CloudDream – performance
65 Bellwoods Ave. Toronto, Ontario M6J 3N4
Email: npaterson@faculty.ocadu.ca
Nancy Paterson, Ph.D. AOCA
Ph: (416) 368-3842 Fax: (416) 603-6567
CloudDream - SCRIPT TREATMENT
SCENARIO ONE – did you get that?
Lights up on a black-box theatre where an early 20s young man and a woman sit, across
from each other. The sounds of an airport gate waiting area fill the speakers, flight
announcements and the hum of people rushing from gate to gate.
Both the man and woman are looking down engrossed in their cellphones. Beat. The
woman giggles, and taps furiously on the flat screen. Beat. The man grins and does the
same.
Beat.
The man looks up at the woman. Did you get that? He asks.
She nods, yeah, she did. She continues her typing on her cellphone. Man waits for
reply. Looks at his cellphone and taps the screen…
Stage goes dark, and...
SCENARIO TWO – data analysts
A light shines center stage, pages of data/information scrolling down the back wall of
the stage in high resolution rear screen projections.
Status updates from Facebook, tweets, blogs, Google searches, photos, and other
miscellanea of online activity scrolls on the rear screens. The scrolling data/information
continues as the two data ANALYSTS stand, facing it, their backs to the audience. The
audience never sees their faces. They are wearing identical white lab coats and they are
nearly always backlit in silhouette. Their voices start in a flat tone as they look at the
information beyond them.
Let’s look at the GPS coordinates, ANALYST A says…and related data, ANALYST B
says. The information on the rear screen slows in scrolling. Their conversation is the familiar
talk of two people who go to work every day, together.
No flags on the priority list, ANALYST A says. Let's just do cold searches then,
ANALYST B says.
The information on the screen is slowly changing and presents a still image of an
ordinary business man getting into a cab on a busy city street. ANALYST A comments on it
– let’s not check….
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CloudDream – performance
65 Bellwoods Ave. Toronto, Ontario M6J 3N4
Email: npaterson@faculty.ocadu.ca
Nancy Paterson, Ph.D. AOCA
Ph: (416) 368-3842 Fax: (416) 603-6567
The next still image is taken from an airplane window of an industrial site below. This
is from one of the people on the list, says ANALYST B. Typing quickly on keyboard Wherever he's touching down, they can deal with it, ANALYST A says.
The data/information scrolls again, and comes to rest on an image of a slender good
looking male in a speedo bathing suit. Both ANALYSTS stare at it. Who was it sent to?
ANALYST A asks. Some guy named RIDWAN, says ANALYST B, probably a boyfriend.
A: Isn't RIDWAN on this list?
B: Yeah.
Beat. They keep staring at it.
A: I've gotta show this to the guys down the hall.
B: Just put it on the private server.
The projection data/information scrolls again until it fades out and-
SCENARIO THREE – Egypt and Finfisher
Projection images of the Egyptian Brotherhood movement protest dissent playing on a
faux-Youtube screen. Shadows on the stage project prison bars.
Spotlight on DIMITRI, a young man [late 20s early 30s with boyish smooth skin and
features] holding a video camera in one hand and a drone/remote control in the other. He
monologues about the Arab spring – saying it wouldn't have been possible without
cameras, without smartphones. He talks about the situation that brought him here, the
drone videotaping and the cops grabbing him and punching him and bringing down the
drone – [we see footage from the drone as it crashes to the street] though DIMITRI does not
say where the arrest took place. The guard comes out on stage and pushing DIMITRI off to
the side of the stage and takes the video camera/drone as he exits the stage.
Stage lights come up wider on DIMITRI and now audience sees TARIQ, another prisoner, in
the jail cell sitting cross-legged back to the side of the stage from where he has been
observing DIMITRI from the shadows.
They begin discussion carefully at first, talking about the prison food and the guards.
Their conversation leads to: Why were you arrested?
Why do you think I'm here… TARIQ asks. I was protesting.
I’m a Canadian filmmaker and I was filming the protests…DIMITRI says.
TARIQ says that people are scared…he mentions that DIMITRI is a foreigner,
though, and it's surprising that he was taken prisoner from outside the square…is he a
dissident?
DIMITRI says that he doesn't think so. But he guesses it probably is. He talks about
how back in Canada, he was flying a drone at a beach and people tried calling the police on
him. But private investigators use it to spy on people. He says, the government uses
it…they all use drones.
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CloudDream – performance
65 Bellwoods Ave. Toronto, Ontario M6J 3N4
Email: npaterson@faculty.ocadu.ca
Nancy Paterson, Ph.D. AOCA
Ph: (416) 368-3842 Fax: (416) 603-6567
The conversation goes on for a while, and then it stops suddenly when the guard
roughly brings food…abruptly placing the two dishes of meagre food on the floor and leaves
the stage.
I was on a rooftop miles away, says DIMITRI, how did they even find me?
