Scene extraction in motion pictures

This paper addresses the challenge of bridging the semantic gap between the rich meaning users desire when they query to locate and browse media and the shallowness of media descriptions that can be computed in today's content management systems. To facilitate high-level semantics-based content annotation and interpretation, we tackle the problem of automatic decomposition of motion pictures into meaningful story units, namely scenes. Since a scene is a complicated and subjective concept, we first propose guidelines from fill production to determine when a scene change occurs. We then investigate different rules and conventions followed as part of Fill Grammar that would guide and shape an algorithmic solution for determining a scene. Two different techniques using intershot analysis are proposed as solutions in this paper. In addition, we present different refinement mechanisms, such as film-punctuation detection founded on Film Grammar, to further improve the results. These refinement techniques demonstrate significant improvements in overall performance. Furthermore, we analyze errors in the context of film-production techniques, which offer useful insights into the limitations of our method.

Authoring multimedia authoring tools

Capturing devices, while continually becoming smaller and easier to use, have increased in capacity. They are also more connectable and interoperable, and their propensity to show up where they are least expected is surprising. Despite these advances, the video-capture experience is still frustrating. To achieve success, two issues need consideration. One is to determine what to capture and how, and how to handle the ensuring process required to transform the raw captured footage into a presentable multimedia artifact. Continual query on discourse theory, domain distinctives such as media aesthetics, human-computer interface issues, and multimedia data description standards is also important.

Temporal semantic compression for video browsing

We present a video browsing approach, termed Temporal Semantic Compression (TSC), that uses automated measures of interest to support today's foraging behaviours. Conventional browsers 'compress' a video stream using simple 2x or 8x fast-forward. TSC browsers dynamically filter video based on a single user gesture to leave out more or less of the boring bits. We demonstrate a browser with an example interest measure, derived from an automated estimate of movie tempo, to forage in terms of narrative structures such as crises, climaxes, and action sequence book-ends. Media understanding algorithms facilitate browsing, and interactivity enables the human-in-the-loop to cope when those algorithms fail to cross the semantic gap.<br />

Director in your pocket : holistic help for the hapless home videographer

We present a new aspect of our ongoing research aimed at providing technology for the amateur home videographer. We aim to enable the production of quality video presentations that are well structured and use the expressive properties of the medium to full effect, regardless of the technical or artistic abilities of the user. This task requires that help be given to the user at or before capture time. We use a PDA platform to deliver 3d visualizations of shot directives, instructions to the user about the type of footage to capture, and discuss issues connected with realizing high-level representations in concrete first person animations. Additionally, we discuss the mechanism for mating that metadata with captured footage and implementation issues.

Interactively browsing movies in terms of action, foreshadowing and resolution

We describe a novel video player that uses Temporal Semantic Compression (TSC) to present a compressed summary of a movie. Compression is based on tempo which is derived from film rhythms. The technique identifies periods of action, drama, foreshadowing and resolution, which can be mixed in different amounts to vary the kind of summary presented. The compression algorithm is embedded in a video player, so that the summary can be interactively recomputed during playback.<br />

Hierarchical topical segmentation in instructional films based on cinematic expressive functions

In this paper, we propose a novel solution for segmenting an instructional video into hierarchical topical sections. Incorporating the knowledge of education-oriented film theory with our previous study of expressive functions namely the content density and the thematic functions, we develop an algorithm to effectively structuralize an instructional video into a two-tiered hierarchy of topical sections at the main and sub-topic levels. Our experimental results on a set of ten industrial instructional videos demonstrate the validity of the detection scheme.

Weaving stories in digital media : when Spielberg makes home movies

In this paper we describe research aimed at enabling amateur video makers to improve both the technical quality and communicative capacity of their work. Motivated by the recognition that untold hours of home video are simply abandoned after capture, we have formulated the problem as one of defining the what and how of footage capture. We have implemented a framework that answers the first problem, the what, by means of the age-old communicative powers of Story; the second problem, the how, is addressed by means of well documented aesthetic principles that constitute the film profession, which impact both technical and cinematic considerations for a given project. We provide a brief overview of the process, beginning with the narrative template, embodying a chosen story, through the principal phases of generating a storyboard, directing, and editing, resulting in the finished product. We demonstrate the interplay of narrative, purpose for the production, and aesthetic agents, and their influence on the automatically generated storyboard with examples.

Situated event bootstrapping and capture guidance for automated home movie authoring

This paper describes a novel interactive media authoring framework, MediaTE, that enables amateurs to create videos of higher narrative or aesthetic quality with a completely mobile lifecycle. A novel event bootstrapping dialog is used to derive shot suggestions that yield both targetted footage and annotation enabling an automatic Computational Media Aesthetics-aware editing phase, the manual performance of which is typically a barrier to the amateur. This facilitates a move away from requiring a prior-conception of the events or locale being filmed, in the form of a template, to at-capture bootstrapping of this information. Metadata gathered as part of the critical path of media creation also has implications for the longevity and reuse of captured media assets. Results of an evaluation performed on both the usability and delivered media aspects of the system are discussed, which highlight the tenability of the proposed framework and the quality of the produced media.<br />

