ISADORA MINI-BRIEF

CREATIVE MEDIA PRACTICE MINI BRIEF 3

 

 

I spent most of last week familiarising myself with a new piece of software:

 

Isadora from Troikatronix

 

My initial findings:

 

Powerful and useful software but the free version can be buggy and temperamental 

 

Isadora was created for adding depth to live events.  It has many uses ranging from museum installations to epic projections onto huge buildings.

 

It can be used on either a small or large scale.

 

One of it's unique functions is the ability to add trigger points from varying input devices.  Cameras can act as input devices, working as a 'motion sensor' within a live environment as can microphones.  Microphones receive an audio trigger such as a voice or hand-clap which would then play a sequence of footage or audio as part of the installation.

 

Within a group, I was tasked with creating a 'halloween' themed narrative using Isadora.

 

As part of a creative brainstorming session, I suggested a 'Bates Motel' theme.  The idea was to use Isadora to trigger some classic scenes from the original Hitchcock 1960 version of Psycho.  (Not to be confused with the new TV adaptation of Bates Motel).

 

The idea was for selected scenes from Psycho to form a branching narrative.  The audience would watch short 2 minute clips and then be offered an option.  The choices would be  displayed as on-screen text, such as "Knock 3 times" or "Type 'S' to go take a shower".  It was my intention to be able to experience an alternative version of the story from the perspective of the investigating police officer, who eventually discovers Norma Bates in the upstairs bedroom.  The final piece would also include 'light motif' audio sourced from the soundtrack, which would add a seamless quality to the 'option menus' which would display at the end of selected sequences.

 

I encountered quite a few technical setbacks during the production of this piece as the non-registered version was unable to save.  I did however try a registered version but the file format conflicted when I tried to import the footage to the more recent edition.  As a result, I found myself having to re-build the entire project on the day of the final submission deadline.

As a group we were able to present the finished piece.

I am unable to upload the completed artefact.  I do, however have a short presentation which hopefully explains the project in more detail.

Although I can appreciate the potential of using Isadora as a tool to produce interactive media presentations.  I do not think I will use this as a tool to produce my final individual artefact.