[spectre] MPhil Interactive Cinema Offer - Culture Lab Newcastle

[Norman]

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/vacancies/studentships/vacancy.phtml?id=114234802

MPhil Studentship - Perception & Interactive Cinema, School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics

The School of English Literature, Language, & Linguistics and the Informatics Research Institute at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne invite applications for a 1-year MPhil studentship based at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne's Culture Lab commencing October 2006 (or sooner).

The original conception of "interactive cinema" was that it would  allow viewers to play a role in the showing of films. Both conceptually and technologically the field is in its infancy. As initially conceived it aspired to create productions in which users might directly influence narrative flow, but instantiations of these ideas for actual film proved to be little more than sets of pre-generated linear sequences (for obvious technical reasons).

This research project proposes to explore a notion of interactive cinema that reconnects with, and exploits, traditional film making; by harnessing the full creative potential of modern digital filmmaking practice. Rather than offering viewers capabilities to manipulate narrative progression, we aim to furnish them with access to control over portrayal through a real-time interactive editing process; that is, editing while viewing. The goal of this project is to provide the  viewer access to these "lost" edits through a seamless interaction paradigm driven by the process of viewing itself. In simple terms our goal is to explore the issues in film perception through the creation of a production in which the very manner a film is viewed has a real-time and dynamic impact on its unfolding content.

Funding includes fees (£3,250) and a studentship of approximately £4,750. Applications are invited from committed individuals wishing to do research in a practical film and interactive media context and who have a 1st class or upper 2nd class honours degree or equivalent in arts, media, social sciences, psychology or a related discipline.

For further information please contact Tina Gharavi or Patrick Olivier.

Details on how to apply are available from our application website
Application deadline 31/5/2006
On the application form please quote 'MPhil Studentship - Perception & Interactive Cinema'.