A New Frontier in Personalised Media

The Collaboration Between MojitoFilms and IPU Berlin

At MojitoFilms, we believe in pushing the boundaries of entertainment. As one of the leading platforms in European media, we constantly strive to create deeper, more meaningful connections between audiences and the films they love. In our quest to deliver a more personalised and emotionally engaging film experience, we’ve embarked on an exciting collaboration with IPU Berlin (International Psychoanalytic University) to develop a Psychological Model that will redefine the way users interact with movies.

This collaboration marks a unique blend of psychoanalytic theory, data-driven innovation, and media analytics. Together with IPU Berlin’s expertise in understanding human behaviour, we are crafting a model that delves deep into how and why users choose certain films. This project will help MojitoFilms deliver personalised film recommendations that go beyond surface-level preferences to reveal the intricate connections between users, their personalities, and their favourite on-screen characters.

Understanding the Psychological Model

Our goal is to build a psychological model that predicts and enhances the viewer’s experience by studying their connection to films and characters. By collecting data on how users engage with films, their emotional responses, and their character preferences, we aim to uncover insights that will allow us to offer highly personalised recommendations.

While traditional recommendation algorithms might rely on simple metrics such as watch history, genre preferences, or popular content, MojitoFilms' Psychological Model will go much further. By leveraging the expertise of IPU Berlin and its focus on the intersection of psyche and society, we aim to tap into the psychological underpinnings of why users prefer certain films or characters over others.

This innovative model will serve as a key component of MojitoFilms' platform, making sure that every viewer feels a personal connection to the content they consume. Whether it’s a love for tragic heroes or a preference for films with deep psychological conflict, our model will capture these nuances and translate them into meaningful film-viewing experiences.

Why Partner with IPU Berlin?

The International Psychoanalytic University Berlin (IPU) is a leader in understanding human behaviour from a psychoanalytic perspective. At the heart of our partnership with IPU Berlin is a team of distinguished academics, including Prof. Dr. Konrad Schnabel, Dajana Vukajlovic, Marko Gerber, and Elizabeth Becker. Their work focuses on the intersection of psychology and society, researching how subjective experiences are shaped by the media we consume.

IPU Berlin's research is deeply embedded in psychoanalytic theory and related concepts, examining how contemporary subjectivity is formed in relation to the media. This collaboration is vital to MojitoFilms because it gives us access to a vast body of research that explores how psychoanalytic concepts like identity, emotion, and narrative attachment influence film preferences.

IPU’s expertise is crucial for conceptualising and framing the Psychological Model that we are developing. This model needs to account for not just what films users watch but why they watch them and how they emotionally engage with specific characters and narratives. This deeper level of understanding will allow us to design a recommendation system that is far more advanced than any algorithm currently available in the media industry.

The Role of Data: From Collection to Model Development

A significant part of this collaboration is rooted in the power of data analysis. To create a truly personalised experience, we need vast amounts of data from our platform users. Our approach relies on large language models (LLMs) that can process and analyse this data, drawing complex insights about user behaviour and preferences.

The data-driven side of the project focuses on four core stages:

1. Data Collection: This is the first and most critical stage. We collect data on how users interact with films, including what genres they favour, how they react to different characters, and how often they watch certain movies. This data provides the foundation for everything that follows.

2. Data Analysis: Once collected, the data is analysed using advanced machine learning techniques. By processing this information, we can identify patterns in how users engage with various types of content, from emotional responses to specific character types to more general viewing habits.

3. Model Development: Based on the insights gathered from the data, the next step is to develop the Psychological Model itself. This model is designed to predict user behaviour by identifying key psychological traits that influence film preferences. As it evolves, the model will be trained to become increasingly accurate, offering personalised recommendations that feel tailored to each user.

4. Model Training: The model must undergo rigorous training to ensure that it works as intended. This involves feeding it new data, testing its predictions, and refining its algorithms to deliver the most accurate and relevant results. Over time, the model will become smarter and more capable of predicting what types of films users will love.

The Importance of Conceptual Research

One of the key reasons why IPU Berlin is the ideal partner for this project is their expertise in conceptual research. The university is known for its work in conceptualising subjective experiences and examining them through a psychoanalytic lens. This type of research allows us to delve into the emotional and psychological aspects of film consumption.

For example, IPU’s research into subjectivity and media helps us understand how users’ identities are shaped by the characters and narratives they engage with. This is a critical component of our model, as it allows us to map out the deeper connections between film and personality, going beyond simple data points like clicks and watch history.

In the initial phase of the project, much of the work focuses on defining the framework for the Psychological Model of Behavioral Prediction in Media (MBPM). During these early months, we’re gathering essential data and refining the model's theoretical foundations. This planning ensures that the model is built on solid conceptual ground and aligns with both the goals of MojitoFilms and the needs of our audience.

Prototyping the MBPM: Turning Theory into Practice

The next critical phase of the collaboration involves the development and prototyping of the MBPM. During months 7-9, we’ll be using the data collected to build a functional prototype of the model. This step is essential because it takes the theoretical framework developed by IPU Berlin and turns it into something practical that can be tested and refined.

Prototyping is where the model’s true potential begins to shine. It allows us to see how the psychological theories we’ve been exploring translate into real-world applications. Can we accurately predict what kind of films a user will enjoy based on their personality traits and emotional connections with certain characters? Does the model provide recommendations that feel deeply personal and relevant to the user?

User Testing and Feedback

Once the prototype has been developed, the next step is user testing. By months 9-12, the MBPM will be integrated into MojitoFilms' platform for initial user interaction. This phase is crucial for gathering user feedback, which will help us assess the model’s functionality and performance. We’re particularly interested in how well the model predicts user preferences and how satisfied users are with the personalised recommendations it offers.

User feedback is invaluable because it allows us to refine the model based on real-world interactions. It helps us identify what works and what doesn’t, enabling us to make necessary adjustments before the model’s full launch. This iterative process ensures that by the time the MBPM is fully operational, it will be finely tuned to deliver the best possible experience for our users.

Continuous Improvement: A Model That Grows With Its Audience

The final phase of the project, spanning months 12-18, focuses on launching the MBPM feature and establishing a cycle of continuous improvement. After the model is live, we will monitor its performance closely, collecting new data and refining the model based on user behaviour and trends.

One of the key benefits of using large language models is that they can adapt and evolve over time. As the platform gathers more data, the model will become better at predicting user preferences, ensuring that it remains effective even as audience tastes shift. This continuous improvement process will help MojitoFilms stay ahead of the competition and keep users engaged with content that feels fresh and personalised.

Revolutionising Media Personalisation

The collaboration between MojitoFilms and IPU Berlin represents a new frontier in media personalisation. By combining data-driven innovation with psychoanalytic research, we’re building a model that will revolutionise how users interact with films. Our Psychological Model goes beyond traditional algorithms, offering a deeper, more emotionally resonant way to connect users with the stories they love.

At MojitoFilms, we believe that understanding user behaviour is the key to delivering a truly personalised media experience. With IPU Berlin’s expertise in conceptual research and our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology, we’re poised to transform the way people experience films. This collaboration is just the beginning, and we’re excited to see how it will shape the future of European media.

As we continue to refine the model and gather more data, our ultimate goal remains the same: to create an entertainment platform where every user feels like the films they watch were made just for them. With the Psychological Model at the heart of our platform, that vision is now closer than ever to becoming a reality.