System and methods for collaborative online multimedia production

• US 8,341,525 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maha Achour
• Original Assignee: StarsVu Corporation
• Inventors: Achour, Samy, Anarino, Douglas, Achour, Maha
• Primary Examiner(s): Paula, Cesar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Quoc A
• Application Number:
  US13/283,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20120311448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715719-723, 715750-753
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

A digital multimedia platform available to a plurality of collaborators of a video project through a networked computing system maps script information to a timeline, allowing contributions to be mapped to the timeline for inclusion in the project. One embodiment includes a tools module, an authentication module, a compilation module, and a script writing tool. The tools module enables editing of a multimedia project by collaborators. The authentication module assigns roles and privileges to collaborators. The compilation module receives files and information from collaborators to the multimedia project. The script writing tool implements edits to a script file associated with the multimedia project.

Claims

1. A method for creating and editing a video project by collaborators using a computing device, comprising:

receiving screenplay script data, the screenplay script data including a plurality of screenplay script elements;

identifying at least one of the plurality of screenplay script elements;

script dicing the screenplay script data to obtain at least one diced element;

embedding the at least one diced element in a video editor timeline track for the video project, wherein an editing panel is displayed when a shot clip is selected, the editing panel comprising a background continue toggle element that allows for background clip from a previous shot clip to be continued, a background drop well element that allows visual clips to be dragged, character menu, a file selection media browser, a layer button set that offers ability to send character frontwards or backwards, a trim control that allows trimming of selected file from beginning or end, an offset control that allows incremental resequencing of a selected file, hue, saturation, contrast and brightness slider controls, a position control that allows character to be moved onscreen, and a resize control that allows character to be sized onscreen;

displaying the timeline track information alongside portions of the video project;

enabling editing of the video project by accessing the at least one diced element in the timeline track;

sending an invitation for participants for the video project;

receiving responses to the invitation;

selecting a set of participants to create the video project;

authorizing each of the set of participants for their task in creating the video project; and

assembling the video project with the portions of the video project.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

assigning roles for the video project to the set of participants.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the screenplay script elements include scenes, shots within scenes, commands and comments.

4. The method as in claim 3, wherein the screenplay script elements further include characters, characters assignments, and character lines.

5. The method as in claim 3, wherein the screenplay script elements further include instructions for movement, camera and lighting angles, time duration and actions for actors.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein roles for the video project include a producer and at least one additional user.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein the additional users can be actors, cameramen, editors, musicians, or artists.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the screenplay script data is uploaded as a file.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the method is a collaborative method for creating the video project, the method further comprising:

receiving contributions to the screenplay script data; and

incorporating the contributions into the screenplay script data.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein the screenplay script data is entered into the video editor timeline track so as to enable:

displaying an editing panel associated with screenplay script elements in response to selection of a video element in the timeline track.

11. A method for preparing a digital video film, the method comprising:

receiving a script file, the script file comprising scenes and timing for portions of the digital video film;

extracting screenplay script information from the screenplay script file, the screenplay script information comprising scenes and timing for at least portions of the digital video film;

incorporating the screenplay script information into a timeline for the digital video film;

displaying the timeline alongside at least a part of the screenplay script information, wherein an editing panel is displayed when a shot clip is selected, the editing panel comprising a background continue toggle element that allows for background clip from a previous shot clip to be continued, a background drop well element that allows visual clips to be dragged, character menu, a file selection media browser, a layer button set that offers ability to send character frontwards or backwards, a trim control that allows trimming of selected file from beginning or end, an offset control that allows incremental resequencing of a selected file, hue, saturation, contrast and brightness slider controls, a position control that allows character to be moved onscreen, and a resize control that allows character to be sized onscreen;

assigning components of the screenplay script information to at least one participant;

making the components available for access by the at least one participant; and

assembling the components into the digital video film.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the components include dialogue information.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein the components include metadata, motion and action information.

14. The method as in claim 11, wherein the components include commands and comments.

15. The method as in claim 11, wherein the timeline comprises a plurality of scenes and shots and the motion, camera and lighting angles, time duration, metadata, and action information to instruct actors as to their position and movements during at least one of the plurality of scenes.

16. The method as in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving collaboration files from the participants; and

incorporating the collaboration files into the digital video film.

17. The method as in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an audio file from one of the at least one participant; and

incorporating the audio file into the timeline for the video.