"I don't allow my actors to say multimedia. We're doing one thing: we're doing a film and a play at the same time," Caden Manson says. In the production of Flicker, a technique called "real-time" is used where film and theater are combined to formulate one work. This unique art form was developed by Caden Manson who will direct Flicker at P.S. 122 in New York Jan. 3-Feb. 3, 2002.

The impossible becomes very possible with real-time. Manson describes in a statement how he can "have an Asian woman playing a white woman." Actors are now able to swap body parts with each other on stage in seconds. Real-time merges film and theater to create magic. He uses three digital cameras, digital projectors and a movie screen to aid him in the process.

This technique of real-time is tricky but can create a mesmerizing illusion if done precisely. The actors are filmed while they perform on stage. Their heads and shoulders are visible with the naked eye, but the actors' bodies are behind the screen. The body parts of the actors are cut and pasted on the screen to create the illusion of interchanging body parts.

In the past, Manson has used magazine clippings, photos and random objects to fill the panoramic screen. Precision in this process is key, as actors must learn where to stand to create the illusion that their bodies are connecting to the screen.

In this dark comedy, Flicker, Justin looks for a way out of his self destructive lifestyle. Also included in Flicker are suspenseful scenes that depict a group of urbanites lost in the wilderness. Big Art Group will present Flicker at P.S. 122, with performances by Vivian Bang, Rebecca Sumner Burgos, Justin Christopher, David Commander, Cary Curran, Tommy Lonardo, Amy Miley, and Jeff Randall.

For tickets or more information on Flicker call (212) 477-5933 or visit www.ps122.org.