TARIQ surprised, tells DIMITRI don’t you know? You bring these toys and you don’t
know? Once you enter the country, you’re no longer safe, because of Internet and other
communications backdoor programs that track your information and conversations. During
the first revolution, when they broke into Hosni Mubarak’s buildings, they found records of
many citizens and expatriates in Egypt, all collected through something called ‘FinFisher’.
FinFisher… TARIQ says, is a program on a special computer that is sold to governments
and organizations around the globe. FinFisher was installed on the communications
networks over which the Internet runs – probably on Etisalat. There’s other surveillance
everywhere, on the street video cameras and other tracking…to find you is just a matter of
time, an extended process. And tyour drone maybe helped if it’s wifi.
On the large screen projections behind them, we see a graphic of DIMITRI entering
Egypt, and his cell phone connecting to a local network automatically downloading his data
and GPS coordinates. We see information being sent out and bounced through to the two
ANALYSTS, talking about the guy who just entered the country.
A text from DIMITRI pops up, being sent out to someone else: “It’s really bad here,
gonna film the square on the drone.”
One of the ANALYSTS says, put out a call.
Stage lights fade down…
SCENARIO FOUR – Member of Parliament
Lights up in a bar with three high stools on which are seated the MP, a well-groomed young
man and MELINDA a slender woman wearing a dressy feminine blouse and jeans. They
both have drinks in their hands. MELINDA is seated one seat away and stares at him from a
couple of seats away. They barely acknowledge each other, and then she approaches and
takes a seat next to him.
He asks if he knows her, and she says no, just smiles and looks at him. She asks him if
he's staying in the hotel, and he cautiously says yes. She asks if he wants to go back up to
his room. He rejects her, thinking she's maybe an escort. She says he definitely wants to
talk to her…she has information he wants to know…about the Internet, social media and
elections. MELINDA says she sometimes works with the ETF – the Electronic Frontier
Foundation and sometimes with Anonymous members…and would he like to move the
conversation upstairs? The MP says he'll go upstairs but he'll record their conversation,
taking out a recorder and putting it on the table. She smiles condescendingly, and the lights
switch to the other side of the stage where a hotel bed headboard and two chairs have been
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CloudDream – performance
65 Bellwoods Ave. Toronto, Ontario M6J 3N4
Email: npaterson@faculty.ocadu.ca
Nancy Paterson, Ph.D. AOCA
Ph: (416) 368-3842 Fax: (416) 603-6567
hidden in the dark. They move from the bar stools to chairs and talk. The MP says he
supports ‘net neutrality’ and that the Internet should not be dominated and surveilled by big
players. New legislation he wants to introduce that would limit the amount of information
companies could gather online about people is important. They go on about the nature of
civil liberties and the cost of privacy.
MELINDA suddenly reverses course - saying she's here to talk him out of attempting to
introduce new legislation.
Why not, the MP says, privacy is a basic human right.
It’s a matter of security, MELINDA says. The balance between security and privacy is tipped
and hidden information is dangerous.
Well, there isn’t anyone who doesn't have something to hide… He says.
MELINDA says she doesn't. She pulls out a small laptop and shows him her profile
on a social networking site. On the large screen projections we see her social life - images
from a cubicle workspace, images from a party at a bar and images from a backyard BBQ.
She has nothing to hide, MELINDA says.
At this point, the MP seems a little nervous.
Possible skype or video walk on by Tim Wu Columbia U Law professor, originator of the
term ‘net neutrality’….talking a bit about why he thought of the concept….at the end of the
video MELINDA and the MP continue…
The MP asks her to leave saying he’s tired, and MELINDA types a few keystrokes
into her laptop, turns it towards the MP showing emails he has been getting from various
women. She has pictures where he's in compromising positions with both men and women.
She says she has post office box numbers/locations registered to the MP in which are
stored sex toys and she has video and images of his liaisons.
This is blackmail, he says.
MELINDA moves to leave the hotel room, and as she exits she says we’ll be in touch
and that he might want to delete everything on his recorder…
Stage lights dark on the MP and MELINDA….
Rear silhouette lights on ANALYSTS. Their backs are to the audience and they are
looking at large screen projections showing images of the Communications Security
Establishment building on Ogilvie Road in Ottawa [the Edward Drake Building] and the
NSA data center - Intelligence Community Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative
Data Center in Utah, Colorado.
SCENARIO FIVE – audience app
This scenario relies on real time audience participation and custom software on an
Internet connected server installed in the wifi enabled theatre. At the time of ticket purchase
at the theatre box office - and if the ticket buyer elects to be part of this process – the ticket
buyer may download and install a mobile app on their smart phone. The app may be
deleted at any time. The purpose of the app is to enable participation in the performance
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CloudDream – performance
65 Bellwoods Ave. Toronto, Ontario M6J 3N4
Email: npaterson@faculty.ocadu.ca
Nancy Paterson, Ph.D. AOCA
Ph: (416) 368-3842 Fax: (416) 603-6567
and to provide audience feedback regarding the performance. The downloading audience
members/ticket buyers - would be informed that some audience member's information will
be data mined. If no one has downloaded the app at the time of the performance, content
would be substituted if needed. This scenario will show how audience member’s information
is freely given and shared on the Internet in public venues and websites.
