This lesson introduces INTERCONNECTION, a sci-fi miniseries that became the testing ground for exploring how galvanic skin response data can reveal audience engagement. It shows how neurometrics, paired with traditional feedback, can enrich creative decision-making and highlight new ways of connecting production technology with audience research.
Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
September 30, 2025
In spring 2025, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF conducted an experimental case study that examined how neurometrics can inform creative decision-making in film production. The study focused on the use of galvanic skin response (GSR) data as a means to gain insight into audience reactions during the production of the soft lock version of an episode of the science fiction miniseries INTERCONNECTION. A soft lock refers to an almost finalized edit in which the structure and timing of the film are stable, but details may still be adjusted. At this stage, visual effects, sound, and music remained placeholders, leaving room for refinements.
@Interconnection, 2025
INTERCONNECTION was selected as the case study because the project and its creator, Marco Braune, consistently pursue an experimental and technologically forward-looking approach. This openness to technological innovation made the production particularly suitable for testing new methods of audience research.
The INTERCONNECTION team welcomed the opportunity to complement their creative process with neurometric feedback. By measuring biometric responses from a test audience, the study examined how GSR data might provide additional perspectives on narrative tension, emotional engagement, and the perception of specific scenes. Rather than replacing traditional creative decision-making, the study explored how such data could serve as an additional layer of evidence, potentially enriching artistic choices in future productions.
This case study is presented here as a concrete example within the KreaTech project: it illustrates how emerging technologies in production can be connected with experimental methods of audience analysis, offering valuable insights into both film practice and research.
INTERCONNECTION is a science-fiction miniseries that pushes the boundaries of virtual production. Conceived and directed by Marco Braune and produced by Johanna Hildebrandt, the series is a collaboration between Arkanum Pictures and the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, with funding from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg’s Digi.Tale program for innovative digital media formats.
Set in the year 2072, the story follows Kira, a 26-year-old loner whose life takes a shocking turn when she is suddenly wanted for murder. The true culprit turns out to be her own digital double—an uncanny doppelgänger emerging from a parallel digital universe. As Kira and her counterpart try to undo the crime, they discover that much more than Kira’s freedom is at stake.
The miniseries consists of five episodes, each with a runtime of six to ten minutes. Filming took place in autumn 2024, with ten production days at LEDcave Berlin and additional work in the studios of the Film University Babelsberg. A central feature of the production is the LED wall, which is not only used as a backdrop but also as an active narrative element. It serves as the visual and conceptual bridge between the protagonist’s physical environment and the digital parallel universe.
Impressions from the INTERCONNECTION set. @Interconnection, 2025
The production was realized using virtual production and in-camera VFX techniques. Key elements included a 40 × 6.5 meter LED wall, the CarCave setup, and a complementary greenscreen stage. The creative team also explored the integration of in-camera animation sequences, the use of switching the LED wall off as a visual effect, and a lighting design that connected Sumo SKY bars to Unnreal Engine to animate light cues in real-time.
INTERCONNECTION thus is a gripping science-fiction tale and a showcase for the creative and technological possibilities of virtual production. It demonstrates how LED walls and digital workflows can move beyond background scenery to become integral parts of storytelling, opening new pathways for narrative cinema in the digital age.
INTERCONNECTION is set to be published in spring 2026!
@Interconnection, 2025
@Interconnection, 2025
@Interconnection, 2025
@Interconnection, 2025
For this case study, we presented the first episode of the miniseries in its soft lock stage. At this point, editing was complete, while visual effects, sound, and music were still placeholders, sufficient to convey the full creative vision but leaving room for later refinements. These could still be potentially influenced by the results of the study.
The episode was screened individually to nine participants. Each session followed a structured study template under controlled testing conditions, with all external interruptions minimized. Participants were spatially focused on watching a screen with headphones, while the study conductor sat nearby, slightly out of their focus, to monitor the process without distracting from the viewing.
The spatial setup of the study.
The procedure began with a welcome and short introduction, followed by connecting the participant to the GSR device. As GSR device, the Shimmer3R GSR+ Unit was used. The Shimmer 3 is a compact, wireless, research-grade wearable sensor platform that records physiological and motion data (e.g. ECG, GSR, IMU).
Participants wears the Shimmer device.
After this setup, the first episode of INTERCONNECTION was shown. To establish a reference point for comparing emotional responses across participants, the screening concluded with a short clip of an attacking tiger, which consistently triggered a strong physiological reaction in all participants. The GSR data was tracked and visualized with the Cinematronics's Biosignal Platform.
Cinematronics's Biosignal Platform for data tracking and visualization.
Once the viewing was complete, the GSR device was disconnected and participants were asked a set of prepared qualitative and quantitative questions about their experience and individual reactions.
The study was executed with the following template as step-by-step description for the conductor of the study. Ideally, the study conductor should check off all boxes when done to ensure and document a proper study execution.
