EPIGRAPH OF A VISION
Through interactive media and immersive design, the work “Epigraph of a Vision: An immersive exploration of SFTV history” creates an abstract archeological site where the participants can unearth hidden tokens of the history of SFTV. By collecting these tokens, the users unveil was previously invisible, even though it was always there: decades before it’s formation, the vision behind SFTV was present in the LMU community.
This project was developed with Funding from the Cosgrove Family Distinguished Visiting Artist Fellowship
Scope
• Full Service Production
• Archival Research
• User Experience Design
• Immersive Design
• Visual Design & Implementation
• Production
• Immersive Design
• Creative Technology
Tools & Techniques
• TouchDesigner
• Microsfot Kinect
• IR Cameras
• Projection Mapping
• Lidar 3D Scanning
• 3D modeling
• Installation previz
Project Type:
Interactive Installation • Academic Research
My Role:
Creative Director • Researcher • Designer • Programmer
Client:
Loyola Marymount University - School of Film and Television
Dates:
July- December 2021
How to Capture the Academic and Cultural Impact of a 20-year film and television program
1.
Can Spatial and non linear Interactivity be used to tell a coherent story?
2.
How to create an interactive experience that bridges past and present involving the participants?
3.
A UNIQUE SET OF CHALLENGES
Telling the Story of one of the top ten programs of film and Television of the country is not an easy task. As every program in academia SFTV story is full of starts and stops. To tell the story of this program in a way that was both interactive and fun was a challenge, but one that we were excited to take on.
UNEARTHING 20+ YEARS OF HISTORY
The first step in our journey to tell the story of SFTV was recovering its history. However, our research was like an archaeological dig: Instead of relying in official documents, that only scratched the surface of what transpired into the early days of the program we followed a breadcrumb path of newsletters, emails, class offering brochures, drafts of commencement speeches, meeting agendas and academic research that allowed us to create an initial sketch. Finally, were the interviews with the Staff and Faculty present at the founding of the program that allowed us to tie it all together into the final picture.
LETTING THE ROOM TELL THE STORY
Though linear, the history of SFTV foundation, didn't feel as straightforward and simple as a journey from A to B. Unlike traditional Storytelling, where the audience follows the story in linear predetermined way, we wanted to tell the story of SFTV in a more interactive way that allowed the participants to explore the story at their own pace and in their own order, better matching the organic process that gave start to the program.
We also designed the space with common patterns of movement in mind, so each installation would build on the previous ones. This approach allowed participants to explore the story at their own pace and make their own connections between the different parts.
I think history is collective memories."
Haruki Murakami
PARTICIPATORY ARCHEOLOGY
Our research process felt like an archeological dig; this inspired us to create an installation that resembled a digging site. Also, as we worked, we realized that collective memory is an active event that requires community participation.
With this in mind we designed the space: The center piece is a is a bright sand box where the user uses their body to reveal the history. of SFTV and some tokens of its history.
The second piece is an interactive animation in the ground that reacts to the participants and tells the story of how SFTV has influenced the field of film and television.
The Third Piece is a timelapse of the construction of the Howard Fitzpatrick Pavilion, the new home of SFTV. The speed of the timelapse changes depending on the number of people present, which is a reminder that academia is only possible because of people.
Faced with the collective forgetting, we must strive to remember”
Reni Eddo-Lodge
Direction, Design, Development & Production
Ana Carolina Estarita Guerrero
Sound and Animation Support
Eli Ayres
Technical Advising
Crystal Jow
Special Thanks to Rachel Moreau for giving us access to Archive document.
History Narrative inspired by the research by Don Zirpola and Howard Lavick
April Kately
Sr Director, Construction | Projects | Infrastructure
Rory Walsh
Manager of Learning Spaces and Lab Technology
Matt Frank
Director of Creative and Technology Support
Bryant Keith Alexander, PhD
Interim Dean
Johana Hernandez
Assistant Dean
Carla Marcantonio
Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Joshua Morgan
Animation Technical Services Engineer
Adriana Jaroszewicz
Professor & Chair of Animation Dept
This Installation was produced with the invaluable support of:
Timelapse
Joshua Morgan
Research Assistant:
Pamela Cressal
This project was possible through the support of the Crosgrove Family Distinguished Visiting Artist Fellowship
FEELING INSPIRED?
THE POWER OF ITERATIVE METHODOLOGIES
Given the complexity of the topic, it was very unlikely we would get it right at the first try. That's why our whole pipeline was built around the iterative process that takes place during the design phase., leaving enough time for through research. A unique aspect of this project: Because it is a project with a unique impact in a community we needed to plan for outreach and talks to discuss the project.