Lights up on a young male CUSTOMER at a pharmacy counter and a PHARMACIST with a
french accent situated in a pharmacy background.
PHARMACIST asks if he’d like a refill on the other prescription as well. CUSTOMER says
what?! You can see all my other prescriptions? I’m travelling and I don’t usually come to this
pharmacy…
PHARMACIST hesitates saying that what’s on the screen is private and apologizes in
french then switches back to English… and says, it’s just how things work. Even when you
travel your history goes with you. The PHARMACIST shrugs, and says, that’s how the
system works. The PHARMACIST points to a small black box mounted on the wall and says
there is a beacon installed at the store that looks at your cellphone and takes your data.
Stage projections change to scrolling images derived by the audience app, showing
randomly selected audience members content and changing images quickly. Projections of
Facebook pictures, emails and tweets taken randomly from audience app enabled
cellphones in the theatre flashing by on the large screen projection suggesting that
anyone’s data can be accessed.
On a shared stage – lights up on the two lab-coated ANALYSTS standing front of stage
looking at the rear screen projections and one of them says...All in a day’s work…
SCENARIO SIX –foreign student
This scenario takes place in a living room. RIDWAN, a young middle-eastern foreign
university student is standing at a half open apartment door greeting two men in dark suits
who have knocked at his door. The rear screen projection cycles through GPS coordinates.
He asks the two black SUITED MEN what their visit is about, and they start looking
around. They push past and walk in and RIDWAN is compliant as they pick up books and
objects examining them. They ask him how he's been recently, if school's alright, how his
life is going. He responds with short yes answers - everything's okay…are you CSEC or
FBI? And …why are you here? He asks a bit nervously.
How's school, they ask him, how's it like being so far from home?
He says it's fine. He's still adjusting.
They ask him if anything unusual has happened lately. He says yes, getting a little
testy and self-righteous…there has been something unusual…
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CloudDream – performance
65 Bellwoods Ave. Toronto, Ontario M6J 3N4
Email: npaterson@faculty.ocadu.ca
Nancy Paterson, Ph.D. AOCA
Ph: (416) 368-3842 Fax: (416) 603-6567
On the projector, information continues to cycle, showing Google Earth and overlaid maps,
tracking RIDWAN’s movements with GPS coordinates in large characters. Then the large
screen projection shows the tracking suddenly stops on a single coordinate.
RIDWAN pulls out a small 1 inch by 2 inch plastic black box. He says he found it on
his car, under the wheel well… He asks a bit disingenuously - what is it?
One of the SUITS says that RIDWAN went off grid for a while…we had to track you
by other means. We thought you went off grid on purpose.
The other SUIT adds…When you came into this country, we got an alert from Dubai.
The SUITS then say RIDWAN doesn't matter anymore and then say, we want the GPS
back.
And if I don't want to give it to you, RIDWAN asks?
It is our property, they say. And we want it back.
RIDWAN hands it over. They get up to leave, and as they do, he asks if he'll still be
under surveillance.
It depends… they say. They smile and leave.
Stage lights fade down…
SCENARIO – Hong Kong Umbrella protest
Lights up on stage and large screen projections show images of huge crowd of Hong
Kong protesters in the December 2014 Umbrella protest. Two young male Chinese students
early 20s, SID from mainland China and VIC from Hong Kong, are wearing jeans and Tshirts. They are standing on stage looking at their cellphones and looking around nervously.
VIC says you just got here? How did you get out? SID says through Macau…lots of security
but no one stopped me.
VIC says you haven’t used your cellphones have you? There are apps disguised as
friendly software – don’t download…they are fake apps…for spying on us. They give access
to your information address book,call logs…everything… I was told that it’s very
advanced…it uses software called Xsser MRAT…it’s cross-platform – it works on Apple
cellphones and Android. We are all using Firechat – it’s a local area Bluetooth networking
software – though your phone can be activated and surveilled anyway even if you don’t
download the fake apps.
Possible skype or video walk on by Ai Wei Wei….talking about surveillance in China…. and
when Ai finishes…
SID says Anonymous is supporting us?
VIC says yeah, CNN…Al Jazeera…the whole world is looking at us…
Audio level rises with sounds of police line approaching and images of umbrellas and water
cannons on the rear screen projections.
6
CloudDream – performance
65 Bellwoods Ave. Toronto, Ontario M6J 3N4
Email: npaterson@faculty.ocadu.ca
Nancy Paterson, Ph.D. AOCA
Ph: (416) 368-3842 Fax: (416) 603-6567
VIC says excitedly - stay off the Internet! And don’t use your cellphone! Take out the
sim card…
Umbrellas up! Let’s go!
Many people emerge from the sides carrying brightly colored umbrellas all of which
are opened completely filling and obscuring the audience’s view of the stage and then some
of the umbrellas twirl.
Lights go dark, and the house lights go up.
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