Scriptwriting for Interactive Crime Films: The Case of Scapegoat

Citation

Clarke A & Zioga P (2021) Scriptwriting for Interactive Crime Films: The Case of Scapegoat. Interactive Film and Media Conference 2021: New Narratives, Racialization, Global Crises, and Social Engagement, Online, 05.08.2021-07.08.2021. https://interactivefilm.blogspot.com/2021/07/scriptwriting-for-interactive-crime.html

Abstract
In recent years, the increasing number of interactive films being released, has highlighted the need for further development of methods and criteria that can guide the earlier stages of development, such as the scriptwriting process. Following the framework of interactive storytelling as a spectrum, it is acknowledged that writing a script for an interactive narrative that involves branching path options, or multiple endings, is becoming more common and presents its own challenges. In this context, this paper examines established criteria used for assessing narrative quality and examines currently available software for interactive scriptwriting, identifying their affordances and limitations. We present Scapegoat, a short interactive crime drama, with the objective to investigate in practice the application of the criteria for narrative quality, together with the processes and elements of scriptwriting that can lead to a strong engaging story. We propose an approach that can efficiently incorporate crucial information of the interaction design, it can be effectively communicated to the crew and cast and used throughout the production lifecycle of the film. We also discuss recommendations for further developments and future work.

Keywords
Interactive Film; Interactive Storytelling; Narrative Quality; Scriptwriting

Notes
Although the full text is not available yet (it will be published as part of the conference proceedings), the full video presentation of the paper is available at the publisher's URL.