Video Manipulation

Video manipulation is the use of a computer and video memory banks for the production of movies and TV programs.  It will also be used for special effects.  It could change the way entertainment is produced.

A VM producer will have a computer that is programmed to manipulate information stored both in the computer and in video memory banks.  In 1976 when I first envisioned the concept, I thought that by now it would be used all over the world.  George Lucas could have produced nine Star Wars movies if he had used video manipulation.  He rejected the idea in 1980 when I submitted it to him since it was unsolicited.  With VM, no green screen will be rquired because everything will be referenced.  If something isn’t recognized by the computer controlling the camera, it won’t be recorded.  People will be referenced wearing their costumes and in makeup so that they won’t need to go through the hours of putting on the costumes and makeup.  All that will be “applied” over them during a shot.  The computerized camera will only see the reference.  

Here’s a scenario:  We have a western town where a bad guy is to be gunned down in the street by the sheriff.  In the memory banks you would have all the components of the shot.  You would bring them together on a preview screen, program the action, dialog, and sound, and add music afterwards.  The actors might be dead.  But as long as there is a video file of them, they will be available for endless movies.  No need to create wire frame images first.  If something is referenced, the person producing the shot will manipulate it.  It may take four hour to create a five minute scene.  But if a movie is two hours long, that means it will take four days to produce it.  

If a producer wanted to do a movie with John Wayne, he would have to pay video rights to the Wayne family.  That might be 5% of the movie gross and DVD sales.  Even bit players will be paid if they have video files that can be used and referenced.  A person who has his eyes used might receive an eye price which could be 0.05% of the gross and DVD sales.  The person might be able to sleep all day and be paid because his eyes are used.  

Unions will demand that VM productions be controlled or else their union members will instantly be out of jobs.  The first year of a contract might allow 5% of the movies and TV programs produced to be VM productions.  The second year may allow another 5%.  This will go on until the union members have either retired or are doing something else.  Unions may pay retirement benefits early if contracts allow it since VM productions could save studios billions.  Instead of being on location, the movies could be done in a laboratory, so to speak.  Location shots may be taken for referencing purposes.  

TV didn’t destroy the movies and video manipulation won’t destroy the movie and TV industries.  it could greatly increase the amount of material people will be able to watch and movie companies will make more money.  The outlay will be expensive.  But in the long run, VM productions will save them countless billions of dollars and extend the careers of dead actors indefinitely.