LOST CAUSE: AN INTERACTIVE MOVIE PROJECT by Kirsten Johnson BSc, Simon Fraser University 2004 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS In the School of Interactive Arts and Technology © Kirsten Johnson 2008 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2008 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL Name: Kirsten Johnson Degree: Master of Arts Title of Thesis: Lost Cause: an Interactive Movie Project Examining Committee: Chair: Thecla Schiphorst Associate Professor ______________________________________ Jim Bizzocchi Senior Supervisor Assistant Professor ______________________________________ Diane Gromala Supervisor Associate Professor ______________________________________ Patricia Gruben External Examiner Professor Date Defended/Approved: ______________________________________ ii ABSTRACT One of the challenges in designing an interactive cinematic experience is to offer interactive choices which do not distract from immersion into the story. The interactive movie project, Lost Cause focuses on the life of the main character explored through the inter-related perspectives of three other characters. Lost Cause supports an immersive interactive story experience through its correlated design of an interface, narrative content and narrative structure. The movie project is examined from several theoretical perspectives: cinematic roots, narrative construction, interface design, and interactive experience. This analysis reveals critical insights into database narrative structure, interface, agency and immersion. The design of Lost Cause was analyzed through a user study to observe how viewer interpretation and experience affected immersion into the story. The results from this study suggest the overall design is effective and provides various degrees of viewer immersion through the different techniques used. Keywords: interactive narrative; interactive cinema; immersion; narrative database; split-screen Subject Terms: interactive art; interactive video; narrative art iii DEDICATION To my mom and Uncle Bruce “For their support throughout my life” iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would especially like to thank my senior supervisor, Jim Bizzocchi, for all his guidance, insights, and encouragement during the production of Lost Cause and the writing of this thesis. My appreciations also go to Dr. Diane Gromala for her support and suggestions in this research. I would also like to thank my external examiner Patricia Gruben for her input and ideas about the project and the thesis. I am grateful to everyone who has helped in the writing, design, production and execution of the interactive film Lost Cause. I would like to thank everyone who has inspired the writing and helped in the proofreading of the script for Lost Cause. Lost Cause would not have been possible without the help from my family, friends, classmates and talent who have dedicated many long hours during the production. As well, the interface and functionality of Lost Cause would not be possible without the help from the many programmers who assisted with implementation of the code. I would also like to thank all the participants and viewers who have provided me with interesting suggestions and data to conclude this research. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval.............................................................................................................. ii Abstract.............................................................................................................. iii Dedication .......................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements............................................................................................ v Table of Contents .............................................................................................. vi List of Figures.................................................................................................. viii List of Tables ..................................................................................................... ix 1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 1 1.1 Interactive Cinema ............................................................................. 1 1.2 Research Question............................................................................. 4 1.3 Hypothesis ......................................................................................... 4 2 Methodology..................................................................................... 5 3 Theoretical Background ................................................................ 10 3.1 Narrative........................................................................................... 10 3.1.1 Narrative Framework .................................................................... 11 3.1.2 Narrative and Film Techniques ..................................................... 12 3.1.3 Alternative Plot Structures ............................................................ 15 3.1.4 Micronarratives ............................................................................. 27 3.2 Interactivity and Narrative................................................................. 29 3.2.1 Interactivity.................................................................................... 29 3.2.2 Database Narrative....................................................................... 30 3.2.3 Interactive Narrative...................................................................... 31 3.2.4 Interactive Narrative Structures..................................................... 35 3.3 Immersion, Narrative Coherence and Interactivity............................ 49 3.3.1 Immersion ..................................................................................... 49 3.3.2 Immersion and Interactivity ........................................................... 51 3.3.3 Narrative Coherence and Interactivity........................................... 53 3.3.4 Immersive Interactive Digital Properties........................................ 55 3.3.5 Viewer Oscillation ......................................................................... 56 3.3.6 Challenge-based Immersion ......................................................... 60 3.3.7 Choice, Narrative Pleasure and Interactivity ................................. 62 4 Projects ........................................................................................... 65 4.1 Interactive Short Cuts Prototype....................................................... 65 vi 4.1.1 Design of Interactive Short Cuts ................................................... 65 4.1.2 Experience of Interactive Short Cuts............................................. 69 4.2 Lost Cause Interactive Movie ........................................................... 71 4.2.1 Project Overview........................................................................... 71 4.2.2 Interface of Lost Cause................................................................. 71 4.2.3 Narrative Content of Lost Cause................................................... 74 4.2.4 Interactive Narrative Structure of Lost Cause ............................... 76 5 Analysis and Results ..................................................................... 83 5.1 User Study ....................................................................................... 83 5.1.1 User Study Results ....................................................................... 85 5.2 Findings............................................................................................ 93 5.2.1 Immersion in Lost Cause .............................................................. 93 5.2.2 Interactive Editing in Lost Cause................................................. 100 5.2.3 Successful Experience of Lost Cause......................................... 108 5.2.4 Possible Changes to Lost Cause................................................ 110 6 Conclusion.................................................................................... 112 6.1.1 Coherent relationship between elements in the design............... 113 6.1.2 Appropriate conventions for navigation....................................... 113 6.1.3 Viewer oscillation ........................................................................ 114 6.1.4 Challenge.................................................................................... 114 6.1.5 Narrative desire and motivations to interact................................ 115 6.1.6 Elements of a successful design................................................. 115 References ...................................................................................................... 117 Appendices ..................................................................................................... 121 Appendix 1: User Study Data ........................................................................ 122 Questionnaire Data ....................................................................................... 122 Observations ................................................................................................. 125 Interview Data ............................................................................................... 126 Appendix 2: Lost Cause script.....................................................................