Method and system for filming

• US 10,317,778 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2015
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Holicom Film Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Holicom Film Ltd.
• Inventors: Ley, Stephen, O'Connell, Ian Christopher, Finn, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Steven Whitesell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brooks, Jerry L
• Application Number:
  US14/690,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20150227028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 353 10, 359460
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/56 by projecting aerial or floating images
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/06 Special arrangements of screening, diffusing, or reflecting devices, e.g. in studio
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/07 Arrangements of lamps in studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/112 according to a given display mode, e.g. for interlaced or progressive display mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/132 Sampling, masking or truncation of coding units, e.g. adaptive resampling, frame skipping, frame interpolation or high-frequency transform coefficient masking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/137 Motion inside a coding unit, e.g. average field, frame or block difference
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/17 the unit being an image region, e.g. an object
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/186 the unit being a colour or a chrominance component
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/20 using video object coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/587 involving temporal sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. decimation or subsequent interpolation of pictures in a video sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2224 related to virtual studio applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2226 Determination of depth image, e.g. for foreground/background separation determining depth by image analysis in general G06T7/50; segmentation by image analysis in general G06T7/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2621 Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects during image pickup, e.g. digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras having integrated special effects capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

This invention concerns a method of filming a subjected to be projected as a Pepper'"'"'s Ghost image. The method may comprise filming a subject under a lighting arrangement having one or more front lights for illuminating a front of a subject and one or more backlights. The lights may be controlled such that the total brightness of the one or more front lights, as measured of the subject, is less than or approximately the same as the total brightness of the one or more backlights, as measured at the subject. The subject may be located directly above one or more floor lights such the subject is illuminated from below by the one or more floor lights. The lights may comprise one or more LEDs. A drop-off distance of the front lights may be less than a distance between the front lights and a backscreen. The invention further concerns a lighting control system comprising an input device for receiving inputs on characteristics of the subject to be filmed and a controller arranged to determine from the inputs a required configuration for the lamps and send control signals to at least one of the lamps to cause the lamps to adjust to the required configuration. The lighting system may comprise a controller connected to a data link providing data on a lighting environment at a location where the film of the subject is being projected as a Pepper'"'"'s Ghost image, the controller controlling the lamps to adjust configuration during filming in response to data on changes in the lighting environment.

Claims

1. A method of filming a subject to produce film suitable for projecting in a manner that creates a full bodied Pepper'"'"'s Ghost of the subject, the method comprising:

filming a subject in front of a black, blue, or green back screen under a lighting arrangement to acquire images of the subject, the lighting arrangement having one or more first lights for illuminating a front of the subject, wherein the first lights have a drop-off distance such that the majority of light emitted by the first lights is not reflected by the back screen back to the subject or are angled such that the majority of light emitted by the first lights is not reflected by the back screen back to the subject, one or more second lights for illuminating the rear and/or side of the subject and operable to sharpen an outline of the subject, and one or more third lights for illuminating the feet of the subject;

wherein the camera used to film the subject is stationary, the subject is a moving subject and the lighting arrangement is arranged to lift produce shadows in the subject'"'"'s clothing and cause shadows to move across the subject as the subject moves under the lighting arrangement, wherein;

the total brightness of the one or more first lights, as measured at the subject, is less than or approximately the same as total brightness of the one or more second lights, as measured at the subject; and

a ratio of the total brightness, as measured at the subject, of the second lights to the total brightness of the first lights, as measured at the subject, is greater than 2;

3; and

the total brightness of the first lights is less than 150% of the total brightness of the second lights.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting arrangement is arranged to illuminate a cuboid volume such that, when the subject moves horizontally within the cuboid volume, a nature of the illumination on the subject remains substantially the same.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is filmed on a riser having a height and the subject is filmed with the camera having a lens that is positionable at a height approximately 1 foot higher than the height of the riser, the camera being vertically adjustable in an upward direction to obtain a more neutral view of the subject.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is filmed in a studio having a depth between 5 meters long by 3 meters wide and upto 20 meters long by 6 meters wide.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is filmed on a reflective or semi reflective riser.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is filmed in front of a light-absorbing back, and wherein a camera used to film the subject or the film to be presented is arranged to process light sources having an intensity of below a threshold value as being black.

7. the method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more front lights and the one or more rear and/or side lights each comprises different lamps for illuminating different sections of the subject, wherein the different sections comprise vertical sections of the subject.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the one or more front lights comprise a profile spotlight for illuminating a head of the subject, a profile spotlight for illuminating the torso of the subject, and a profile spotlight for illuminating legs and feet of the subject, and the one or more back lights comprise a profile spotlight for illuminating a head of the subject, a profile spotlight for illuminating the torso of the subject, a profile spotlight for illuminating legs and optionally feet of the subject.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting arrangement further comprises an overhead light positioned substantially directly above the subject, the one or more front lights further comprise a profile spotlight for illuminating the eyes of the subject and a fill lamp for illuminating the subject from below and producing shadows in the clothing of the subject.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting arrangement is arranged to illuminate undersides of the subject'"'"'s feet so that the base of the subject'"'"'s feet are captured and displayed on the projected film.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lights are controlled to match lighting effects for the subject being filmed to lighting effects at a location of the projected Pepper'"'"'s Ghost image.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lights are controlled to create a color temperature for the subject being filmed that substantially matches the color temperature of person/objects at the location of the projected Pepper'"'"'s Ghost image.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein filming the subject comprises filming the subject with a camera positioned such that an eye-line of the camera substantially corresponds to an eye-line of an audience watching the Pepper'"'"'s Ghost image and is at least 4 meters away from the subject.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

projecting the images of the subject through a semitransparent screen positioned at an angle to the projected film and an audience line-of-sight such that film images are visible to the audience as a pepper'"'"'s ghost superimposed on a backdrop to the screen such that the Pepper'"'"'s Ghost image of the subject appears at the same height as the subject in real-life.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

projecting the images of the subject onto a semitransparent screen placed at 45 degrees to a direction of light emitted by the projector such that the Pepper'"'"'s Ghost image of the subject appears at the same height as the subject in real-life.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting arrangement has a luminaire comprising an array of LEDs inside a housing chamber having a back reflecting surface opposite an output surface with at least one gap, and two side reflective surfaces, wherein the LEDs are attached to an inside of the output surface such that light emitted by the LEDs is directed away from the output surface towards either the back reflective surface or the one of the side reflective surfaces, wherefrom the light is reflected toward the output surface and emitted from the chamber via the at least one gap.

