Theatrical storytelling in a virtual space

In this paper, we explore the uniqueness of storytelling in a theatrical context. From this exploration, we present a theoretical structure for classifying theatrical performance and describe a technical framework for creating such performances in a virtual space. The framework allows for interplay between human actors, virtual performers and live audience members cohabitating both physical and virtual spaces. We describe a prototype implementation of the framework and provide the details of a distributed performance given in the spring of 2004 as a proof of concept for the system.

[1]  Craig W. Reynolds.  Steering Behaviors For Autonomous Characters , 1999 .

[2]  Willmar Sauter,et al.  The Theatrical Event: Dynamics of Performance and Perception , 2000 .

[3]  Steve Benford,et al.  Understanding and constructing shared spaces with mixed-reality boundaries , 1998, TCHI.

[4]  Kathryn Farley.  Digital Dance Theatre: The Marriage of Computers, Choreography and Techno/Human Reactivity , 2002 .

[5]  Sheng Liang,et al.  Java Native Interface: Programmer's Guide and Reference , 1999 .

[6]  Alex Pentland,et al.  Media in performance: Interactive spaces for dance, theater, circus, and museum exhibits , 2000, IBM Syst. J..

[7]  Sheng Liang,et al.  Java Native Interface: Programmer's Guide and Specification , 1999 .

[8]  Andrew M. Phelps,et al.  Fun and Games: Multi-Language Development , 2004, ACM Queue.

[9]  Ken Perlin,et al.  Improv: a system for scripting interactive actors in virtual worlds , 1996, SIGGRAPH.

[10]  J. Howell,et al.  Acting in virtual reality , 2000, CVE '00.

[11]  Andrew M. Phelps,et al.  MUPPETS: multi-user programming pedagogy for enhancing traditional study: an environment for both upper and lower division students , 2005, Proceedings Frontiers in Education 35th Annual Conference.

[12]  Craig W. Reynolds.  Flocks, herds, and schools: a distributed behavioral model , 1987, SIGGRAPH.

[13]  Matthew R. Lewis.  Bowen virtual theater , 2003, SIGGRAPH '03.

[14]  Katherine Law.  Emotion in flocking , 2006 .

[15]  Claudio S. Pinhanez,et al.  “It/I”: a theater play featuring an autonomous computer graphics character , 1998, MULTIMEDIA '98.

[16]  David Birchfield,et al.  Generative model for the creation of musical emotion, meaning, and form , 2003, ETP '03.

[17]  Bernie Roehl,et al.  "Bottom, Thou Art Translated": The Making of VRML Dream , 1999, IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications.

[18]  Bruce Blumberg,et al.  Leashing the AlphaWolves: mixing user direction with autonomous emotion in a pack of semi-autonomous virtual characters , 2002, SCA '02.

[19]  Michael Mateas,et al.  An Oz-Centric Review of Interactive Drama and Believable Agents , 1999, Artificial Intelligence Today.

[20]  Steve Benford,et al.  Inhabited television: broadcasting interaction from within collaborative virtual environments , 2000, TCHI.