Carnegie Mellon University is steeped in a tradition of interdisciplinary research and the capacity to shift into new fields quickly. The initial realization Carnegie Mellon possessed the academic rigor and discipline, the faculty capabilities, and significant entertainment industry presence, to help define the field of entertainment technology, can be credited to the former dean of the School of Computer Science and Turing Award recipient, Raj Reddy. Dean Reddy realized in the fields of computer science, drama, as well as many of the traditional arts and humanities disciplines, Carnegie Mellon was uniquely endowed with a history of innovation (the first degree-granting program in Drama dating back to 1914 is just one example), world-renowned research components, and an educational ethos of 'learning by doing.'
In the mid-'90s there was much 'doing' at Carnegie Mellon University; reflected and embodied simultaneously with the cross-fertilization manifest in the field of entertainment technology. A major impetus was the establishing of Informedia, a digital video library project, bringing together faculty from many different areas of the university. Informedia researchers Scott Stevens and Michael Christel created a patented technology called Synthetic Interviews, allowing computer users to use speech recognition to interview historical and fictional characters. This sparked the interest of Drama professor Donald Marinelli, who in 1995 left his position as Associate Head of Drama to immerse himself fully in digital media in general, and the Informedia Project in particular. At the urging of Dean Reddy, Stevens and Marinelli created a synthetic interview of the world famous, Nobel prize-winning physicist Albert Einstein, portrayed by film, television, and stage actor Jerry Maher.
The world attention garnered by the synthetic interview technology led to creation of a Carnegie Mellon spin-off company named Grand Illusion Studios, where the technology for additional entertainment and education purposes was adapted. The earliest explorations demonstrated how computer scientists and artists could work together in the creation of new forms of digital entertainment.
Coincidentally, Randy Pausch left his position at the University of Virginia, where he’d been a professor and researcher, to return to his alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University. During his stint at UVA, Pausch created the world renowned Alice rapid prototyping software. Upon his arrival Randy Pausch instituted what may be the most broadly cross-disciplinary course at Carnegie Mellon, titled "Building Virtual Worlds." This incredibly popular course put artists and technologists together to build virtual reality worlds. The Building Virtual Worlds end-of-the-semester showcase quickly established itself as the 'main event' of exam week; routinely packing the McConomy Auditorium in the University Center—the largest venue on campus.
In an auspicious confirmation a proper synergy was occurring, the School of Drama at this time hosted a visit by its external advisory board, a group of leading individuals from all areas of the entertainment industry. This assembly of entertainment industry professionals gathers periodically to review the state of education and training at their alma mater. The Drama External Advisory Board concluded their visit with a strong recommendation to the President Carnegie Mellon should exploit its tremendous knowledge base in emerging technologies to spearhead developments in digital storytelling and new forms of entertainment technology. Excited and encouraged by this fervent endorsement, Carnegie Mellon's new President, Dr. Jared Cohon, convened a committee to devise the means by which the university could assume a national leadership role for the convergence of technology and the arts. Pursuant to the committee's recommendation, the Entertainment Technology Center was formally established in the Fall of 1998, as a joint program between the School of Computer Science and the College of Fine Arts.
The great insight provided by President Jared Cohon and former Provost, the late Paul Christiano, was the realization success in a venture as daring as the creation of a center devoted to entertainment technology, lay in having an equal partnership between the arts and sciences. This center should feature a Co-directorship, anchored by representatives from each discipline. Fortunately, Donald Marinelli, a Professor of Drama, and Randy Pausch , a Professor of Computer Science, had served together on the President's committee which had created a interdisciplinary friendship; which expertly illustrated the educational and professional mission of the ETC.
Don & Randy originally planned to wait a year before admitting the first master degree class. When word got out about the center, however, a group of dedicated students came forward and expressed great enthusiasm for the new degree program. Frankly, they refused to leave! Meanwhile, a set of industry sponsors appeared, equally enthusiastic about launching such a program. The ETC commenced formal operations in the fall of 1999 with a pilot class of eight Carnegie Mellon University seniors. These vanguard explorers and pioneers graduated in the Spring of 2001. We are currently growing—very carefully—aiming for a steady state of 25 students each year, with no more than 50 students in residence at any given time.
