The Killer News' is basically a story I threw together under the impression I was being attacked by a newspaper swirling around in the wind between two skyscrapers. It is a collection of stories designed to evoke emotionally healing responses to new events we, as a society, have difficulty describing or are unable to describe.” - SPR. top
“The Killer News is like seeing a play, hearing a concert, and watching the evening news all at the same time.” top
“The Killer News wins Critics’ Pick” – Show Business Weekly
“Reed’s dark, postmodern multimedia fantasia on the nightly news features a continual stream of music, video and other day-to-day confusions.” - Time Out, New York Entertainment Guide
“ … ” - Village Voice
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Is “The Killer News” a globop (genre) show?
Yes, [The Killer News] is actually what is called a GLOBOPERA partly because it combines narrative drama and omni-media technology to create a multi-sensory entertainment experience, and also because it invites active audience participation in celebrating cross-cultural friendships while promoting the cultural creativity and goodwill which these understandings serendipitously foster. top
The Killer News uses a pioneering design format called “Digital Conductor” created by SPR and engineer Thomas Burns which utilizes Digital Video (DV) technology to collect and control screen images and song tempos, which in turn cue the actors and musicians. top
GLOBOPERA is what happens when global be-bop hip-hop and opera are combined, or various contemporary styles of music given a narrative storyline. top
Cast (live performers):
Linnea Redfern and Pete Stickel as Male and Female Viewer
Alex Emmert and Brigitte Beniquez as Anchors R. “Buzz”
Frayes and Houda Thunket, L. H. “Starborn”
Bryant as Ted “The Tip”
Topper and Andrew Kletjian as Prince Gritty.
“On-Ocreen” Characters:
Joseph Emil and W. B. Riggins as Sports and Weather
“Chief” Editor Steve Penser
Roving Reporters G. Curtis Smith, John Lee, Gillian Fallon, Leighbarry Harvard, and Christine Mogle, and
with appearances by Miriam Lopez, Michele Burnett, Chris Cotten, and George Grauer.
Creative Design team:
Thomas Burns (Cinematography),
John Keese (Lights),
Josh Parrish and Jim Kerr (Sound),
Tara Murphy and Brendan Coyle (Stage)
Band:
Mikel Prester – Saxophone,
Vincent DuPuy – Guitar
Joel Guilbert – Bass,
Darryl Baker – Drums,
R. M. Soccolich – Electronica,
Steven Company – Synthesizer
Written and Directed by Steven P Reed top