Master of Science, February 1994.

This thesis describes two tools, LogBoy and FilterGirl, which are designed for creating multivariant movies. Multivariant movies are movies which playout differently each time they are presented. Variances in playout can be based on viewer interaction, available content or viewing context. By making use of annotated video databases, multivariant movies can be created which sequence video autonomously based on viewer preferences rather than driving playout through periodic viewer queries. Periodic viewer queries, an interface technique used by most current interactive narratives, detract from the storytelling process by interrupting the viewer's immersion in the story.

LogBoy is a video database tool which helps moviemakers create the sketchy video annotations that are needed for description-based multivariant movies. FilterGirl is a tool for creating and editing the playout constraints that guide the sequencing of video clips. This thesis describeds the structure and use of LogBoy and FilterGirl as well as exploring the issues involved in creating tools for multivariant movie production. LogBoy and FilterGirl's use in multivariant movie production is illustrated with an extended example.

Get the entire thesis in PDF form (7.8 MB).