BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of video and film production, and more specifically to simultaneously filming multiple subjects.

Description of the Related Art

In film and video production, it is commonly required to record picture and audio of two or more relatively static subjects interacting while facing each other. In some instances the subjects can be positioned several feet apart. Typically, filming in this scenario requires positioning at least two cameras, either handheld or mounted on tripods or equivalent stabilizing devices, each camera manned by a camera operator. This type of filming is commonly called ‘cross shooting’.

Cross-shooting usually requires that the ‘point of view’ of one camera (Camera A) be positioned alongside or behind one (or more) of the subjects (Subject A) and directed over or past the shoulder of Subject A toward one (or more) of the subjects (Subject B), such that Subject B is framed almost ‘front-on’, thereby providing a clear shot of the subject that to some extent ‘mirrors’ the point of view of Subject A. In so doing, this arrangement provides a photographic composition of Subject A that is aesthetically pleasing and avoids Camera A being within the video frame. Similarly, Camera B is typically positioned on the same side as Camera A of an infinite linear axis known as ‘the line’ connecting the two subjects. Camera B is similarly directed over or past the shoulder of Subject B such that is framed desirably on Subject A and avoids Subject B and Camera A within the video frame. Furthermore, cross-shooting avoids the undesirable and disorienting effect of ‘crossing the line’, a camera configuration where cameras are on different sides of the aforementioned axis such that the footage from the two cameras, once edited together into an apparently real-time narrative scene, produces a disorienting and therefore undesirable experience for the viewer.

Examples of scenarios that often require cross-shooting are numerous, and include one-on-one interviews, restaurant, cafe or dinner scenes, business meetings, and so on. Cross-shooting is used for any scenario where two or more subjects are seated opposite each other and their interactions are directed toward each other.

In all production but particularly unscripted television, such as ‘reality’ television recorded in non-artificially constructed locations where the location is not entirely dedicated to the filming, brining and setting up equipment can be costly and time consuming Camera equipment is bulky, film crews can be large and invasive, and for this reason cross-shooting set-ups in such spaces, or essentially “on the fly” can be inconvenient and undesirable for the location administrators.

Location fees are expensive, filming permissions can be difficult to obtain, and anything adding to cost, complexity, or time required for filming is generally undesirable.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a system that overcomes the issues and limitations of current devices and arrangements used to film multiple subjects in a non-artificially constructed location, particularly in view of the complexity, cost, and challenges such filming faces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus according to one embodiment of the present design, there is provided a recording arrangement comprising at least one outer enclosure configured to receive and maintain therein a plurality of video recording devices and a matching plurality of audio recording devices, deployment hardware configured to deploy the plurality of video recording devices to a desired location, means for moving the deployment hardware, and electrical component hardware. The at least one outer enclosure is portable to different physical locations. The electrical component hardware is configured to deploy the plurality of video recording devices in a cross-shooting orientation wherein a first subject on a left side is video recordable by a first video recording device positioned on a right side and a second subject on the right side is video recordable by a second video recording device on the left side.

According to a further embodiment of the present design, there is provided a recording arrangement comprising at least one outer enclosure containing therein a plurality of video recording devices and a matching plurality of audio recording devices, at least one extender configured to deploy the plurality of video recording devices to a desired location, and extender deployment hardware configured to drive the at least one extender. The at least one outer enclosure and all components therein are portable to different physical locations. The extender deployment hardware is configured to deploy the plurality of video recording devices using the extender deployment hardware by commanding and effectuating a repositioning of the at least one extender to position the plurality of video recording devices in a cross-shooting orientation wherein a first subject on a left side is video recordable by a first video recording device positioned on a right side and a second subject on the right side is video recordable by a second video recording device on the left side.

According to another embodiment of the present design, there is provided a recording arrangement comprising at least one outer enclosure containing therein a plurality of video recording devices and a matching plurality of audio recording devices, at least one extender configured to deploy the plurality of video recording devices to a desired location, extender deployment hardware configured to drive the at least one extender, and electronics configured to drive the at least one extender. The at least one outer enclosure is portable to different physical locations. The electronics are configured to deploy the plurality of video recording devices to a cross-shooting orientation using the extender deployment hardware and the at least one extender wherein a first subject on a left side is video recordable by a first video recording device positioned on a right side and a second subject on the right side is video recordable by a second video recording device on the left side.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

