This was a project I made in an Interactive Media class taught by Casey Reas, at DMA. Scenes from multiple episodes of The Twilight Zone would be edited together by a program, each cut being based on specific qualities within each shot. This specific project relied more on visual similarities/cues to cut on, rather than emotional ones. For example, a man entering a door would cut to one of several other shots of someone coming through a different door, the choice in shots varying each time. Since the project, I have been working on different stories that I could potentially apply to this concept. I would like to create a film that changes and develops differently with multiple viewings, with the editing being more complex than visual cues. However, I think in the end it might have to only rely on visual cues. A lot of the editing in this context relies on Sergei Eisenstein’s theory of cutting from a human expression to any kind of action or subject to convey connection and emotion.

I would prefer to have the story generate as it is being watched, which is what this experiment did, because it adds a quality of being live. However, I think it would put too much weight on the program for something that you wouldn’t actually notice while viewing. So I guess all of the editing choices would happen before hand, by the program. I think the film would have to stay short, so that viewers would be encouraged to watch it over to see the different stories that unfold. I just don’t want it to be like a choose your own way book that you only read once.

I’m aiming at something a little more like this…