Hyper-Narrative Interactive Cinema

Hyper narrative interactive cinema refers to the possibility for users or "e;interactors"e; to shift at different points in an evolving film narrative to other film narrative trajectories. Such works have resulted so far in interactor distraction rather than sustained engagement. Contrary to post-modern textual and cognitive presumptions, film immersion and computer game theories, this study uses dual coding theory, cognitive load theory, and constructivist narrative film theory to claim that interactive hyper-narrative distraction results from cognitive and behavioral multi-tasking, which lead to split attention problems that cannot be cognitively handled. Focus is upon split attention resulting from the non-critical use of de-centered and non-cohering hyper-narrative and audio-visual formations, and from interaction. For hyper-narrative interactive cinema to sustain deep engagement, multi-tasking split attention problems inhering in such computer-based works have to be managed, and - most importantly - made to enhance rather than reduce engagement. This book outlines some viable solutions to construct deep cognitive-emotional engagement of interactors with hyper-narrative interactive cinema.