5 Minutes with our Heroes: Dorothea Martin
In the lead up to our From Zero to Hero! event on September 22nd at Rich Mix, we’re celebrating each of our panelists and speakers.
Next up, we have Dorothea Martin, Head of Content at oolipo.
Give us your elevator pitch…
The creation and experience of digital content hasn’t evolved much despite the native technology embedded within the devices we use every day. The use of a device’s native features enables storytellers to enhance characters, place, plot and the experience of readers. oolipo has built a platform for native storytelling. We enable the exchange of stories between a new generation of media muses and those looking for a new type of experience that goes beyond mere words on a page.
Now explain it to your mom.
So, mom, you’ve got that supercomputer in your pocket called a smartphone. Notice, though, that you can watch Orange is the New Black on your phone, tablet, browser, or Apple TV and the experience doesn’t change a bit. What if at story could access GPS, video & camera, the network of fans watching, interactivity, etc. Well, that’s what oolipo tries to do: take the features you find on the device and use them to create new kinds of stories for a new generation of readers.
What inspired you to join oolipo?
I love stories and was looking for an innovative technology to experience stories in the digital world like the ones we created in the analogue world with my own project Das wilde Dutzend. And when Ryan, the CPO of oolipo, in our first chat tried to convince me to join them by sharing his Star Wars love – it was about the time the last Star Wars movie was released – I knew, I found the right people.
Who’s the team behind oolipo?
We are an international team with a very diverse background – philosophers and researchers, authors, musicians, investors, designers, developers, marketers, architects, and me with my background in theatre.
What’s your top tip for getting a project off the ground?
Find the right team, people that want to learn from each other. Aim for the balance between creative chaos and structure, or between getting things done and following your vision. Have a plan, communicate it and don’t hesitate to change it (if necessary).
What can we expect to hear from you at our From Zero to Hero event?
As we’re approaching our official launch I’ll probably talk a bit about the challenges of the right pace and work-flow and maybe there’ll be a glimpse of what’s about to come…
You can find Doro on Twitter at @doromartin.