Virtual actors that can perform scripts and improvise roles

This paper describes work in progress on the Humanoid 2 ESPRIT project, in which we are integrating the human figure animation software described in (Magnenat Thalmann & Thalmann 1995) with the agent technology described in (Wavish & Graham 1996) in order to produce virtual actors for films, games and virtual reality worlds. In this paper we focus on how the actors perform scripts and improvise role-related behaviour. Our approach to creating believable characters is modelled on how characters are portrayed by human actors during a theatrical performance. The character played by the actor is originally specified in the script. The actor's purpose is to perform the script as skilfully as it can in order to portray the character. Our actors are constructed internally as societies of simple situated agents, where each agent corresponds to a skill or to a role. Skills are task oriented behaviours of an individual actor, whereas roles provide a means for the actor to engage in routine social interactions.

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