Lev Manovich: Soft Cinema

CONCEPT
The installation presents 4 diffirent non-interactive digital films.
All films are generated in real time by a Macromedia Director program.
3 of the films are assembled by a Director program from media clips located on PC hard drives (I will refer to these as "content" films).
The 4th film shows graphically the process of film construction using animation (I will refer to it as "program visualisation" film.)
Since the films are generated by software on the fly, they run forever without any interuption or any need for human control.
Physically installation will look like a lounge, with low comfotable low level furniture. People can watch my movies, talk, or simply rest.

OVERALL SPACE REQUIREMENTS
The installation consists of a few separate areas which can be arranged in diffirent ways in relation to each other, depending on the proportions of the space available. The areas are as following:
1 "bar" area, with monitor showing "program visualisation" film WITHOUT any sound.
1 "rest/talk/read" area: low level comfortbale furniturre which can be positioned in variety of ways;
3 "private viewing" areas, each showing one of the "content" film WITH sound.
"Bar" and "rest/talk/read" areas are open.
Each of "private viewing"areas" is enclosed in semi-transparent material (plastic or cloth). The material is held in place by a frame.
On the attached drawing I have indicated approximate space needed by each area, and a couple of possible layouts.
NOTE that only the "private viewing" areas have sound; the "bar" and "rest/talk" area do not have any sound.
This should provide additional flexibility in choosing the location for the installation.

DESIRED AREA
Assuming that all the rectangular layout is used (i.e. all the areas together form a reactangle), 10 meters by 8 meters will be quite adequate.
This includes "bar," "rest/talk," and 3 "private viewing" areas.
All 3 "private viewing" areas are the same in size: 2.5-3 meters (same length and width.).

LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS
"Bar" and "rest/social" areas do not have any special light requirments. The overal light level should be comfortable, not very bright but suffient for people to talk to each other, read, etc.
Since 3 "private viewing" areas are enlosed by semi-transparent material, I assume that they naturally will have a lower level of illumination.

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
4 PCs with Macromedia Director software and QuickTime Pro.

RESOLUTION of all films is DV NTSC: 480 x 720.

MONITORS
Since all films are generated by a Director program in real time using DV clips stored on PC hard drives, I would like to have as sharp display as possible.
Therefore it will be desirbale that the projection equipemnt has RGB input.

Below I have indicated various options for presenting films, with the most desirable (and most expensive) options first:

option 1: 4 plazma monitors - total cost approximately $20000
option 2: 4 projectors - total cost approximately $12000
option 3: 1 projector and 3 TV monitors - total cost approximately $5500

Approximate prices (in US $) as of 6/2002
- 1 plazma monitor: $4000-5000 (42 inches across);
-1 projector: $2500 US
-1 high-end flat screen TV monitor: $1000 (36 inches across).

CABLES
The power cables and the cables between PCs and monitors should not be hidden; on the contrary, they are visible and highlighted by choosing a bright color.

FURNITURE
The attached GIF image provides example of the kind of pieces I would like to use. I do not have to use pieces from any particular company - this is for reference only.