Context

The influence of computer-generated imagery (CGI) in film and TV production has grown significantly in recent years, with higher capabilities of graphics hardware and improved software allowing photo-realistic renditions and animations, mixed with real-world video footage. Many recent movies make extensive use of this technology, which enables scenes or characters being generated through virtual reality concepts. The introduction of such concepts allows for the first time the application of interactivity, similar to computer games, hereby fostering a convergence between movie and game production.

In this context, Leeds Met is pursuing two areas in video production that are relevant to this convergence:

• Interactive Video,
• Panoramic Video.

Interactive Video

"Interactive video" is extending the currently linear timeline of the experience of visual narratives (movies, TV) by allowing the viewer to take control of this experience:

• selection of viewpoint,
• pace of narrative,
• the action and content itself.

The technical tools for allowing this type of interaction have been developed (omni-directional videography) or are currently in development (virtual reality techniques in real-world videography). But in addition, this new freedom of the viewer poses challenges in the artistic domain: how can a producer/director maintain the aestethic coherence of the work.

Examples of such first tries in employing interactive movies have been Tender Loving Care and Point of View, using a series of intrusive questionnaires to determine the direction of the narrative. Another example is the software tool DVDExtra (by ZooTech) which allows the creation of highly interactive DVDs.

Panoramic Video

"Panoramic video" is the technique to record not only towards a certain viewing direction, but at a 360 degree around the camera viewpoint. This can be achieved either with a single camera, using a special type of optical system (parabolic mirror, fish-eye lense) or a set of cameras with adejacent or slightly overlapping viewing areas. In the latter case, a higher and more uniform resolution of the resulting image can be achieved, but care must be taken to remove the apparent seams between the images. This recording technique allows the viewer to choose any arbitrary viewing direction in the recorded scenes.

Leeds Met Student Projects

Leeds Met students have created interactive videos in their final year projects, using panoramic video recording techniques to allow user interaction:

Scene from Rana Gangari's video "The Car Journey".

Scene from Jonathan Wilkinson's video "Paris".

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