Imagine a single device that allows one to simultaneously relay
positions of actors, equipment, lighting and sound of a movie set
to filmmakers.
This is possible with the development of sensor system
technology by UCLA researchers as part of the Advanced Technology
for Cinematography project. The system consists of sensors, placed
throughout the film set, that control and collect a variety of
cinematography data.
“You can use (the sensor system) for real-time control and
production and do shots that you could not do any other way,”
said Jeff Burke, assistant researcher in the UCLA Department of
Theater, Film and Television and researcher of the ATC project.
Real-time control allows film makers to adjust or control shots
as they are being filmed.
The sensor system can be used by cinematographers to collect
data on sound, lighting, location of set equipment and more by
wireless connection. The system also allows film sets to be
reproduced from one day to the next.
“Technology is being developed as a tool to assist the
creative process,” said William Kaiser, professor in the UCLA
electrical engineering department.
For instance, in the movie “The Matrix” the
filmmakers strongly depended on computers to generate virtual
action scenes. Match moving was done by choreographing specific
motions that had the actor hit a series of marks that match the
computer-generated imagery which can be restrictive, said Jonathan
Friedman, graduate student researcher in the UCLA Networked
Embedded Systems Laboratory and researcher of the sensor
system.
This limits directors from improvising on set with new motions
since adjustments can be pricey.
“If the director decides to improvise he incurs an expense
in time and resources. Our system is aiming to reverse that
dynamic,” he added.
The technology improves on existing production tools. For
example, light intensity, the type of light filters used and the
location of the lights can be measured simultaneously and then
modified to suit production standards.
“There is a lot of repetition that occurs in filmmaking in
order to achieve intersection of a particular performance with a
particular shot,” Burke said.
“The idea of making production more effective and
efficient and reducing the necessary reliance on repetition to be
confident on where you are shooting offers more flexibility to do
different things rather than doing the same thing,” he
added.
This technology circumvents the traditional process of having a
crew member take notes on all the details pertaining to a
particular set and photos of the setup.
“You can improve production efficiency and you can use it
to improve creativity,” Friedman said.
Upward of 100 people can be deployed on a major budget film set
at any given time. The management of the actors and crew as well as
the equipment can all be handled by the use of the single sensory
system.
Since scenes are filmed in patches, and not in chronological
order as they appear on screen, continuity, or the flow of images
in a movie, can be accomplished using the sensory system. The
system aids in reproducing scenes so previously shot scenes can be
revisited.
The sensor system synchronizes each detail of the set to each
specific film frame. This helps with establishing continuity and
recreating previously shot scenes with precision and ease.
But there are many applications for sensors ranging from use in
environmental sciences to medicine.
“Sensor networks are being developed to provide a
comprehensive environmental monitoring capability. This includes
monitoring and characterization of the natural environment for
biology research,” Kaiser said.
The sensor system that will be used during film production is
still currently in the research phase but will be tested on a UCLA
alum’s independent film set this summer.