Author: Zran Chen

The overall theme of this project is “Space”. After group discussions and scheme selection, we ultimately determined “Mars Cultivation” as the main research direction. The reason for choosing this theme is that it combines the characteristics of scientific exploration and future imagination, and also has strong potential for interactive design, which can provide users with a richer participation experience.

In terms of content design, we believe that the growth process of plants, from sowing, germination to maturity, possesses strong visual characteristics, capable of forming a complete and attractive narrative thread. Furthermore, the changes in plant growth status also provide possibilities for the design of interactive feedback mechanisms, which help enhance users’ understanding and engagement with the project content.

From the perspective of manifestation, physical installations related to plants can be well integrated with virtual scenes, creating a future Martian agricultural environment through the integration of virtual and real elements, thereby enhancing the overall immersive and technological experience. To further clarify the design direction, we conducted research on relevant cases combining technological elements with plant ecology, focusing on practical cases in the fields of future agriculture, smart greenhouses, ecological installation art, and sci-fi visual design, providing a reference for subsequent conceptual design and visual presentation

The focus of this week’s research is to explore shooting methods under dynamic camera trajectories, in order to further enhance the immersion and first-person perspective experience of 360-degree panoramic videos. At the beginning of the project, we attempted to directly fix the camera on a kitten to obtain a more authentic subject perspective. However, during testing, it was found that due to the strong uncertainty in the kitten’s movement patterns, the equipment fixation was not ideal, and there was a noticeable shaking problem in the captured footage, which affected the viewing experience and picture quality.

Addressing this issue, based on the guidance and suggestions, we adjusted the shooting plan, using a mobile trolley as the camera’s carrying platform to simulate the perspective trajectory of a moving kitten. During the shooting process, we secured the camera equipment with wider tape to enhance equipment stability and minimize jitter during movement. Through this method, we successfully recorded scenes of kittens playing and moving, providing more stable and continuous image material for the subsequent construction of first-person narrative.

This experiment demonstrates that, compared to directly mounting the equipment on the animal, utilizing a mobile carrier to simulate the subject’s movement trajectory can enhance image stability while ensuring the authenticity of the perspective, providing a reference for the optimization of subsequent panoramic imaging shooting schemes

This week, we completed the actual shooting of the project. During the shooting process, we used mechanical supports as auxiliary equipment to ensure the stability of the camera position and simulate the first-person perspective of the kitten for scene recording. In terms of specific content design, the audience is placed in the identity of “the kitten”, with the person playing the role of the owner placing a food bowl and cat food in front of the camera, simulating the daily scene of the owner feeding the kitten, thereby enhancing the audience’s recognition and empathy for the character identity.

After shooting, we organized and selected the footage, and used panoramic video editing software to complete post-production, including image stitching, shot adjustment, and panoramic format export. Finally, a 360-degree panoramic video suitable for viewing was generated. Through this practice, we further verified the performance effect of first-person narrative in immersive imaging and accumulated practical experience for subsequent content optimization.

① Fix the camera and mount it at a height similar to a cat’s perspective, without moving it throughout the entire process
② Start recording. The character pushes the door open and walks in, goes to get cat food, adds food to the cat’s bowl, talks to the cat, touches the cat’s head (pretending to touch the camera), pushes the door open and leaves, and the recording ends

In the preliminary shooting stage, we first experimented with a fixed camera position, recording daily activities such as kittens eating and playing, attempting to observe their behavior from the perspective of a camera as an object in the environment. However, after viewing the test footage, we found that although this shooting method could record the activity state of the kittens, the overall narrative and immersion were relatively weak. The audience was more in the position of a bystander, making it difficult to form a strong immersive experience.

Based on this discovery, we adjusted the filming plan, simulating the camera as the first-person perspective of a kitten, and arranged for it to participate in feeding and interactive activities with other kittens. In this plan, the audience will observe the surrounding environment directly as a “kitten”. For example, when the owner places the food bowl and cat food in front of them, other kittens gradually approach and start eating. The audience can gradually realize that their identity and perspective have shifted to that of a kitten through environmental information and character interactions.

In addition, we have designed some motion shots that simulate cat behavior characteristics, such as approaching companions, following movements, and participating in interactions, to further enhance the first-person perspective experience. Preliminary tests indicate that this non-human subject perspective can effectively enhance the audience’s sense of novelty and immersion, enabling them to participate in the spatial narrative constructed by the 360-degree panoramic imagery in a more active manner.

In the initial stage of the project, we conducted preliminary research on relevant hardware equipment and technical solutions tailored to the shooting requirements of 360-degree panoramic movies. Specifically, we focused on understanding the functional characteristics, shooting principles, and application methods of panoramic camera equipment such as Insta360 in immersive image creation.

After preliminary discussions, we have identified “the kitten” as the core theme of the film. We aim to enhance the audience’s immersion and empathy by simulating the kitten’s first-person perspective, presenting the events and interactions that occur in its surrounding environment.

In terms of shooting plan design, we initially considered installing a 360-degree panoramic camera on the body of the kitten or achieving first-person perspective shooting through a backpack device. However, this plan faces technical issues such as equipment fixation and image stability during actual implementation. Therefore, subsequent research will focus on exploring the application of lightweight fixed structures and stabilization devices to ensure image quality and the naturalness of animal activities during shooting.

In traditional film and television narratives, stories are typically unfolding from the perspective of human characters, and the information and experiences received by the audience are mostly based on human perception. This project attempts to break through this conventional narrative framework, using a kitten as the main perspective subject to explore environmental perception and narrative expression from a non-human perspective. We believe that this perspective shift may bring viewers a different viewing experience from traditional film and television works, and further enhance the sense of exploration and participation in immersive 360-degree videos. Therefore, constructing narrative content from the first-person perspective of a kitten may become an experimental and innovative attempt in the creation of immersive panoramic imagery

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