Caught On Camera

Video Transcript

SCENE 1: MOTEL ROOMFADE IN on super-close-up of TV screen, all snow; after a moment the channel is changed so that we’re receiving a local news broadcast; LOCAL ANCHOR is speaking gravely as, behind him, a still of a recent bomb blast scene looms.SCENE 1A: LOCAL ANCHOROnce again, our top story, another bombing, this time of a local transit bus. As authorities scramble to respond to this latest incident…FLASHBACKSequence B is a series of images of hands leaving a backpack on a bus, booted feet moving away, and an overhead, slow motion view of the bus exploding in a large fireball.LOCAL ANCHOR continuedWe’ve learned that law enforcement is following leads to a possible domestic terror group. Police are looking for a man seen getting off of the bus moments before the explosion. The man is described as a Caucasian of average build, approximately 6 feet tall and one hundred seventy-five pounds. The man was wearing a denim jacket.The bus explodes into a fireball.Then we return to the motel room to see the bomber working over a very menacing-looking assembly of wires and lights. Perhaps he grunts in laughter at how clueless the news folks seem to be:LOCAL ANCHOR continuedNews Six has learned that authorities have already received claims of responsibility by known domestic terror groups……and we’ve begun tracking in tight to the television, until it again fills the frame.LOCAL ANCHOR continued…but officials had no comment at this time, saying only that the FBI is following up on all leads and is coordinating with local law enforcement.News 6 reporter Lisa Vasquez spoke with Special Agent Jacobs, who is leading the investigation.SCENE 2: HOST SEGUECUT TO Exterior, mobile command post. VASQUEZ interviewing ARNOLD “JAKE” JACOBS, a veteran agent, we are in what seems to be a standard, handheld local news look (it’s going to become a tracking shot, but for now it’s stable:)VASQUEZWhat can you tell us about the investigation?JACOBSThere’s a great deal of physical evidence and we’re following up on all leads.VASQUEZDo you see any similarities between the earlier bombing and this one?JACOBSNot at this time.VASQUEZDo you think that both of the bombings could be the work of a single person?JACOBSWe can’t say at this time…(She’s trying to move away, she’s sticking with him)VASQUEZBut what about the bomber’s letters to the newspapers? What can you tell us about that?JACOBSThis is an ongoing investigation and we’re following up on all available resources to bring to justice, those who are responsible. That’s all I can say for now, thank you.JACOBS crossed under the tape and we track along to stay with him as he reaches ANDREWS, his young female partner, and we shall hear a brief piece of their conversation, as we track slowly past them:ANDREWSWe’ve got a couple of witnesses say that only one guy got off at this stop, walking with his head down, headed back in the direction the bus came from…JACOBSOh, okay. So south, southeast…ANDREWSRight…JACOBSOkay, let’s go through all the closed circuit TV potential. There’s a lot of businesses in the area, maybe one of ‘em got something on video.ANDREWSThey’re checking.JACOBSGood…what about forensics?Jacobs continues to ad lib as the camera moves past them and we come to a stop framed on our Guest Host, Annie WerschingWERSCHINGAs a business owner, you already know that “CCTV”, closed circuit television, can help deter or solve a crime on your premises.You’re about to see that they can do even more. Your CCTV system might even help solve a terrorist attack.That is, if it’s up to the task. Basic setup and maintenance problems reduce the performance of many systems.So, what about yours? Do your cameras provide enough resolution for facial recognition? Are they positioned for a clear view of the subject? Is the lighting adequate to capture clear images both day and night? Is your recorder set up for the best image detail? Are you maintaining and managing your system so that it can do its job when it’s really needed?We’re gonna show you how to get the most from your CCTV system and that starts with capturing “recognition quality images” , with the detail law enforcement needs to identify the people and events captured by your cameras.WE NOW SPLIT SCREEN TO THREE IMAGES: ANDREWS at FBI VIDEO LAB, which shrinks to make room for JACOBS and ANDREWS in a convenience store, talking to manager, which in turn shrinks to make way for ANDREWS visiting a local pharmacy or home improvements store and then we return to the VIDEO LAB frame and we expand it until it fills the entire screen.SCENE 3: FBI LABAt the moment, ANDREWS is talking to a white-coated technician and JACOBS enters.JACOBSWhaddawe have?ANDREWSYou want the good news or the bad news?JACOBSThere’s good news?ANDREWSWe canvassed a pharmacy and they mentioned that someone came in and bought four gallons of FLAMMABLE LIQUID. The cashier thought is was a little weird, and also said the guy paid in cash.