Method for imparting both high-impact cinematic images and conventional cinematic images on the same strip of motion picture film

• US 5,627,614 A
• Filed: 08/25/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert C. Weisgerber
• Original Assignee: Robert C. Weisgerber
• Inventors: Weisgerber, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, MATTHEW D
• Application Number:
  US08/519,244
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 352/84, 352/46, 352/81, 352/97, 352/44, 352/239
• US Class Current: 352/46
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/08 Trick photography
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/32 Details specially adapted for motion-picture projection with film moving continuously through the gate G03B41/02
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/48 for altering frame speed; for regulating constancy of film speed
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/475 copying cinematographic film G03B27/48 takes precedence

Abstract

A method is disclosed whereby film images designed to produce a high-impact effect upon the members of an audience viewing a motion picture film are composited with other images designed to provide the conventional cinematic effect upon such audience members. "High-impact" film images photographed at forty-eight frames per second are composited with "conventional" images photographed at the traditional motion picture rate of twenty-four frames per second, with such images superimposed onto the same film frame. Certain portions of the motion picture image seen by the audience deliver a greater illusion of reality than other portions of the same motion picture image. In addition, the method described can accommodate the intercutting of discrete scenes presenting either high-impact or conventional cinema experience. The method disclosed here also allows easy conversion of films to the conventional twenty-four frames per second rate associated with conventional motion picture release and distribution.

Claims

1. A method for imparting different image components onto a strip of motion picture film for exhibition to audiences, with the resultant image imparted onto said film strip delivering in part a greater visual impact, and in other part a lesser visual impact to members of said audiences, comprising:

a. photographing or printing successive visual image components photographed or printed at a frame rate of twenty-four frames per second, with the intention that said image components will deliver to the members of said audiences the visual impact typically associated with the viewing of motion pictures;

b. photographing or printing successive visual image components which are different from those photographed or printed onto the first strip of motion picture film onto a second strip of motion picture film;

said image components photographed or printed at a frame rate of forty-eight frames per second, with the intention that said image components will deliver to the members of said audiences a visual effect that heightens the impact of the illusion of realism on said audience members, in comparison with the image components photographed or printed onto said first strip of film; and

c. superimposing the image components on said first strip of motion picture film and the image components on said second strip of motion picture film onto a third strip of motion picture film, for exhibition to motion picture audiences at the same frame rate as the second strip of film;

said third strip of motion picture film further containing audio and other nonpicture information normally imparted on such films for exhibition.

2. The method as in claim 1, whereby such superimposition is accomplished by means of optical printing or computerized image transfer.

3. The method as in claim 1, whereby the frame rate at which image components are recorded onto said second strip of motion picture film is double the frame rate at which image components are recorded onto said first strip of motion picture film.

4. The method as in claim 3, whereby the image components recorded onto said first strip of motion picture film are each transferred twice, onto two successive frames of said third strip of motion picture film, composited with each successive image component transferred from said second strip of motion picture film;

with said third strip of motion picture film containing a composite image made up of said image components from said first and second strips of motion picture film;

said third strip of motion picture film to be projected in a motion picture theater at the same frame rate at which said image components were recorded onto said second strip of motion picture film.

5. The method as in claim 3, in which the image components recorded onto said first strip of motion picture film are recorded at the rate of twenty-four frames per second, and the image components recorded onto said second strip of motion picture film and the image components transferred to said third strip of motion picture film are recorded and transferred at the rate of forty-eight frames per second.

6. The method as in claim 1, in which said image components are recorded onto said first and second strips of motion picture film by means of photographing live action, cartoon animation or computerized animation.

7. The method as in claim 5, whereby the images transferred onto said third strip of motion picture film are exhibited to said audiences at the rate of forty-eight frames per second, through a projector equipped with a double-bladed shutter, resulting in the delivery of two flashes of light per image and ninety-six impressions of light per second to the persons viewing said film.

8. A strip of motion picutre film for exhibition to audiences in motion picture theaters at a frame rate of forty-eight frames per second, where the images recorded onto said film strip are composited by combining separate components of said images;

certain components of said images being recorded at a frame rate of twenty-four frames per second, and other components of said images being recorded at a frame rate of forty-eight frames per second;

said motion picture film being exhibited to audiences at forty-eight frames per second, with the result that the members of said audiences perceive a visual impact of greater magnitude from selected components of the images on said motion picture film than they perceive from the components of said images which are not so selected.

9. The strip as in claim 8, in which the image components composited onto said strip were originally recorded onto other strips of motion picture film for transfer onto said strip, through photography of live action, cartoon animation of computerized animation techniques.

10. The strip of motion picture film as in claim 8, whereby entire scenes which are recorded at forty-eight frames per second are intercut with other scenes recorded at twenty-four frames per second, with the result that the members of said audiences perceive a greater visual impact during the scenes recorded at forty-eight frames per second and a lesser visual impact during the scenes recorded at twenty-four frames per second.

11. A strip of motion picture film as in claim 10, which is exhibited to said audiences at said higher frame rate.

12. A strip of motion picture film as in claim 11, during the exhibition of which said scenes recorded at forty-eight frames per second are shown through a projector with a light source capable of delivering a light level of 16.5 footlamberts or more, while the scenes originally recorded at twenty-four frames per second are shown through the same projector with said light source limited to delivering, a light level of 10.6 footlamberts or less, with the effect that the scenes originally recorded at said higher frame rate appear to the members of said audiences to be more brightly illuminated than the scenes on said motion picture film originally recorded at said lower frame rate.

13. A method for producing motion picture films for theatrical audiences that delivers to the members of said audiences a greater visual impact in some components of the images comprising said motion picture films than is delivered by other components of said images;

said greater or lesser visual impact being imparted at the discretion of the maker of such films;

such method comprising the imparting onto said motion picture films image components recorded onto such films at a frame rate of twenty-four frames per second and further imparting onto such films other image components recorded onto such films at a frame rate of forty-eight frames per second;

where the improvement consists of the superimposition of images recorded at different frame rates onto a film exhibited at the higher of said different frame rates to said audiences.