Dynamic shot suggestion filtering for home video based on user performance

This paper presents novel additions to our existing amateur media creation framework. The framework provides at-capture guidance to enable the home movie maker to realize their aesthetic and narrative goals and automation of post-production editing. A common problem with the amateur filming context is its contingent nature, which often results in the failure to gain footage vital to the user's goals, even with at-capture software embedding. Accordingly, we have modelled minimizing the difference between target and captured footage at a given time during filming as a probability distribution divergence problem. We apply two policies of feedback to the user on their performance, passive communication via a suggestion desirability measure, and active filtering of undesirable suggestions. We demonstrate the framework using each policy with a simulation of various user and filming situations with promising results.<br />

Examining the aesthetic dimensions of teaching : relationships between teacher knowledge, identity and passion

Having an appreciation for the subject, their students and what the subject can offer their students has both cognitive and emotional dimensions for teachers. This paper uses empirical data to explore the efficacy of a Deweyan inspired framework called &ldquo;Aesthetic Understanding&rdquo; to scrutinise relationships between teacher knowledge, identity and passion. The paper uses case study data of three teachers of maths and/or science generated from a video study to illustrate the relationships between the three elements of Aesthetic Understanding. The need to value the aesthetic dimensions of teaching when examining the subject-specific nature of secondary teaching is discussed.

Arts management/marketing journal citation analysis : assessing external impact

<b>Purpose &ndash;</b> This paper aims to present a quantitative analysis of arts management/marketing articles in leading general management/marketing journals, including an examination of the extent to which those top tier journal articles on arts/culture-related topics cite authors of leading arts management journal articles.<br /><br /><b>Design/methodology/approach &ndash;</b> Using bibliometric techniques, this study examines the content of 20 top tier management and marketing journals over 22 years to identify articles published on arts management/marketing, which authors were cited, and from which arts management/marketing journals.<br /><br /><b>Findings &ndash;</b> Analysis indicates that: relatively few citations in the top management/marketing journals reference arts management/marketing journals; assessment of interaction between the parent management/marketing disciplines and the arts management/marketing sub-discipline indicates that authors draw upon a large reserve of diverse literatures; and top journal arts-related management/marketing articles tend to utilize citations to journal articles grounded in the social sciences and aesthetics of management, with an increasing trend of citations to arts management/marketing journals.<br /><br /><b>Research limitations/implications &ndash;</b> This study of the extent to which top journals have published arts/culture-related articles and the citation impact of arts management/marketing journals is the initial academic study on the topic and suggests opportunities for further research.<br /><br /><b>Practical implications &ndash;</b> Analysis of arts management/marketing journal impact contributes to professionalization of the field and increased perceived value of those journals by industry practitioners.<br /><br /><b>Originality/value &ndash; </b>This research is the first to examine the spectrum of arts management/marketing literature, including both top general management/marketing journals and sector-oriented arts management/marketing journals, establishing a body of knowledge for augmentation by future research over time.<br />

Correlates of socio-economic inequalities in women’s television viewing : a study of intrapersonal, social and environmental mediators

<b>Introduction</b><br /><br />Socio-economically disadvantaged women are at a greater risk of spending excess time engaged in television viewing, a behavior linked to several adverse health outcomes. However, the factors which explain socio-economic differences in television viewing are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of intrapersonal, social and environmental factors to mediating socio-economic (educational) inequalities in women's television viewing.<br /><b>Methods</b><br /><br />Cross-sectional data were provided by 1,554 women (aged 18-65) who participated in the 'Socio-economic Status and Activity in Women study' of 2004. Based on an ecological framework, women self-reported their socio-economic position (highest education level), television viewing, as well as a number of potential intrapersonal (enjoyment of television viewing, preference for leisure-time sedentary behavior, depression, stress, weight status), social (social participation, interpersonal trust, social cohesion, social support for physical activity from friends and from family) and physical activity environmental factors (safety, aesthetics, distance to places of interest, and distance to physical activity facilities).<br /><b>Results</b><br /><br />Multiple mediating analyses showed that two intrapersonal factors (enjoyment of television viewing and weight status) and two social factors (social cohesion and social support from friends for physical activity) partly explained the educational inequalities in women's television viewing. No physical activity environmental factors mediated educational variations in television viewing.<br /><b>Conclusions</b><br /><br />Acknowledging the cross-sectional nature of this study, these findings suggest that health promotion interventions aimed at reducing educational inequalities in television viewing should focus on intrapersonal and social strategies, particularly providing enjoyable alternatives to television viewing, weight-loss/management information, increasing social cohesion in the neighborhood and promoting friend support for activity.<br />

Sharing the moment : on the Olympic Games as spectacle

Article examining the 'sale' of Olympics drawing on Kant's aesthetics of beauty in the Critique of Judgment.

Adorno reframed

Dismissed as a miserable elitist who condemned popular culture in the name of &lsquo;high art&rsquo;, Theodor W. Adorno (1903&ndash;1969) is one of the most provocative and important yet least understood of contemporary thinkers. This book challenges this&nbsp;popular image and re-examines Adorno as a utopian philosopher who believed authentic art could save the world. Adorno Reframed is not only a comprehensive introduction to the reader coming to Adorno for the first time, but also an important re-evaluation of this founder of the Frankfurt School. Using a wealth of concrete illustrations from popular culture, Geoff Boucher recasts Adorno as a revolutionary whose subversive irony and profoundly historical aesthetics defended the integrity of the individual against social totality.