Interactive
Skip the talk, let's see the interactive script in action.
Nah, I'd rather read on.
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Beginning, Middle, End -- NOT!

We all know what a script is. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end -- right? In fact, I stated this very fact in the discussion of structure in the section, Elements of the Video Script.

Toilet Tissue Paradigm

We are so accustomed to linear presentations unreeling like a roll of toilet tissue, that a written paradigm for interactive media with no beginning, middle, or end has yet to be firmly established.

Multimedia Design Management

I had the occasion to work on a major interactive training program for a leading interstate bank. The multimedia production company that handled the project brought a hierarchical management mind-set to the production. This production factory approach brought enough checks and balances to keep the project on schedule and it kept the client feeling secure, but in the end, the heavy overhead crippled the creative potential and the profitability of the project. In the end, the program, as designed, could have been much cheaper and probably more effective using videos.

Cog in the Wheel

My role in the production was to write the training vignettes, characterizations, and video sequences. These were plugged into a larger scheme developed by a lead designer and a content specialist. No one really had any sense of the interactivity (which was very little) until the very end -- at which time the whole thing was already cast in stone.

The Need for an Interactive Script Paradigm

From this experience, I felt compelled to develop a scripting paradigm for multimedia. As you watch program designers struggle with awkward flow charts and diagrams on the chalkboard, it becomes obvious that some kind of three-dimensional chalkboard is needed to chart all the interactive connections.

Client Approvals

In addition, there needs to be a way to get the client to sign off on the concept, content, and design before production begins.

A HyperScript Solution

In lieu of a 3-D chalkboard, there is a simple solution that should be obvious to Web users -- a HyperScript. By implementing hypertext into a conventional script format you get:

Here's an Example:

For our example we will script the fictitious An Introduction to the Supermarket multimedia program. I am using the standard screenplay format for simplicity.

Opening Screen

The opening supermarket screen might have the user click on various sections of the store, or there might overhead signs to click, or maybe a menu. These are decisions for the graphics designer. Our interest is in the content and interactive structure.

Hypertext Word Processor

TransText, an hypertext word processor from MaxThink I use, creates individual ascii files for each hyperlink. There's no programming required. The files are linked on the fly as you type.

HTML for Multimedia Scripts

If you're comfortable with web publishing, interactive scripts can also be written in HTML with a simple text editor. The key is to make it simple so that the burden of programming codes into the document doesn't intrude on the creative writing process. Macros can be used to quickly convert text into hyper-link codes. The web browser is used to click, view, and print the finished document.

An Example

For Web simplicity here, I have assembled all the individual files into this one document. The file breaks are marked by a horizontal line.

Even though this example is simplistic, it shows the basic concept: Any user response that initiates an event can be represented by a hypertext link to a descriptive script page or file. The client can click around the script as a working model. In addition, the pages can be printed out as individual scenes for use by the programmers, designers, director, talent, etc.

Ready, here we go.

An Introduction to the Supermarket
Multimedia Script

Click back to the top to learn how it's done.
Scroll downward to see the script. 
    TITLE: WELCOME TO THE SUPERMARKET!

    SCENE: WIDE VIEW OF SUPERMARKET INTERIOR.

     (music: Opening Theme)

		     NARRATOR
	  Welcome to the supermarket. Over
	  100,000 food products ranging from
	  Mocha java to Motor Oil.

    The On-Camera Host gestures to the aisles of shopping and the
    section signs that read BAKERY, MEAT, DAIRY, & PRODUCE.

		    HOST
	  Hi, this is  a fun place to visit.
	  Please make your selection.

Start Here: CLICK ON SUPERMARKET SIGNS:

    BAKERY Sign
    MEAT COUNTER Sign
    DAIRY CASE Sign
    PRODUCE SECTION Sign
Return to the top

TITLE: Welcome to the Bakery.

    HOT PIPING ROLLS ARE COMING FRESH OUT OF THE OVEN

		     NARRATOR
	  There are always sweet smells coming
	  from this corner of the market. Take a
	  whiff. What's fresh today Mr. Baker?

		    BAKER
	  Ah, oui, oui, monsieur. Today we have
	  zee Viennese Torte, zee Bavarian Creme,
	  and of course, zee American donuts.

    CLICK ON PASTRIES
    ========================
    VIENNESE TORTE
    BAVARIAN CREME
    DONUTS
    START

TITLE: Bavarian Cremes are Supreme!

