1. A video surveillance system comprising: a plurality of function modules, each module of the plurality of function modules providing a functional effect that is dependent upon one or more parameters, a database that includes a plurality of scene characterizations, a selector that is configured to allow a user of the video surveillance system to select one or more select characterizations from the plurality of scene characterizations, and a configuration module that is configured to determine the one or more parameters of at least one of the plurality of modules, based on the one or more select characterizations.