As the project approaches its final stages, Week 13 became one of the most unexpected parts of the production process. This week focuses on my conversation with Michael Williams, a composer, academic, and Associate Professor in Music at the University of Waikato. What makes this conversation especially interesting is how it began almost entirely by chance. At the time, I was on the fourth floor of I Block, looking for potential guests for the next episode of the podcast. Whil

This week, the project continued through a cross-national online conversation with Gu Yiyang. Compared with the previous interview, this episode felt especially personal to me. It is difficult to imagine that a friend I first met at a film event three years ago would eventually become part of this project in such a meaningful way. Having a deeper conversation with her is something I always want to do for a long time. She is a friend I deeply admire, not only because of her kn

This week, the project moved further into visual production through a photography session at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts. After several weeks of podcast recording and interview-based research, this stage allowed me to return to one of the project’s original media outputs: the photobook. I was invited by staff members to attend the weekly Lunchtime Recital Series, which is regularly held on Wednesdays at the Concert Chamber of Gallagher Academy. The event creates

This week, the project reached an important stage with the pitch presentation. After several weeks of research, case studies, production testing, and the release of the first podcast episode, this pitch offered a valuable opportunity to look back on the project’s development and present its current direction in a more structured and coherent way, while also creating space to receive constructive feedback. I was really glad to see the creative outcomes of other classmates. Eve

This week marks the beginning of recording for the very first episode of Unseen Curtain Podcast. We seek to create a space that explores the stories, experiences, and creative practices that exist beyond the stage, reflecting on how artistic expression can be shaped not only through performance but also through conversation and personal reflection to create emotional resonance. Having this opportunity to talk with Dr. Declan Patrick, who is an academic and theatre practitione

Continuing on the outcomes of last week's workshop production, this week we focuses on examining the viability of conducting interviews using auditory narrative rather than video storytelling through practical experience. I had the privilege of conducting a short interview with Dr. Bronwyn Isaacs, which was the most creative and interesting part of the production without doubt. She is a Senior Lecturer in the field of Anthropology at the University of Waikato, who holds a pro

This week focuses on the conversation with Dr. Declan Patrick, who is a Senior Lecturer in the field of Theatre Studies and Dance at the University of Waikato. I had the privilege of meeting him for the first time during the workshop production process. We had our brief but thoughtful conversation and quickly finalized the details of the future collaboration. To my surprise, he is such an extraordinarily kind and approachable person to talk with personally, and the discussion

This week marks a shift in focus from visual to auditory storytelling through a case study of The Theatre Podcast hosted by Alan Seales, which provides a valuable reference for understanding how spoken dialogue constructs meaning within the context of theatre and performing arts. By examining how the podcast operates as a narrative medium, this analysis explores the role of voice, conversation, and intimacy in shaping artistic expression, and how these elements add further de

This week extends the project’s visual narrative through a case study of La Danse (1974) by David Hamilton. In contrast to Henry Leutwyler’s contemporary photographic approach, Hamilton’s work emerges from a much earlier historical context, which significantly shapes both its aesthetic qualities and its visual storytelling. "La danse" is French for "the dance," referring to the expressive art form involving movement, rhythm, and music, which often conveys emotion or storytell

This week focuses on a case study of Henry Leutwyler’s photobook Ballet, examining how his distinctive visual language contributes to a more intimate and nuanced form of visual storytelling. The analysis also informs the development of my own media output, particularly the photobook component of the project. Leutwyler’s work is defined by his unprecedented backstage access to the New York City Ballet, where he documents not only performances but also the quieter, often unseen

Welcome to Week 3 of the Unseen Curtain creative media project. After defining the podcast and photobook as our dual creative outputs, this week shifts entirely into pre-production planning—the critical foundational stage that turns creative concepts into actionable, executable work. Every step this week focuses on organizing logistics, securing key collaborators, and structuring content to ensure the upcoming fieldwork and production run smoothly, all while staying true to o

Welcome to Week 2 of Unseen Curtain . After established the core context and project aims in Week 1, this week is dedicated to collaborative brainstorming based on the discussions and outcomes from tutorial. We will shift from the "why" to the "how," defining the two primary media outputs—Podcast and Photobook—and refining their conceptual frameworks, visual styles, and narrative approaches. The project employs two distinct but thematically aligned media forms to create a mu

Welcome to the first entry of the Unseen Curtain blog, a space dedicated to documenting the entire journey of this creative media campaign centered on marginalized classical performing arts. This week, I am laying the foundational groundwork for the project by diving deep into its contextual background and defining clear, purpose-driven aims that will guide every step of the creative process moving forward. Context: A Recent Controversy Behind the Scenes This project finds it