Construction, testing, and maintenance of an interactive online multi-screen platform for broadcasting multiple streams of live video of artistic performances (theatre, dance, opera, artistic circus etc..)
EU Arts Live seeks a developer to design and build an interactive multi-screen online platform for live broadcasts of multiple synchronized streams of video from artistic performances (theatre, dance, song). The personnel of these companies are largely unsophisticated when it comes to digital expertise, but each company will employ a director of photography/broadcast director who is expert in digital technology. This “DP” will direct the technical use of the cameras and oversee the uploading of the video streams to the platform via a low cost compact studio, assisted by performance arts technicians (lighting, stage managers, etc. The format will present the viewer with multiple streams of live video which he or she can choose to view full screen, changing camera views at any time to shape the broadcast experience. The architecture of the platform should take into account the objective of building on additional pages and functions to serve additional companies and implement new technological advances in the future. Specific functions which are desirable are below, with an asterisk marking those which are essential for a bid to be considered:
— Multi-screen: Up to 7 screens per page displaying live video.
— Interactive: The viewer should be able to see all the video on all of the screens, and then be able to choose which of the videos to view full screen. Double—video viewing: The viewer should be able to view 2 streams of live video at the same time on the full screen split in 2, or 2 streams of live video with one full screen and the other in a smaller screen within the full screen. While watching one stream in full screen mode, the viewer should be able to move the cursor so as to be able to view the other streams in smaller windows on the margins of the screen.
— Metrics: The platform should record as much information as possible about viewership, how many viewers visit the site, when they did so, and how long they viewed the website. The projected schedule for completion of the fully functional platform is the first quarter of 2019. However, it would be advantageous to have a first model of the website and some limited streaming live functionality by late November 2018, if possible. The platform should also be capable of transmitting one live video stream from a 180 degree VR camera. High quality Dolby stereo sound or better would be preferred. As much as possible, the platform should be designed for use with relatively low cost video uploading “studios”, which would be affordable to small to medium sized performance arts companies, as well as higher quality studios which would be used by prestige clients at recognized performance arts companies. The project intends to use an array of 7 cameras for broadcasting each performance. Platform configurations which are compatible with specific cameras and microphones and lighting technology are welcome. A preference will be given to platform design proposals which will enable uploading of multiple video streams by digitally unsophisticated performance arts companies, and which will impose the lowest possible production costs on individual broadcasts. There should be a chat board where viewers can exchange opinions about the live broadcast in real time, the way they can do on You Tube. The viewer should be able to choose whether the chat board is visible or not. Synchronization and Video Quality: Synchronization of the streams of video is essential. Alternative proposals for how to achieve synchronization, either on the platform or on the computers of the viewers, are welcome. As much as possible, the platform should be designed so that additional broadcast pages/departments can be added to the original video display page It would be desirable to have a separate page on the platform for multi-screen video conferencing between multiple participants. Webmaster Functions: