WO1993000608A1

WO1993000608A1 - Film editing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1993000608A1
Application number: PCT/GB1992/001167
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nigel Stephen Varian
Original assignee: Filmlab Systems International Limited
Priority date: 1991-06-27
Filing date: 1992-06-26
Publication date: 1993-01-07
Also published as: AU2195892A

Abstract

A computer (1) linked to a display monitor (2) is connected to a read head (6) for reading edge code from film (11). The film is carried on reels (5) driven by respective servo motors for transporting the film past the read head (6). Further servo-driven reels (5') may transport a part-assembled master negative past a second read head (6') and reels (5'') can be included to transport a reference work print past a respective read head (6''). Edge code data read from the work print is stored by the computer (1) to identify the start and finish positions of the required sections, and the reels of camera negative are wound to the required edit positions, again determined from edge code. The removed sections can be inserted into the master negative in the required positions determined by the second read head (6').

Description

FILM EDITING APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for editing motion picture film, and particularly for producing a master negative from which copies of the final film may be obtained.

BACKGROUND

Motion picture film has been edited and assembled in much the same way since it was first invented. When a film is shot, several hundred reels of negative film may be obtained from the camera, but much of this material will not be used in the final film. In the initial editing process sections of positive film print (the rushes) obtained from the original camera negatives are assembled in the required sequence to form a work print. The work print is then used as a model from which to assemble a master negative from the original camera negatives. The assembly of the master negative is a time consuming process which involves extracting sections of the camera negative scene-by- scene in the order in which they are to be shown.

Nowadays the work print is often replaced by a master video created on videotape and copied from the camera negative, but whilst this is much more convenient to handle than film print the master negative must still be assembled manually from the master videotape, as described.

An aim of this invention may be viewed as being to make significant reductions in the time required to compile the master negative from a work print or master video.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a process -for editing negative motion picture film, which comprises storing the start and finish positions of the sections to be included in the final film, and using position identification code carried on the negative film to select the edit positions corresponding to the start and finish positions of the required film sections. The edit positions need no longer be selected in the chronologial sequence in which they will be arranged in the final film. The positions could conveniently be selected in the sequence in which they occur on each length of negative film, thereby considerably speeding up the editing process.

The invention includes editing apparatus for negative motion picture film, comprising control means for storing the start and finish positions of the sections to be included in the final film, a read head for reading position identification code from lengths of negative film, and transport means for transporting the lengths of negative film past the read head, the control means being arranged to respond when a length of negative film reaches an edit position corresponding to one of said start and finish positions. The term "position identification code" will be understood to embrace numeric, alpha-numeric or machine readable code (e.g. barcode) which is recorded at intervals on a length of film to permit various positions along the length of the film to be identified. Such code will generally be recorded on the edge of the film and is thus referred to as "edge^' code". The term "position identification code" also embraces timecode or other identification code applied to videotapes by which positions on the tape may be identified. In both cases the code may permit the position on the tape to be determined to the accuracy of a single frame.

The start and finish positions may be determined from a work print bearing position identification code which is transported past the said read head or past an additional read head which is connected to the control means. Alternatively, the start and finish positions may be determined from a master video bearing suitable position identification code.

The control means preferably also stores the sequence in which the film sections will be included in the final film.

The control means may conveniently comprise a computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general layout of motion picture film editing apparatus of the invention, and

Figures 2 to 4 show various adaptations of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a main system computer 1 which is linked to a display monitor 2 and, via a data line 10, to a printer 3 for producing hard copy. The computer is also connected via a signal link 7 to a read head 6 which is suitable for reading edge code from positive or negative motion picture film 11. The film is carried on reels 5 which are driven by respective servo motors for transporting the film from one reel to the other past the read head 6. The use of servo motors is not essential however in this embodiment, and the reels could, for example, be rotated manually. (In the further embodiments described below manual drive is not really feasible.)

In a typical use of the apparatus the reels of original camera negative are fed, one-by-one, past the read head 6. The edge code data obtained from the read head 6 is stored by the computer 1 together with the identity of the respective reel which may be manually input or automatically read from the film. This procedure is repeated for the work print so that the computer now contains a detailed record, accurate to the nearest frame, of the sections of film which will be required in the master negative together with details of the final sequence in which the sections must be assembled. The operator then places one of the camera negatives on the apparatus and runs it past the read head 6 until an edit point is reached, as indicated by the screen 2. The operator can now cut the film at the appropriate frame. The film is then continued to run past the read head 6 until the next edit point on the negative is reached, as indicated by the screen 2, whereupon a further cut is made to remove the required section. The removed section can then be numbered or otherwise identified in accordance with information displayed on the screen 2 to indicate the position which it will occupy in the final master negative. This process is repeated until all the required sections have been removed from the respective reel, following which the process is repeated for each reel of camera negative until all the required sections have been removed. It will be appreciated that the order in which the sections have been removed will not, in most cases, correspond to the order in which they will appear in the master negative, but once they have all been removed they can then be assembled in the correct order.

