Christian Wagner

The XXIII project was established in 2002 and was named after the age of the two project leaders. I studied Media Informatics at the Technical University of Vienna at that time. Priorities were the intensive study of possibilities for editing video material with the aid of computerized processing steps. In this context, the project provided an ideal opportunity to convert the theoretical contents of my study in practice under own management.

At the beginning I worked on preparatory work and feasibility tests for the planned aspects of the project. This included a thorough check of all possibly needed compression methods for the project. Moreover, I could determine and analyze many tools for processing video material using the computer on their fitness for the project. Very soon, however, it became apparent that the specific needs of our project could only be partially realized with existing software.

At this very point in the project progression the great strength of Jürgen Platzer turned out. The implementation of many of our ideas were only possible through his dedication and knowledge. Programming is and has never been my forte. I am grateful to have found the ideal project partner in Jürgen. Thus it was possible to make optimal use of the different strengths of the people involved.

My main area of responsibility was the digitization of all analog source files for further use and the animation of the lightsabers in the live-action duel. The latter task required huge time resources. Finally, I also looked after the finalization of the DVD.

I would like to mention the cooperation with my brother Wolfgang Wagner in particular. He is still devoted to photography and videography. He contributed not only the needed video equipment to the project. His expertise, acquired at the Höhere Graphische Bundes-Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt in the 14th district of Vienna, were an important factor in the realization of the project, especially in the shooting of the lightsaber duel.

The project opened a lot of learning potential in both social and technical aspects. Working together has always been profitable in many cases. The acquired knowledge and skills were enormously helpful in many situations, even years after the project.

Since the end of the project I had the opportunity to realize other (commercial) projects together with Jürgen Platzer in similar areas. Together, the project website was revised in 2002 and 2016.
 

Christian Wagner, in July 2016