(INTERCUT FOOTAGE OF BOMBER PURCHASING LIQUID AND PAYING IN CASH)JACOBSPlease tell me there was a camera on his face.ANDREWSI’ll get to that. We have another lead. A female who works the cheap motels on Route 60, says she was waiting on someone, and saw a guy matching the description wearing a denim jacket. Also said he had a tattoo on his neck. Said he came in, paid for five nights in cash. Said he didn’t have any ID or credit cards and put another hundred on the counter.JACOBSDid we get him on camera?ANDREWSNo, the system wasn’t running, and as for the pharmacy…JACOBSWhat?ANDREWSWell we’re getting to the Bad News part.JACOBSWhat, was the camera off?? Did they run out of tape? What?ANDREWSNo, we got him at the pharmacy.JACOBSSo, how is that bad?TECHNICIANIt might be easier if we just show him.TECHNICIAN brings up image on monitor. We see our subject enter the pharmacy but the flare from sunlight on the window makes him unrecognizable.JACOBSThat’s the pharmacy?ANDREWSYeah. See, the sun is so bright on the doorway…JACOBSYeah I see. No, I don’t see. Wait, where did he go?TECHNICIANThe camera is using a low frame rate. Saves on drive space and gives you a better image quality. But, the problem is you might not get any image at all.JACOBSNow you see him, now you don’t.TECHNICIANExactly. Here he is walking down the aisle way and picking out a couple of backpacks. Now, ERT found pieces of backpacks at both scenes consistent with the types sold at this store.We have a shot which might actually be worth something if a temporary sale display wasn’t almost totally blocking the view; we can perhaps see the barest sliver of someone, maybe one arm and a slight bit of their neck.JACOBSThis is useless.TECHNICIANWe got a really good shot of that sign…JACOBSWhich does what?TECHNICIAN(realizing this observation wasn’t helpful:)Which does nothing. Here he is at the cash register.We see a full body shot of the subject but he’s out of focus, unrecognizable.TECHNICIANAnd that is what we call a focus problem…probably haven’t checked the thing in weeks…JACOBSCan you enhance it?TECHNICIANI’m not a wizard, and we’re not on TV, so no. I can enlarge it for you, but without the details…(He enlarges the image which blurs into a collage of blurry pixels)JACOBS(trying to be reasonable rather than upset)So what we’re seeing is, we would have had him, except for the sun on the door, the display blocking the view, the other camera set up. Someone tell me, is it so hard to get these things set up and useful?ANDREWSI mean it’s not that hard…but merchants aren’t thinking about what we might need in law enforcement. They just figure, ‘Hey, I’ve got a camera, I’m covered’. They’re not thinking about image quality.TECHNICIANYou know, we see this kind of thing everyday.JACOBSWhat kind of thing? English please.ANDREWSSmall words.(Jacobs gives her a look.)TECHNICIANI’ll show you.SCENE 4: FBI LABTHEY MOVE TO TABLE on which we see examples of the all equipment about to be discussedTECHNICIANNow to start with, what most people would call “taking a picture” we like to call “capturing an image” or better yet, “capturing video data.” The better the quality of the data, the better the quality of the image,the more you can see and the more you can do with it. Okay so far?JACOBSMakes sense.TECHNICIANNow, there’s all kinds of equipment for capturing images. Setting up the best CCTV requires figuring out the best hardware for a business owner’s needs. Now, some hardware is just no good for that no matter what.(holds up web cam, shows image of them in nearby monitor)This is a web cam. Check this out.TECHNICIANSee? Blurry, out of focus,okay for internet, totally awful if you need quality video. There’s just not enough detail.We see the image freeze and degrade horribly when it’s enlarged.TECHNICIANWe’ve got a capture, but it’s not what we call recognition quality, the resolution is too low.He is moving down the table, as though shopping, each kind of camera he names is represented:TECHNICIANWe got analog, digital, black and white, color…all these cameras use chips and generally speaking, the bigger the chip the better the picture quality,you get better detail, more control of contrast like between very bright and very dim areas…JACOBSLike in the pharmacy?TECHNICIANExactly, hey Andrews, do you mind walking over to the mannequin for me? We’ll bring back our friend the webcam.LIGHTS BLAZE ON at One end of the room, perhaps there is an 8x10 picture or test pattern on an easel, or perhaps we take a picture of Andrews who steps in front of the camera.TECHNICIANCheck this out. Look familiar?Indeed, we have a flare out exactly like the pharmacy. Maybe even do a side by side look at both?TECHNICIANOkay now watch this. This is a good camera, high resolution. Plenty of dynamic range.The camera’s image is crisp and sharp and the light seems useful rather than damaging.The bank of lights brightens, then dims, then brightens, and so on.TECHNICIANSee? A camera like this one has no trouble keeping up with shifting conditions. Far superior capture technology. Higher resolution. Better dynamic range. Here, look at ‘em side by side.We see this view.JACOBSThere’s no comparison.TECHNICIANExactly. The minimum camera resolution should be 480 horizontal lines.ANDREWSBut it’s not just about resolution and range. That camera, the good one, also has a faster lens.JACOBS“Faster”?TECHNICIANA faster lens allows more light in. Has a