Virtual Cinematography for Interactive Storytelling

• How can cinematographic principles be formalized and encoded into autonomous agent systems?
• What methods enable real-time selection of optimal camera shots for unknown story sequences?
• How can visual and audio elements be automatically manipulated to express narrative emotions?
• What machine learning techniques can capture cinematographic knowledge for automated decision-making?
• How can dramatization systems adapt appropriately to any type of scene without prior planning?

This research developed a dramatization architecture composed of autonomous agents inspired by filmmaking professionals. Each agent performs specific cinematographic roles, applying established film production principles to create engaging presentations of interactive narratives generated in real-time.

The Virtual Cinematography Director agent selects optimal camera shots for dramatization scenes in real-time using Support Vector Machines (SVM) trained with cinematographic knowledge. The system learns from datasets encoding filmmaking principles to make shot selection decisions that present narrative content in interesting and coherent ways, adapting to the emotional context and dramatic requirements of each scene.

The Director of Photography agent manipulates visual parameters, including lighting, shadows, color grading, and visual effects, to enhance emotional expression in scenes. By analyzing emotional information about characters and the environment, this agent applies cinematographic techniques such as adjusting light intensity and creating atmospheric effects to emphasize emotions such as fear, joy, or tension.

The Music Director agent controls audio aspects of the dramatization, selecting and manipulating musical elements to reinforce scene emotions and enhance viewer immersion. Both the Director of Photography and Music Director use SVMs trained with cinematography knowledge datasets, enabling them to create and manipulate audio-visual parameters that increase the emotional impact and immersion of the interactive storytelling experience.

Watch demonstrations of the virtual cinematography agents in action: