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Product: Movie
Cam free movie theater   (+6, -1)  [vote for, against]
Go ahead film this movie

Projector upgrade uses high levels of infrared light that shows up as visible light on camcorders, thus "whiting out" any image taken of the movie screen. This could deter kids from filming the movie and sharing it on U-Torrent
-- Brian the Painter, Jan 04 2013

I've never owned a camcorder that picked up infrared without any modifications.
-- DIYMatt, Jan 04 2013


Grab your remote control, aim it at your camcorder while recording, and push a button. Your see a faint flicker. While working at Future Shop we routinely did this to prove to clients that their remote worked fine and just needed batteries. We did this test 2-3 times a week and always with whatever camera was closest to us. It never failed us once, as it worked on every camera.
-- Brian the Painter, Jan 04 2013


Yep, your phone's camera will pick up the infrared of a remote, too. You'll have a little difficulty getting everything lined up, but you can really see it flare in the screen.

I learned about it from an article explaining the "ghosts" somebody was seeing in their photos. It isn't as popular as "orbs", but it confuses folks sometimes. (It's one of the few sciencey things I've been able to get my daughter to learn from me.)

Bun for idea and for knowing about it. [+]
-- baconbrain, Jan 04 2013


//While working at Future Shop we routinely did this// - you mean "While working at Future Shop we will routinely do this"
-- hippo, Jan 04 2013


Umm maybe, but I don't work there because I am Brian the Painter now. I do however strive for better grammar and do appreciate the help. (see what I did there)
-- Brian the Painter, Jan 04 2013


IR blocking filters are very cheap. Most DSLRs have them built in these days, and one could easily be added to any camera that doesn't already have one. Anyone with the knowledge, equipment, and desire to pirate a movie in this way would catch on pretty quickly.

Also, IR isn't /completely/ invisible to the human eye. In a darkened movie theater, it's quite possible that a bright enough infrared wash could be at least visible enough to be annoying.
-- ytk, Jan 04 2013


Won't an infra red filter lens defeat this?
-- xenzag, Jan 04 2013


Don't project a flat infrared screen for the length of the movie. That is too obvious, and also inefficient.

Instead, project something distracting intermittently, including the most important scenes of the film.

Now that it's something you're doing anyway, perhaps you can make it pay? Show adverts.

Something to note is that the loss incurred is not to the cinema where the filming takes place, but to the film rights holder. And use of this device would have to be ubiquitous for protection. Therefore it's probably necessary for usage to be required by the distribution contract.
-- Loris, Jan 04 2013


Kansan101's got my back! Thanks all for your great comments. I actually expect the best way is an interfering pattern shone on the screen from right in front or even from behind the screen. (they are perforated for sound) Or just the word COPYRIGHT in huge letters. I imagine a device worth less than a hundred bucks could easily accomplish this. Also, movie distributors could watermark the films with the theaters name and location. Pirated versions could be tracked and that theater could be properly reprimanded. I'm sure many cam versions are posted by employees who taped after hours.

/21 Quest/ Pointless maybe, clever definitely!
-- Brian the Painter, Jan 05 2013



random, halfbakery