Multi-camera virtual studio production process

Abstract

A production process involves predetermined number of cameras simultaneously filming a background at predetermined angles, and filming actors in a studio with the same number of cameras and the same angles, used in conjunction with a virtual studio system. In studio, the actors perform before a green screen and the virtual studio system composites the actors onto the background in real-time. Camera tracking allows the in-studio cameras to pan, tilt, focus, zoom, and make limited other movements as the virtual studio system adjusts display of the background in a corresponding manner, resulting in a realistic scene without transporting actors and crew to the background location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for creating realistic video productions comprising:
 a studio having a green screen and a plurality of in-studio cameras consisting of a predetermined number of cameras;   a plurality of on-location cameras consisting of the predetermined number of cameras;   an apparatus for tracking movements of the in-studio cameras, the movements comprising panning, tilting, zooming, and focusing;   at least one computer configured to compose foreground elements provided by the in-studio cameras onto a background provided by the on-location cameras, adjusting the presentation of the background based on the movements of the in-studio cameras.   
     
     
         2 . The system for creating realistic video productions of  claim 1 , wherein the on-location cameras of the plurality of on-location cameras are locked down to prevent movement including panning, tilting, zooming, and focusing. 
     
     
         3 . The system for creating realistic video productions of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus for tracking movements of the in-studio cameras comprises a virtual studio system. 
     
     
         4 . The system for creating realistic video productions of  claim 3 , further comprising in-studio monitors, wherein the at least one computer composes the foreground elements onto the background and displays a result in real time on the in-studio monitor. 
     
     
         5 . The system for creating realistic video productions as recited in  claim 4 , configured for live video broadcasting. 
     
     
         6 . A method for realistic offsite filming, comprising the steps of:
 determining a number of cameras with corresponding positions;   providing one or more in-studio cameras consisting of the determined number of cameras;   providing one or more on-location cameras consisting of the determined number of cameras, wherein the on-location cameras are locked down to prevent camera movement, tilting, zooming, and focusing;   filming a background with the on-location cameras;   filming a foreground with the in-studio cameras;   tracking camera movements, zoom, and focus of each camera of the in-studio cameras during the step of filming a foreground; and   combining the foreground and background, adjusting the presentation of the background to correspond to the tracked movements, zoom, and focus.   
     
     
         7 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 6 , wherein the in-studio cameras film the foreground on a green screen stage. 
     
     
         8 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 7 , wherein the green screen stage comprises a green background. 
     
     
         9 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 7 , wherein the green screen stage comprises a blue background. 
     
     
         10 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 6 , wherein the step of tracking camera movements, zoom, and focus is performed by a virtual studio system. 
     
     
         11 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 6 , wherein the step of filming a background is performed prior to the step of filming a foreground. 
     
     
         12 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 6 , wherein the steps of filming a background and filming a foreground are performed at the same time. 
     
     
         13 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 6 , wherein the step of combining the foreground and background is performed in post-production. 
     
     
         14 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 6 , wherein the step of combining the foreground and background is performed at the same time as the step of filming a foreground. 
     
     
         15 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 14 , wherein the step of combining the foreground and background is performed a second time in post-production. 
     
     
         16 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of displaying the combined foreground and background in real time on studio monitors during the step of filming the foreground. 
     
     
         17 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of broadcasting the combined foreground and background live during the step of filming the foreground. 
     
     
         18 . A method for realistic offsite filming, comprising the steps of:
 determining a number of cameras with corresponding positions, the number comprising a plurality;   providing a green screen stage having a predetermined background color;   providing a plurality of in-studio cameras consisting of the determined number of cameras;   providing a plurality of on-location cameras consisting of the determined number of cameras, wherein the on-location cameras are locked down to prevent camera movement, tilting, zooming, and focusing;   filming a background with the on-location cameras;   filming a foreground on the green screen stage with the in-studio cameras;   tracking camera movements, zoom, and focus of each camera of the in-studio cameras during the step of filming a foreground;   compositing the foreground onto the background while filming the foreground, wherein the presentation of the background is adjusted to correspond to the tracked movements, zoom, and focus and chroma key; and   displaying the combined foreground and background in real time on a first studio monitor during the step of filming the foreground.   
     
     
         19 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of broadcasting the composited foreground and background live during the step of filming a foreground. 
     
     
         20 . The method for realistic offsite filming of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of displaying the foreground without the background on a second studio monitor during the step of filming the foreground.