Here's the screen for the app
this app uses the json shown below - which is made up of two parts: variables and plot.
you can see what the plot looks like in the lower half of the above screen where the variables (eg. <female_1>) are placeholders in the story template. the first button lets you select a variable to populate by selecting from the alternative values. finally you press the other button to generate the plot.
here is the full json tree
{
"variables": {
"female_1": [
"Architect",
"Baker",
"Veterinarian",
"Art Teacher"
],
"setting": [
"small coastal town",
"mountain village",
"rural farming community",
"historic downtown district"
],
"decision": [
"restore the old community center",
"organize the annual festival",
"save the local business",
"reconnect with her roots"
],
"male_1": [
"Corporate Executive",
"Successful Attorney",
"Real Estate Developer",
"Tech Entrepreneur"
],
"male_2": [
"Local Contractor",
"Elementary School Principal",
"Marine Biologist",
"Historian"
],
"helper": [
"Town Elder",
"Former Teacher",
"Local Librarian",
"Community Volunteer"
],
"miracle": [
"the community center is saved by unexpected donations",
"an old deed is discovered proving the land cannot be sold",
"the perfect buyer emerges to preserve the business",
"a historical landmark designation is approved"
],
"ending": [
"the camera pulls back to show the glowing town square",
"the couple walks hand-in-hand down the decorated street",
"the townspeople gather for a celebration in the restored building",
"snow begins to fall as carolers sing beneath the landmark"
],
"place": [
"community center",
"bookstore",
"bakery",
"old theater"
]
},
"plot": "A dedicated <female_1> decides to <decision> in <setting>. There she meets <male_2> and initially finds him charming but unremarkable. Unbeknownst to her, her current fiance, <male_1>, has been secretly planning to shut down the <place>, a place dear to her heart. With the help of <helper>, she discovers his true intentions and decides to break off the engagement. After the breakup, she started noticing <male_2> - his quiet strength, his care for the <place>. Working side by side to save it, she realized she was falling for him. At the end of the movie, it's a Christmas miracle when <miracle>. The movie ends with the lovers sitting around a Christmas tree singing a Christmas carol and <ending>."
}
here's an image dump of the blocks
and here's tha .aia
hallmark.aia (5.3 KB)
i was surprised how easy it was to use the dictionary blocks in processing json. there are no hardcoded variables that are part of the story. in fact, you can create any type of story as long as you follow the coding conventions and tree structure defined in the json.
i hope to see some romantic and dramatic plots for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's, Easter, etc. coming soon!