    SCENE: BAVARIAN BAKERY SHOP FILLED WITH PASTRIES

		     NARRATOR
	  What's the messiest, creamiest, way to
	  satisfy a sugar high? Bavarian Creme,
	  that's the one.




    MENU:
    =======================
    Bavarian Recipe
    START

TITLE: RECIPE FOR BAVARIAN CREME

    SCENE: BAKER WEARS A WHITE HAT IN HIS KITCHEN

		    BAKER
	  So, you want to make a Bavarian Creme.
	  First, go to Bavaria, ha, ha, ha.






    MENU:
    =======================
    START
    PREVIOUS

TITLE: You Have Entered the Donut Domain!

    SCENE: HUNDREDS OF DONUTS FLOAT ON HOT OIL AND ARE SCOOPED
    INTO THE SUGAR TRAY.

			 NARRATOR
	  Everybody loves donuts. Hot, sweet, and greasy
	  good, what would the day be like without an early
	  morning donut.

	  Today, we're at Krispy Kreme world headquarters
	  where the five billionth donut is about to come
	  off the line. Kris, how's it goin'?

			 KRIS KREEM
	  Thanks, Dave. Our motto has always been, "There's
	  a lot of dough in donuts." 

    Kris takes a bite and licks his lips.

    MENU:
    ========================
    Back to the Bakery
    START

TITLE: VIENNESE TORTE

    A BEAUTIFUL VIENNESE TORTE IS SERVED IN A VIENNA COFFEE BAR.

		     NARRATOR
	  You haven't lived til you sampled a
	  torte from old Vienna.





    MENU:
    ==========================
    Bakery
    START
TITLE: If you like milk, MOO've right to the DAIRY SECTION! 
    SCENE: DAIRY CASE FULL OF MILK PRODUCTS.

		     NARRATOR
	  Ever have a hankerin' for a big,
	  frosty glass of milk on a hot summer
	  day?  Well, the Dairy Section is the
	  place for you. Let's take a look at how
	  milk is packaged.



    MENU:
    ========================
    MILK PROCESSING
    START

TITLE: Milk Plants are Clean!

    SCENE: MODERN MILK PROCESSING LINE.

		     NARRATOR
	  Look at all that milk. No wonder the
	  Wisconsin farmers dumped it on the
	  ground!





    MENU:
    ========================
    START

TITLE: WELCOME TO THE MEAT DEPARTMENT.

    SCENE: ROWS OF PLASTIC WRAPPED MEAT INVITE THE SHOPPER.

		     NARRATOR
	  Welcome to the meat department. I hope
	  you are in the mood for steaks, roasts,
	  legs of lamb, and pork chops. Here's
	  the butcher now.

		      BUTCHER
	  Yes, we have no bananas. We have meat
	  from the Colorado Rockies.

    MENU:
    ======================
    Colorado Cattle
    START

TITLE: Colorado Grain Fed Cattle

    SCENE:  CATTLE GRAZING ON THE WESTERN SLOPE.

		     NARRATOR
	  See them little doggies. Hot diggity,
	  they'll make some fine steaks.





    MENU
    ============
    START

TITLE: Farm Fields of Freshness Arrive Daily

    SCENE:  A FEMALE SHOPPER INSPECTS A RIPE, PLUMP TOMATO.

		     NARRATOR
	  Red, sweet, sun-ripened goodness. Can't
	  get much better than this.




    MENU:
    =====================
    HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN
    TOMATO VARIETIES

TITLE: How to Grow Your Own... Tomatoes!

    SCENE: Neat Rows of Tomato Plants in the Sun.

		     NARRATOR
	  If you love tomatoes, nothing beats a
	  home-grown, sun-ripened beauty. Just
	  ask Sally Gardener.

		    SALLY
	  I started growing tomatoes from a
	  Burpee pack of seeds when I was nine
	  years old. Today, my entire estate is
	  covered with tomato vines.

    MENU
    ==================
    Tomato Varieties
    START

TITLE: Tomatoes Come in Lots of VARIETIES.

    SCENE: Bushel baskets of 5 varieties of tomatoes. Sally
    Gardener inspects them lovingly.

		    SALLY
	  I just love tomatoes. Here's several
	  varieties that can grow in your own
	  back yard. Beefsteak, Plum, Cherry, to
	  name a few.


    MENU:
    =============
    Produce
    Grow Your Own
    START