Present simple vs present continuous when describing a video

Question

Person A: Let's watch this video now kids. [plays the video]

[the dog in the video starts to bark at someone]

Person A: What is the dog doing?

A child: He's barking at someone.

1. In this exchange the participants are kind of treating the paused frame [this barking] as a live event / something happening now and that's why they speak of it with the continuous -- is my understanding right?

On the other hand, when if the participants focused on a broader part of the video, on some sequence of actions, then they would use present simple: the dog gets irritated by a stranger then starts to bark etc. Right?

1. Could person A ask at the paused frame about a signle action like: What does the dog do now?

And a kid would reply: it barks

From what I wrote above this sounds wrong to me.

Answer 1

When you narrate a film or other literary work, you typically speak in the present tense. Listeners understand that what you're describing already happened in the past, but you're narrating it as though it were happening now.

Answer 2

Present Simple vs Present continuous

Where do we use these 2 tenses ?

Ref Adventures with Grammar and Composition, Beena Sugatham. Oxford Printing Press.

I.We use simple present tense:-

1. to talk about an action that takes place habitually. Examples:

a. John charges her battery once a week. b. She does not charge it every night.

2. to talk about universal truths or scientific facts that are always true. Examples:

a. Water freezes to form ice.

3. to show a state. Examples:

a. I am happy.

4. to refer to scheduled events or planned actions in the near future. Examples:

a. Our bus leaves at 7 p.m.

5. while recounting events of a story in the present tense. Examples:

a. Sleeping Beauty pricks her finger on a needle and falls asleep.

b. The whole kingdom falls asleep too.

6. after when, until, as soon as, before, after, etc. Examples:

a. As soon as I finish this book, I will borrow another.

II. We use present continuous tense:-

1. to describe an action that is happening now. For example:

a. The old man is walking down the street

2. to talk about temporary situations. For example:

a. I am staying at my friend's house for a few days.

3. to talk about something that is happening these days, for a longer period of time.

a. The earth is getting warmer.

4. to talk about an activity or action planned for future. For example:

a. We are planning a grand reception for our victorious cricket team.

5. to describe a continuing series of actions, with words like always forever, constantly, etc.

a. My friends are forever playing games on their mobile phones.

Now coming to OPs query:-

1. In this exchange the participants are kind of treating the paused frame [this barking] as a live event / something happening now and that's why they speak of it with the continuous -- is my understanding right?
2. Could person A ask at the paused frame about a signle action like: What does the dog do now? And a kid would reply: it barks.

1. When the video is running - the kid could reply according to the question - "The dog barks at the stranger." or "The dog is barking."

2. If the video is paused - it is like a still picture in which the dog is barking at the stranger. Person A should ask, "What is the dog doing?"

A child: "He's barking at someone.'

The question and answer cannot be changed as it is a still picture.