Companionship in the Cloud: A Glimpse into the World of Video Services

Opening a familiar communication app, the video host starts a group and brings in today’s “live streamers”—two Medical Clown—establishing a video call. Three people, in three different places, prepare to gather in the cloud and begin today’s video service. This was also, for the most part, what every day of ours looked like during the pandemic.

After submitting an application (Link), a Dr. Red Nose representative will contact you and help arrange an appointment for the video service (applications can be made twice a week).

Unlike an in-person performance, when we record the medical condition with medical staff, social workers, and case managers on the day of the performance, for video services a representative contacts the child’s parents (or institution) several days before the performance to learn about and record the children’s condition and treatment, their recent moods, personal interests… and so on, as references for our performance. Of course, “conspiracy moments” often happen at this time as well, such as: a child’s birthday, a child secretly telling their parents they want to request a song, or a clown conspiring with a parent to perform a magic trick… and so on.

The performance format for video services is very different from that of in-person services. Video calls are indeed limited by network speed, screen size, orientation, and field of view, but these limitations are not a source of trouble for the clowns. Instead, we carefully study how to use focal lengths, occlusion, blind spots, misalignment, background effects… and so on, to create illusions or magical moments.

Creating these magical moments and surprises requires repeated practice and discussion. Before a performance, Dr. Red Nose first use the group to understand the condition of the person being served, remind one another of things to note, discuss what kind of performance would be suitable, agree on how they can work together, establish the tone for the day’s performance, and then come up with new ideas and tricks to test.

At a hospital, Dr. Red Nose visit patients one bed at a time; for video services, they connect one call at a time.

Every ring before a call connects is a moment filled with the greatest tension and anticipation: “What move will the child make next?”, “Will our magic trick make them laugh?”, “Are they happy today?”, “Are they there? Will they answer the phone?”… and all kinds of thoughts race through their minds.

“Ta-da!” As soon as the video call connects, warm greetings scatter all the tension and thoughts, leaving only the most genuine interaction of the moment between the clowns and the children, along with the faint warm glow emanating from everyone participating in the video, as seen by those around them.

Every video call presents the performance, games, and interactions most suitable for that moment, the young audience, and their family.

It might be a carefully conceived story and magic trick by the clowns, yet full of mishaps that make the child laugh hysterically; it might be playing the child’s favorite cartoon song, with everyone singing karaoke together through the screen; or it might be the children taking us into their imaginary world, where we become their obedient sidekicks and defeat the Demon King together (and sometimes become the Demon King and let them defeat us)… Because every space has different qualities and characteristics, and every person served has different needs and responses in the moment, every performance service is a unique time of joy.

After hanging up at the end of each call, the clowns immediately discuss what just happened, make real-time adjustments, and reconfirm their understanding with one another. They also record the number of people served, the child’s reactions, and feedback from the parents and medical staff. In addition, newly discovered preferences of the child, where Dr. Red Nose traveled with them today, what story they developed, what kind of world they created, and anything requiring special attention are all recorded immediately, while the memories are still fresh, and provided as references for the partners in the next service.

At the end of the performance, Dr. Red Nose also review and reflect on the day’s performance—what went particularly well and where they could do better—accumulating and passing on their experience.

Video services cannot be achieved simply by moving an original hospital performance in front of a camera.

Their sense of presence, spontaneity, level of interaction, performance content, and overall feeling are all quite different. Designing and adjusting the performance content and refining performance techniques through the unique characteristics of cameras and screens, so that video services can achieve the ultimate goal of bringing companionship and joy, is an enormous undertaking and process. Fortunately, video services have been successful: on the cloud, children and clowns can still always create astonishing and moving ideas through play together.

Although video services cannot replace in-person performances, as they continue to develop and mature, they will stand alongside our in-person services, breaking through the limitations of time and space and making it easier for Dr. Red Nose to joyfully explore the world of imagination with children in need.