Constraint - Based Cinematic Editing

This work presents a computer-based motion-picture editing system capable of the automatic generation of narrative sequences which conform to simple constraints of character emphasis, length, pacing, and chronology. The cinematic content model used to generate the sequences is presented, and practical methods for gathering content data during movie production are proposed. The details of the system's implementation and the practical applications of its underlying principles to motion-picture production and multimedia computer systems are discussed. The written thesis is accompanied by a video tape which shows several edited sequences which were generated by the system and by a video disc containing the source material from which the sequences were formed. Thesis Supervisor: Glorianna Davenport Assistant Professor of Media Technology