Combination photographing and prompting systems

Claim 2

A combination photographing and prompting system for a performer including: a pan-tilt head thereon, a motion picture or television camera mounted on said pan-tilt head, a prompter visual-information -- displaying device unit mounted on said camera pan-tilt head combination, the screen of said prompter facing forwardly and disposed above the camera's lens, an image-reflecting periscope-like, two mirror system secured to said camera pan-tilt head combination, a transparent mirror or reflective transparent sheet of said system being disposed in front of said camera's lens at a substantial angle relative to the longitudinal axis thereof, the reflective surface used of said mirror facing away from said lens, a second mirror or the like of said system secured to said camera pan-tilt head combination and disposed in front of the screen of said prompter at a substantial angle relative thereto, substantially parallel to the first mirror in substantial spaced relationship thereto, the reflective surface used of said second mirror facing and prompter screen and the first said mirror reflecting information exhibited thereon onto the said first transparent mirror which relfects said information in a direction about parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lens toward a performer's position in front of said camera, whereby said performer may see said information while appearing to be looking toward the direction of the camera lens and hence toward the viewing audience, said camera photographing said performer through said first transparent mirror, a mounting means secured to said mirrors and holding said mirrors disposed in spaced relationship to each other.

Claim 3

A combination photographing and prompting system for a performer including: a camera support, a pan-tilt head thereon, a television camera mounted on said pan-tilt head, a video monitor prompter visual information-displaying unit mounted on said camera, the screen of said monitor disposed above said camera's lens and facing forwardly, an image-reflecting periscope-like, two mirror system secured to said camera pan-tilt head combination, a transparent mirror of said system being disposed in front of said lens at a substantial angle relative to the longitudinal axis thereof, a second transparent or opaque mirror or clear reflective sheet of said periscope system secured to said camera pan-tilt head combination and disposed in front of the screen of said prompter at a substantial angle relative thereto, substantially parallel to the first mirror in substantial spaced relationship thereto, the reflective surface used of said second mirror facing said prompter screen and the first said transparent mirror reflecting information exhibited thereon onto the first transparent mirror which reflects said information in a direction about parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lens toward a performer's position in front of said camera, whereby said performer may see said information while appearing to be looking toward the direction of the camera lens and hence toward the viewing audience, the exhibiting on said video monitor of one or more of the following items of information relative to the role played by said performer; images taken by said camera reversed from right to left of said performer while being photographed through said transparent mirror by said lens of said television camera, scripts relative to the role of said actor photographed simultaneously by another television camera, video images of the scenes being commented upon by said performer, video taped images of scripts relative to the role of said performer photographed prior to his performance, the screen of said video monitor being disposed near to the upper part of said camera's lens.

Claim 4

A combination photographing and prompting system for a performer including: a camera support, a pan-tilt head thereon, a television camera mounted on said pan-tilt head, a video monitor prompter visual information-displaying unit mounted on said camera, the screen of said monitor disposed above said camera's lens and facing forwardly, an image-reflecting periscope-like, two mirror system secured to said camera pan-tilt head combination, a transparent mirror of said system being disposed in front of said lens at a substantial angle relative to the longitudinal axis thereof, a second transparent or opaque mirror or clear reflective sheet of said periscope system secured to said camera pan-tilt head combination and disposed in front of the screen of said prompter at a substantial angle relative thereto, substantially parallel to the first mirror in substantial spaced relationship thereto, the reflective surface used of said second mirror facing said prompter screen and the first said transparent mirror reflecting information exhibited thereon onto the first transparent mirror which reflects said information in a direction about parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lens toward a performer's position in front of said camera, whereby said performer may see said information while appearing to be looking toward the direction of the camera lens and hence toward the viewing audience, the exhibiting on said video monitor of one or more of the following items of information relative to the role played by said performer; images taken by said camera reversed from right to left of said performer while being photographed through said transparent mirror by said lens of said television camera, scripts relative to the role of said actor photographed simultaneously by another television camera, video images of the scenes being commented upon by said performer, video taped images of scripts relative to the role of said performer photographed prior to his performance, the screen of said video monitor being disposed near to the upper part of said camera's lens.

Claim 5

A combination photography and prompting system for an actor including; a camera support, a pan-tilt head thereon, a television camera mounted on said pan-tilt head, a video monitor prompter, visual information displaying unit mounted on said camera, the screen of said monitor disposed above said camera's lens and facing forwardly toward said actor's position, the lower part of said monitor's screen being disposed near to the upper part of said camera's lens, thereby exhibiting on said monitor of one or more of the following items relative to the role played by said actor, images taken by said camera reversed from right to left of said actor while being photographed by said television camera, scripts relative to the role of said actor, video images relative to the role of said actor.

Claim 6

A combination photography and prompting system for an actor including; a camera support, a pan-tilt head thereon, a television camera mounted on said pan-tilt head, a video monitor prompter, visual information displaying unit mounted on said camera, the screen of said monitor disposed above said camera's lens and facing forwardly toward said actor's position, the lower part of said monitor's screen being disposed near to the upper part of said camera's lens, thereby exhibiting on said monitor of one or more of the following items relative to the role played by said actor, images taken by said camera reversed from right to left of said actor while being photographed by said television camera, scripts relative to the role of said actor, video images relative to the role of said actor.

Claim 7

A combination photographing and prompting system for a performer including: a camera support, a pan-tilt head thereon, a motion picture or television camera mounted on said pan-tilt head, a prompter visual-information-displaying device unit mounted on said camera pan-tilt head combination, the screen of said prompter facing forwardly, an image-reflecting periscope-like, two mirror system secured to said camera pan-tilt head combination, a transparent mirror or reflective transparent sheet of said system being disposed in front of said camera's lens at a substantial angle relative to the longitudinal axis thereof, the reflective surface used of said mirror facing away from said lens, a second mirror or the like of said system secured to said camera pan-tilt head combination and disposed in front of the screen of said prompter at a substantial angle relative thereto, substantially parallel to the first mirror in substantial spaced relationship thereto, the reflective surface used of said second mirror facing said prompter screen and the first said mirror reflecting information exhibited thereon onto the said first transparent mirror which reflects said information in a direction about parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lens toward a performer's position in front of said camera, whereby said performer may see said information while appearing to be looking toward the direction of the camera lens and hence toward the viewing audience, said camera photographing said performer through said first transparent mirror, and a mounting means secured to said mirrors and holding said mirrors disposed in spaced relationship to each other.

Claim 8

A combination photographing and prompting system for a performer including: a camera support, a pan-tilt head thereon, a motion picture or television camera mounted on said pan-tilt head, a prompter visual-information-displaying device unit mounted on said camera pan-tilt head combination, the screen of said prompter facing forwardly, an image-reflecting periscope-like, two mirror system secured to said camera pan-tilt head combination, a transparent mirror or reflective transparent sheet of said system being disposed in front of said camera's lens at a substantial angle relative to the longitudinal axis thereof, the reflective surface used of said mirror facing away from said lens, a second mirror or the like of said system secured to said camera pan-tilt head combination and disposed in front of the screen of said prompter at a substantial angle relative thereto, substantially parallel to the first mirror in substantial spaced relationship thereto, the reflective surface used of said second mirror facing said prompter screen and the first said mirror reflecting information exhibited thereon onto the said first transparent mirror which reflects said information in a direction about parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lens toward a performer's position in front of said camera, whereby said performer may see said information while appearing to be looking toward the direction of the camera lens and hence toward the viewing audience, said camera photographing said performer through said first transparent mirror, and a mounting means secured to said mirrors and holding said mirrors disposed in spaced relationship to each other.