Start of the interview
(this part is not recorded)
Have you been informed of the procedure and purpose of the following study, and are all of your questions answered to your satisfaction? The participant answers:
Do you agree to the audio recording of the study? The audio is meant for the transcription of the study. The participant answers:
> START THE AUDIO RECORDING <
What is your age:
Which gender do you identify with:
Non-Disclosure Agreement: Do you agree not to share any data or information of this study which is disclosed during the study and that is proprietary to us and the creators of the shown materials and that is not generally known to the public or that has not yet been revealed, whether in tangible or intangible form? The participant answers:
Do you agree to the recording of your Galvanic Skin Response data with the Shimmer device? The participant answers:
> PUT ON THE SHIMMER DEVICE <
> START THE GSR DATA RECORDING <
> START THE VIDEOS <
> STOP THE GSR DATA RECORDING <
> DETACH SHIMMER <
Ask the following questions for all moments, where there are major data changes (highs, low, flats) measured.
In [scene A, moment 1]
(Ideally, show options on a screen)
(Emotional impact: how emotionally affected and engaged were you during the episode)
> END OF STUDY <
The case study had an exploratory character, and the number of participants was too small to allow for reliable quantification of the results. What can be shown, however, is a rough overview of the GSR responses from all participants, with each color representing a different individual (at 7:32 the “attacking tiger” stimulus was presented).
Overview of all captured GSR data.
In the middle section of the episode, the GSR data indicated a relatively steady pattern, with few noticeable fluctuations. This phase introduced little new information and did not elicit strong physiological arousal. Such a pattern does not imply that the sequence was ineffective or uninteresting; rather, it reflects the absence of the intense responses typically triggered by action scenes, horror elements, or other high-arousal visuals.
At the beginning of the episode, clear spikes were recorded, corresponding to moments of action as expected. Toward the end, smaller peaks appeared, most likely linked to the deepening interaction between the two characters and the audience’s increasing emotional engagement. Overall, the data suggests a shift from initial action-driven arousal to more subtle, character-based involvement as the episode progressed.
Participants’ comments added important context to the data. Several highlighted lighting changes, which is notable given the virtual production setup, and one participant showed a clear physiological reaction to such a cue. Two viewers who had visited the set responded most strongly to moments they personally remembered, which illustrates how off-screen experiences influence on-screen engagement. An actress in the group recorded her highest peaks during the final character interaction and gave detailed feedback on performance and staging, linking her physiological responses to professional expertise. Surprisingly, the first meeting of the two characters did not trigger a strong reaction, which suggests that targeted adjustments, for example with sound and music, could help strengthen audience engagement.
Exemplary heart rate and GSR data of a participant, visualized in Cinematronic's Biosignal Platform.
Exemplary heart rate and GSR data of a participant, visualized in Cinematronic's Biosignal Platform.
Exemplary heart rate and GSR data of a participant, visualized in Cinematronic's Biosignal Platform.
Even with such a small sample, the data is valuable as a proof of concept: it demonstrates how biometric responses can be recorded, visualized, and compared across individuals, providing a starting point for discussion and for designing larger, more systematic studies.
In summary, the case study described with the previously presented study template as follows.
This study examined the potential of neurometrics, specifically galvanic skin response (GSR), to provide insights into audience engagement during film production. The aim was to identify patterns of emotional arousal in relation to narrative structure, technical choices, and aesthetics. The study explores how physiological data can complement traditional evaluation methods such as test screenings and qualitative feedback, offering an additional perspective for creative decision-making.
Production stage
General requirements
Roles & positions
Budget
Technical requirements
Variable isolation: The variable tested was emotional arousal. GSR data were used to capture moments of heightened engagement. A short high-arousal stimulus clip (an attacking tiger) was added at the end of the screening to provide a calibration point across participants.
Study execution
Anticipated biometric patterns: Peaks in GSR were expected during action or tension, with lower arousal during quieter, dialogue-driven scenes. The calibration clip was expected to generate strong and consistent responses.
Implications for creative or technical decisions: Results were anticipated to highlight which scenes engaged viewers most strongly and where responses were weaker. These insights could inform adjustments in editing, pacing, music, and sound design.
Integration into production workflows: Findings could be recognized during the postproduction phase, when refinements are still possible. This included changes in editing, the guided addition of sound effects and music, and potentially adjustments to planned VFX.
Realism: The study setup is feasible within real production contexts, particularly in research-oriented or experimental environments. The technical requirements are relatively low and can be integrated into standard workflows, although a significant amount of time and a larger number of participants would be needed to generate reliable and generalizable results.
The director expressed a clear interest in conducting further iterations of the study, for example after the addition of sound and music, with a focused examination of how these audio components influence audience responses.
Additional considerations: The small sample size prevents quantitative generalization, and results must be interpreted cautiously. Ethical considerations include informed consent, participant comfort, and responsible handling of data.
Further ideas: Future work could involve larger and more diverse participant groups, the inclusion of other biometric measures such as eye tracking or heart rate, and the application of neurometric testing earlier and iteratively in production.
This exploratory case study shows how neurometrics, even on a small scale, can provide meaningful insights into audience engagement and open new perspectives for creative decision-making. While not a substitute for artistic judgment, GSR data offered complementary evidence that highlighted both expected reactions and surprising gaps, underscoring the potential of biometric feedback to enrich future film production and research.
