System for producing time-independent virtual camera movement in motion pictures and other media

A system for producing virtual camera motion in a motion picture medium comprising:

• a plurality of cameras deployed in a flexible array along a preselected path with each camera focused on a common scene;
• a triggering mechanism triggering each of the cameras to record a still image of the scene;
• and
• a transfer mechanism transferring the still images from the cameras into a time-sequence of frames in a digital data format and outputting the time-sequence of frames in a motion picture medium, thereby creating the illusion that a single motion picture camera has moved along the path.

A system for making a scene in a motion picture, said motion picture having a time base measured in frames per second, comprising:

• an array of cameras deployed along a substantially continuous curve with each camera focused on a common scene;
• means for repeatedly actuating each of said cameras to capture a respective series of images of the scene over time such that said cameras capture respective images simultaneously with one another;
• means for transferring said captured images into a random access storage device;
• means for electronically zooming or panning or tilting selected ones of said captured images;
• means for creating a motion picture in which said selected zoomed, panned or tilted images are viewed in sequence to create the illusion of progressive camera movement along said curve;
• and
• wherein each successive image in said motion picture is captured by a different camera.

A method for making a scene in a motion picture, said motion picture having a time base measured in frame per second, comprising:

• providing an array of cameras deployed along a substantially continuous curve with each camera focused on a common scene;
• repeatedly actuating each of said cameras to capture a respective series of images of the scene over time such that said cameras capture respective images simultaneously with one another;
• transferring said captured images into a random access storage device;
• electronically zooming or panning or tilting selected one of said captured images;
• creating a motion picture in which said selected zoomed, panned or tilted images are viewed in sequence to create the illusion of progressive camera movement along said curve;
• and
• wherein each successive image in said motion picture is captured by a different camera.

A process for producing virtual progressive camera movement in a motion picture comprising:

• providing an array of cameras deployed along a pre-selected path with each camera focused on a common scene;
• repeatedly actuating each of said cameras to capture a respective series of images of the scene over time such that said cameras capture respective images simultaneously with one another;
• creating a motion picture in which selected images from said captured images are viewed in sequence to create the illusion of progressive camera movement along the path;
• and
• wherein each pair of successive images in said viewed sequence of images combines virtual camera movement and time advancement.