[2601.08565] Rewriting Video: Text-Driven Reauthoring of Video Footage

Computer Science > Human-Computer Interaction arXiv:2601.08565 (cs) [Submitted on 13 Jan 2026 (v1), last revised 6 Apr 2026 (this version, v2)] Title:Rewriting Video: Text-Driven Reauthoring of Video Footage Authors:Sitong Wang, Anh Truong, Lydia B. Chilton, Dingzeyu Li View a PDF of the paper titled Rewriting Video: Text-Driven Reauthoring of Video Footage, by Sitong Wang and 3 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Video is a powerful medium for communication and storytelling, yet reauthoring existing footage remains challenging. Even simple edits often demand expertise, time, and careful planning, constraining how creators envision and shape their narratives. Recent advances in generative AI suggest a new paradigm: what if editing a video were as straightforward as rewriting text? To investigate this, we present a tech probe and a study on text-driven video reauthoring. Our approach involves two technical contributions: (1) a generative reconstruction algorithm that reverse-engineers video into an editable text prompt, and (2) an interactive probe, Rewrite Kit, that allows creators to manipulate these prompts. A technical evaluation of the algorithm reveals a critical human-AI perceptual gap. A probe study with 12 creators surfaced novel use cases such as virtual reshooting, synthetic continuity, and aesthetic restyling. It also highlighted key tensions around coherence, control, and creative alignment in this new paradigm. Our work contributes empirical in...