Graphical user interface system and method for modeling lighting of areas captured by location scouts

Lighting simulation/modeling GUI tool.

Techniques described herein are directed to simulating lighting conditions of a real-world location in advance of beginning video production at the location. As described herein, captured data (e.g., captured images, captured video, and/or scanned three-dimensional data) of a candidate outdoor location may be used to generate a three dimensional model of the outdoor location. Thereafter, a simulation software application may be used to provide a graphical user interface for rendering the three dimensional model of the location under a variety of different lighting conditions. In particular implementations, the simulation software application may be used to render the location under a variety of different light conditions corresponding to different times of day.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART(1) Presently, decisions as to whether to shoot a movie or television series at a location are made by people called “scouts” who are sent to the site. A location scout will examine the environment, capture photos (and possibly video) of the area, and send this information back to the production team. The production team is then tasked with determining whether or not to shoot at the proposed location using this very limited data. This manner of deciding whether to shoot all or some of a movie/series at a given location is inherently risky, as the average cost to produce a major studio movie can be significant (ranging in the tens of millions of dollars or even greater) and the suitability of the location can play a significant role in the production's success.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE(2) Techniques described herein are directed to simulating lighting conditions of a real-world location in advance of beginning video production at the location.(3) In one embodiment, a method includes: capturing data of an outdoor, real-world location; using the captured data, generating a three dimensional model of the outdoor, real-world location; presenting a graphical user interface to a user for simulating lighting of the location under multiple sun conditions, where lighting of the location is simulated using the three dimensional model; receiving data corresponding to user input at the graphical user interface actuating a graphical user interface contro