Live actor integration in pre-recorded well known video

• US 7,324,166 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Contour Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Contour Entertainment Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Christopher G., Joslin, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US10/990,161
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 348/722, 348/578, 348/584, 348/586, 348/587, 348/589, 348/598, 348/600, 348/705, 348/14.11, 348/14.09, 348/153, 348/159, 382/284, 382/282, 382/283, 382/305, 715/723, 715/719
• US Class Current: 348/722
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/75 Chroma key

Abstract

The apparatus inserts a participant realistically into familiar background media to provide similar results to a completely original movie with multi-camera studio production and editing. An automated and simplified studio has multiple cameras and traditional studio devices such as teleprompters and controlled lighting presented to the consumer as an entertainment product. Previously produced, familiar media are modified to create the background video source and synchronous audio track. The participant is inserted via chroma key and the multiple cameras are used to create traditional establishing shots intercut with close-ups. These are controlled through a video switcher to create a real-time, finished recording that is stored on a digital server for later playback.

Claims

1. Apparatus for creating a story driven video in which images of a live participant are inserted, real time, as an actor in a background video formed by a pre-existing, well known video/story adapted to receive images of the live participant comprising:

a digital library of background media of selectable pre-recorded, well known video media that has been adapted to receive the image of a live participant so as to appear an actor;

operator input means;

means for selecting a background media from the digital library and for playing the background media selected to provide a first signal source for video in response to operator input via the operator input means;

means providing a lighted monochrome background for performance of the live participant;

talent lights for the live participant and means for automatically illuminating the talent lights during the performance to approximate intensity and color temperature of the background media;

a first video camera and a second video camera generating, respectively;

a second video signal and a third video signal representing, respectively, images corresponding to different camera shots of a live performance of a participant,

means for receiving the first signal of background media from the selection means and for selecting/switching between the second video signal and the third video signal and for providing a real time combination of a selected signal with the first video signal by a chromakey process, resulting in a fourth video signal of composition video;

means for selecting between the first video signal and the fourth video signal to create a fifth video signal of combined video;

and recording the fifth video signal as participant'"'"'s performance video to a server hard drive as a single file for immediate and future playback and retrieval.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the background media includes audio and the media selection means provides a first signal source for audio, further comprising:

means for capturing and recording in real time a voice/sound of the participant and for mixing and combining the real time recording of the voice/sound of the participant with the first signal of background audio to provide a second audio signal;

means for disabling the participant'"'"'s voice/sound by selectively switching between the first and second audio signals to provide a third audio signal of composition audio; and

means for combining the fifth video signal and the third audio signal as participant'"'"'s performance video.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 comprising;

means for moving respective video cameras to preselected positions, based on a next scene of background media, and based on a height of a participant received by operator input via the operator input means;

means for changing a zoom, focus and iris of the video cameras to preset positions, based on the next scene of background media, and based on the height of the participant.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 comprising;

means for retrieving a participant'"'"'s performance video and modifying format thereof to a consumer broadcast standard format and recording the modified performance video to one of video tape and Digital Video Disk for purchase; and

,

means for retrieving a participant'"'"'s performance video and modifying the format and resolution to compressed digital video for internet video streaming, and uploading to a server for later download by the participant via the internet.

5. A method for creating a story driven video in which images of a live participant are inserted, real time, as an actor in a familiar background video story comprising the steps of:

providing a pre-existing, well known video story;

adapting the video story to receive images of the live participant by selecting scenes from the video story, creating an alternative background to provide a place for insertion of another image by creating an image layer using a frame image of a selected scene as a template, creating an opaque area visually matching the background video scenes on a previously transparent background layer on the frame image template to obscure a selected part of the video image;

and layering the opaque area with the original video frame to provide a back ground video;

saving and inserting the frames into a remainder of the original video;

preparing a synchronized script;

providing the script to the participant and taking selected shots with at least one video camera of the participant performing the script with a video camera and inserting the shots in respective selected frames of the background video to provide a participant'"'"'s performance video.

6. A method according to claim 5 including the step of making a plurality of different background media and storing the background media in a digital library.

7. Apparatus for creating a story driven video in which images of a live participant are inserted, real time, as an actor in a background video formed by a pre-existing, well known video/story adapted to receive images of the live participant comprising:

a digital library of background media of selectable pre-recorded, well known video media that has been adapted to receive the image of a live participant so as to appear an actor;

operator input means;

means for selecting a background media from the digital library and for playing the background media selected to provide a first signal source for video in response to operator input via the operator input means;

means providing a lighted monochrome background for performance of the live participant;

talent lights for the live participant and means for automatically illuminating the talent lights during the performance to approximate intensity and color temperature of the background media;

a first video camera and a second video camera generating, respectively;

a second video signal and a third video signal representing, respectively, images corresponding to different camera shots of a live performance of a participant,

means for receiving the first signal of background media from the selection means and for selecting/switching between the second video signal and the third video signal and for providing a real time combination of a selected signal with the first video signal by a chromakey process, resulting in a fourth video signal of composition video;

and recording the fourth video signal as participant'"'"'s performance video to a server hard drive as a single file for immediate and future playback and retrieval.