17. A real time streaming telepresence system, comprising:

an image source arranged to project a full bodied human image directly towards a semitransparent screen for receiving the full bodied human image projected by the image source and generating and directing a partially reflected full bodied human image toward an audience, the partially reflected human image being perceived by the audience as a virtual life size full bodied human image or hologram on a stage;

wherein the full body human image projected by the image source is filmed using a filming studio including a black, blue, or green back screen positioned behind a subject area in which the subject moves or is positioned during filming, and a lighting arrangement having one of more first lights for illuminating a front of the subject when viewed from a camera used to film the subject, wherein the first lights have a drop-off distance such that the majority of light emitted by the first lights is not reflected by the back screen back to the subject or are angled such that the majority of light emitted by the first lights is not reflected by the back screen back to the subject, and one or more second lights for illuminating the rear and/or side of the subject and operable to sharpen the outline of the subject, the total intensity of the one or more second lights being greater than the total intensity of the one or more first lights as measured at the subject at all points within the subject area, and one or more third lights for illuminating the feet of the subject, wherein the camera used to film the subject is stationary, the subject is a moving subject, and wherein the lighting arrangement is arranged to produce shadows in the subject'"'"'s clothing and cause shadows to move across the subject as the subject moves under the lighting arrangement, wherein;

the total brightness of the one or more first lights, as measured at the subject, is less than or approximately the same as total brightness of the one or more second lights, as measured at the subject; and

a ratio of the total brightness, as measured at the subject, of the second lights to the total brightness of the first lights, as measured at the subject, is greater than 2;

3; and

the total brightness of the first lights is less than 150 % of the total brightness of the second lights.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the image source comprises an LED or LCD panel display.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein the image source projects directly towards the semitransparent screen from above the stage or below the stage.

20. A real time streaming telepresence system, comprising:

an amplified light source for generating a life size full bodied human image;

a reflective front projection screen for receiving the life size full bodied human image generated by the amplified light source and generating a reflected life size full bodied human image; and

a semitransparent foil screen secured under tension within a frame to form a smooth, flat surface for receiving the reflected life size full bodied human image generated by the reflective front projection screen and generating and directing a partially reflected life size full bodied human image toward an audience, the partially reflected life size full bodied human image being perceived by the audience as a virtual life size full bodied human image or hologram on a stage;

wherein the life size human image generated by the amplified light source is filmed using a filming studio having a width less than or equal to 6 meters and a depth less than or equal to 20 meters, the filming studio including a black, blue, or green back screen positioned behind a subject area in which the subject is filmed, a lighting arrangement having one of more first lights for illuminating a front of the subject, wherein the first lights have a drop-off distance such that the majority of light emitted by the first lights is not reflected by the back screen back to the subject or are angled such that the majority of light emitted by the first lights is not reflected by the back screen back to the subject, and one or more second lights for illuminating the rear and/or side of the subject and operable to sharpen the outline of the subject, and one or more third lights for illuminating the feet of the subject, wherein a camera used to film the subject is stationary, the subject is a moving subject, and wherein the lighting arrangement is arranged to produce shadows in the subject'"'"'s clothing and cause shadows to move across the subject as the subject moves under the lighting arrangement, wherein;

the total brightness of the one or more first lights, as measured at the subject, is less than or approximately the same as total brightness of the one or more second lights, as measured at the subject; and

a ratio of the total brightness, as measured at the subject, of the second lights to the total brightness of the first lights, as measured at the subject, is greater than 2;

3; and

the total brightness of the first lights is less than 150% of the total brightness of the second lights.

21. A real time streaming telepresence system, comprising:

a semi-transparent screen configured with a reflective front or rear projection screen and amplified light source to display video of life size human images from the amplified light source in a ‘

peppers ghost’

arrangement;

wherein the life size human image generated by the amplified light source is filmed using a filming studio including a black, blue, or green back screen under an LED lighting arrangement having one of more first lights for illuminating a front of the subject, wherein the first lights have a drop-off distance such that the majority of light emitted by the first lights is not reflected by the back screen back to the subject or are angled such that the majority of light emitted by the first lights is not reflected by the back screen back to the subject, and one or more second lights for illuminating the rear and/or side of the subject and operable to sharpen the outline of the subject, and one or more third lights for illuminating the feet of the subject, wherein a camera used to film the subject is stationary, the subject is a moving subject, and wherein the lighting arrangement is arranged to produce shadows in the subject'"'"'s clothing and cause shadows to move across the subject as the subject moves under the lighting arrangement, wherein;

the total brightness of the one or more first lights, as measured at the subject, is less than or approximately the same as total brightness of the one or more second lights, as measured at the subject; and

a ratio of the total brightness, as measured at the subject, of the second lights to the total brightness of the first lights, as measured at the subject, is greater than 2;

3; and

the total brightness of the first lights is less than 150% of the total brightness of the second lights.