Isadora

Isadora is a media presentation software, created by media – artist Mark Coniglio to achieve interactive performances for his dance company, Troika Ranch. Using this software, you can do anything form simply play a video to creating an interactive system that responds to live performers. It’s often used in nightclubs and music festivals, connecting the visual elements such as lighting and effects with the music being played. One element that I love about Isadora is the way the user can get really involved in the installation whilst viewing it on a computer, such as interacting through the webcam or by moving their mouse in a certain direction. I also love how it makes something into more of an art installation than just a film.

 

 

Our idea was to create an interactive game based on a young girl who had to try and find her way home, avoiding all the dangerous obstacles we put in place. We initially planned to film it all ourselves, using a range of POV shots so that the audience would feel like they were actually there, and it was their life that was hanging in the balance. The story we had decisions to make such as flagging down a taxi or calling her mum, walking down a well lit street or down a dark alleyway. As we went on with the planning, we came up with plenty more options of what people could choose to do. However it was starting to become too complex to do within our limited timeframe so we had to simplify it.

 

  Unfortunately, even though we had planned it well, due to people’s conflicting schedules we were unable to actually film anything, This was disappointing as I felt that we could have really created something of high standards but it couldn’t be helped at all.

Instead we found some images online and made a little interactive story out of them. It was very basic but we all managed to get a feel of what the software was like.  

Overall I did not enjoy working with Isadora at all as I found it very confusing to understand, and the purpose it was built for didn’t appeal to me at all. I definitely won't be using this in my final project. However I think the fact that there is almost a limitless amount of things you can do with it is amazing, and I would definitely be interested in watching some more Isadora installations even if I wouldn’t use it myself.