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Video Futures
Because video is essentially a series of individual images viewed at high speed, digital imaging also provides the ability to alter, synthesize, and fabricate convincing video footage. Consequently, expect to see:
- Increasing numbers of videos, such as Jurassic Park, which synthesize elements (e.g., dinosaurs) and insert them in actual, new footage.
- Current actors inserted in archive footage as was done in Forrest Gump.
- Long-deceased movie stars revived as digital video fragments as in some Coca-Cola advertisements and rock music videos.
- Motion estimation software assisted by 360 degree actor image scans to generate ageless actors.
- Synthespians—totally artificial, digitally created actors for entertainment that surpasses expensive animated productions in quality. Synthespians relieve directors from dealing with temperamental, exorbitantly paid actors who are usually very active profit partners.
We are truly at the start of the digital imaging age as evidenced by various megamergers such as DreamScape. Colorization of black and white movies was simply a fledgling preliminary step to what we will soon experience.
However, note that because digital fabrication is becoming so prevalent, court proceedings are now asking whether videos and photographs are accurate representations, like accurate drawings, of what eyewitnesses saw. Is it possible guilty defendants may escape conviction by dismissing authentic photographic evidence as fabrications?
As an example, Kodak researcher Majid Rabbani led a team at the Sandia National Laboratory Supercomputer Center that digitally enhanced portions of the Rodney King videotape for the federal government. He had to establish the team had not fabricated evidence but had simply visually enhanced what the videotape numerically contained.
Finally, it is worth recalling that Dan Leonard, an O.J. Simpson civil trial defense attorney, stated in his closing arguments, “If you have access to the right equipment, you can fake any photograph.” Unfortunately for Mr. Simpson, over two dozen different photos emerged showing him wearing what appeared to be Bruno Magli shoes six weeks after he denied under oath ever wearing shoes like them.
U.S. Military Position
On December 9, 1994, John Deutch, then serving as deputy Secretary of Defense, issued a memo establishing Department of Defense guidelines regarding digital manipulation of official DOD photographic and video images. While generally prohibiting official DOD imagery alteration, the guidelines allow:
- Dodging, burning, color balancing, spotting, and contrast adjustment to achieve accurate event or object recording
- Photographic and video image enhancement, exploitation and simulation to support unique cartography, geodesy, intelligence, medical, research and development, scientific, and training requirements, provided these techniques do not misrepresent the original image’s subject
- Obvious photograph masking for specific security or criminal investigation requirements
- Cropping, editing, or enlarging to isolate, link, or display a photograph or video image part as long as the event or object’s facts or circumstances are not misrepresented
- Digitally converting and/or compressing photographic and video imagery without altering content
- Post-production enhancement, including animation, digital simulation, graphics, and special effects for education, recruiting, safety and training illustrations, publications, or productions as long as the original image is not misrepresented. It must be clearly and readily apparent from the image’s content or accompanying text that the enhanced image is not intended to be an accurate representation of any actual event.
Prohibited manipulation techniques unless clearly marked include:
- repositioning image elements
- adding or removing image elements
- merging multiple image elements into one image element
- changing image element colors or spatial relationships
- changing image element size, shape, or physical appearance
Further information can be obtained from:
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