It will thus be appreciated that this process significantly reduces the time required to produce the master negative.

A further advantage of storing the work print data in the computer prior to editing the reels of camera negative is that the data could readily be manipulated in the computer to change the length or order of the sections in the final film or to insert additional sections. The apparatus of Fig. 2 is the same as that of Fig. 1 except that the servomotors driving the reels 5 are controlled by the computer 1 via servo control electronics 4 which may be internal to the computer 1 or external as shown. The computer 1 is thus able to control the film transport system to feed a reel of camera negative to the required edit positions, whereupon the film is automatically stopped by the computer to permit the negative to be cut at the appropriate position.

Fig. 3 shows a refinement of the apparatus of Fig. 2 in which a second pair of servo driven reels 5' are arranged to transport the part-assembled master negative 11' independently of the camera negative past a further read head 6". The reels 5' and read head 6¹ are also coupled to the computer 1 via suitable servo control electronics (not shown). When selecting a section of camera negative to be edited the computer also shuttles the master negative to the appropriate point where the section is to be inserted. At this point the start of the new section of film from the camera negative may be spliced into the master negativ-e and then, under computer control, cross wound from the camera negative reel to the appropriate master negative reel. The computer stops the winding at the next edit point at the end of the section being inserted, whereupon the inserted section is cut, the master negative re-joined to the end of the inserted section, and the camera original also re-joined to its previous end. The computer then drives the camera negative to the next edit point and the assembled master negative to the next insert point. In each case the edit and insert points at which the respective length of negative is to be stopped is automatically determined from the edge code carried on the negative and read by the appropriate read head 6 or 6'. Automatic or manual splicing can be used to insert the sections of camera negative into the master negative.

Fig. 4 shows a further refinement in which a third pair of servo driven reels 5" are arranged to transport the reference work print past a respective read head 6" in synchronism with the master negative 11' to permit accurate frame-by-frame verification of the assembly process. The reels 5" and read head 6" are again coupled to the computer 1 via suitable servo control electronics (not shown).

In place of the servo-driven reels 5" and read head 6" for the work print the computer may be provided with output means for driving a video playback device provided with a video display screen so that the assembled negative can be compared with a an edited master video of the finished film. The same video playback device could be used to input the timecode signals to the computer 1 from the edited work video.

In each form of the apparatus described above the film transport mechanism is preferably provided with holding means to prevent the film from being pulled through once it has been cut. A preferred form of holding means comprises tacky rollers which include a synthetic rubber compound or similar material having a stiction sufficient to prevent movement of the film therepast. Rotation of the roller is restrained by mechanical or electro-mechanical means which is automatically applied when the transport mechanism stops. The apparatus may easily be arranged to apply error checking procedures to the stored data obtained from the work print or master video, e.g. to prevent duplication of scenes or frame sequences.

Although the above examples relate to assembly of a master negative a positive master could equally well be assembled in the same way.

Claims

1. A process for cutting and assembling positive or negative motion picture film to produce a master, which comprises reading position identification codes from lengths of source film to be edited and using the said codes to determine the edit positions of the sections to be included in the master, removing the required positions from the source film, and assembling them to produce the master.

2. A process according to Claim 1, in which the edit positions are determined from a work print or master video bearing position identification code.

3. A process according to Claim 1, in which the edit positions are selected in the sequence in which they occur on the/each length of source film.

4. A process according to Claim 1, which includes storing the sequence in which the sections are to be be included in the master and assembling the removed sections in the stored order to form the master.

5. Editing apparatus for positive or negative motion picture film, comprising memory means for storing position identification code corresponding to the edit positions of the sections of source,film to be included in a master, read head means for reading position identification code from the spource film, transport means for transporting the lengths of source film past the read head means, and control means arranged to respond when a length of source film reaches one of said edit positions.

6. Editing apparatus according to Claim 5, including a second read head for reading position identification code from a part-assembled master negative, and second transport means for transporting the master negative past the second read head.

7. Editing apparatus according to Claim 5, including a third read head for reading position identification code from a work print or master video, and third transport means for transporting the work print or master video past the third read head.

8. Editing apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the/each transport means is motor-driven under control of the control means.

9. Editing apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the memory means is arranged to store the sequence in which the film sections will be assembled in the master.

10. Editing apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the respective transport means includes holding means, e.g. non-slip rollers, for holding the film in position whilst the source film is cut and extracted.