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Advanced Technology for Cinematography
Article in the UCLA Engineer (2005)
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High speed data networks are revolutionizing the distribution of all media types, while digital editing and processing of film and video has already become a standard tool of post-production. Wireless cellular networks provide communication services now indispensable to the film and television industries. However, cutting-edge technology has not yet penetrated the daily work of production.
Today, even the newest film equipment is largely unable to sense its environment, unlike, for instance, the modern car, which is able to dynamically adjust its suspension, brake pressure, and fuel injection based on a changing environment and its "perception" of the driver's needs. The driver is undeniably in control, but the car's awareness of its surroundings—which happens in addition to the actual function of driving, makes the process safer and more efficient. Filmmaking, on the other hand, is a process that can require far more attention and nuanced control than driving. In other words, the type of equipment that filmmaking requires is rarely designed to "know" where it is or what it is doing. For this reason, human beings are required at every step to keep track of the location and state of each piece of equipment, prop and actor. There is no broad-ranging system to assist filmmakers in observing the conditions of production. Consequently, once decisions are made (e.g., the color temperature of certain lights, focus pulling sequence, or where an actor should stand to be in focus), the complex mechanical coordination of modern film production makes many of these technical and creative choices difficult (or expensive) to change. This can create a constrictive environment that hinders the artistic process, especially when digital post-production and computer graphics require even more precision on the part of the cast and crew.
New technologies being developed at UCLA for "smart rooms" and other ubiquitous computing applications can provide significant new capabilities for film production by using sensors to measure additional information about a shot as it happens. This data can simply be recorded for use in post-production, or used with software interfaces designed by working cinematographers to provide additional real-time feedback for the crew, and, if desired, allow flexible control of equipment according to creative requirements.
We are working on an On-Set Data Network (OSDN) that provides these services for the crew and is one component of a comprehensive network facilitating logistics and asset management as well as media distribution and processing. Initially, we focused on the OSDN (a network on the set) because it promises the most direct impact on the day-to-day work of cinematographers and directors. In addition to having one of the top film departments in the world, UCLA is an acknowledged leader in research on the technologies that would enable a system that dynamically combines computer vision, wireless sensor networks, and databases. This combination of excellent programs in film and television, electrical engineering, and computer science, as well as its location in the heart of the industry, make UCLA a uniquely qualified institution to lead the way in this research. We are continuously seeking industry partners with whom we can develop a comprehensive research program in this area.
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