larger maximum aperture opening, which lets more light through to the focal plane of the camera. Now what this does is…it allows for brighter images in dimmer lighting. More light means more depth of field.TECHNICIAN BRINGS AGENTS TO TRANPARENT MONITOR AND DEMONSTRATES. SHOWS3D GRAPHIC explaining concepts of aperture opening/camera focal plane, depth of field.JACOBSDepth of field?TECHNICIANThe more depth of field you have, the more of the scene is in focus.ANDREWSYou also have to consider focal length.JACOBS(struggling:)Focal length?ANDREWSRight. Some cameras zoom in and out, where others have a fixed focal length, it all depends on what you need.TECHNICIANRight, say for anything at a point of transaction, like at a cash register or a toll booth the subjects head should fill at least 15% of the total image in frame giving you the detail you need.JACOBSSo you’d like the back to school sign to be at zero percent, right?ANDREWSRight, lines of sight are always critical. You want to make sure there aren’t any obstructions.TECHNICIANWhich is all part of having the right site plan. Now, here is a store blueprint.RESETWe see a frozen frame of the store.ANDREWSNow, this is retail so the key camera spots are transaction points…JACOBSCash registers?ANDREWSRight, and entrances and exits.JACOBSDo we need both?ANDREWSThe more the better.These locations being marked on wireframe diagram.TECHNICIANYou’re going to want cameras here…here…here…and here. Now, you’ll have to throw in some extra coverage for restrooms, and the aisles, and other key points.ANDREWSCan you show coverage?The wireframe now includes alternate colored cones or other indicators of the cameras’ range of coverage.TECHNICIANOf course. Hang on. Oh, good overlap.ANDREWSRight, you want multiple chances to capture a good image…We track the following in the diagram:TECHNICIAN…Guy comes in here, boom, got him. Guy goes over to get a snack or something, boom, got him again. Guy comes over to check out, boom. Exits the building and, boom.ANDREWSAlso, the camera height is very important you want to make sure it’s as close to eye level as possible. Otherwise you might lose out to a baseball cap. And with a good site plan you can make sure you don’t have any blind spots.Maybe a blind spot flashes red in the diagram?ANDREWSYou can toy around with the camera positions. Do a test recording to make sure you’re getting what you wanted.Maybe we see, in diagram, the X’s marking camera spots moving slightly and the blind spots narrowing and the vanishing altogether.We collapse the wire frame and we’re back in the real world.CUT, SCENE CHANGETECHNICIANAnother big thing here is lighting.JACOBSI thought lens speed took care of light problemsANDREWSIt helps, but it isn’t the whole ball gameJACOBSThen what kind of camera do we get…TECHNICIANOh, no, I’m talking about actual lights. Here. Take a look at this.Show sequence of three still images: register with good lighting in morning, register with area behind counter showing high contrast in afternoon, then light bank added to even out the lighting.TECHNICIANSee, the lighting is great in the morning, but by the afternoon the sun’s blowing out the whole frame.He adds light, the picture improves.TECHNICIANBut look, you add an extra bank of lights to fill in during the afternoon and you get more clarity. See, you can balance bright light from one direction with light from another source. You’re adding more light, but it’s from another direction and it helps even things out.He demonstrates.ANDREWSAnd sometimes if you have bright light through a big window, you have no choice but to, say, tint the window or put up a shade. And if you’re outside, in the street or parking lot you need to set up timers on your artificial lights. You’d rather them coming on a little earlier than a little later.TECHNICIANTake a look at this. This is a gas station we worked with, they were having break-ins at the rear of the building, and they had a good quality camera and lights on a timer but they weren’t keeping up with how much earlier it was getting dark. Chance to see the bad guy and we miss it.Robber exiting car and pulling on mask, but we can’t make him out.TECHNICIANSo they adjust their timer. A few days later, THE SAME guy tries it AGAIN,but this time we got him.Similar footage, but the light is much better, face very clear.JACOBSSo I use higher resolution?TECHNICIANYep.JACOBSAnd…control for the right depth of field and contrast.TECHNICIAN and ANDREWStogetherYep.JACOBSThen if I put together a site plan with the correct camera coverage, positioning, frames per second, and lighting, and I’m more likely to get a recognition-quality recording.TECHNICIANYou got it!CUT TO Bomber, still working in hotel room, focused, diligent … possibly cut to medium close-up but there is only static and snow where his face ought to be.CUT TO LABJACOBS CELL PHONE RINGS.ANDREWSYeah? We’re on our way.(hangs up)The home supply store has some video for us, we can pick it up.TECHNICIANHang on, there’s a couple things you guys got to know before you can go…ANDREWS AND JACOBS ON THE MOVE:JACOBSI’ll call you when we’re rolling, you can fill me in en route.SCENE 5: CARCUT TO JACOBS AND ANDREWS IN CAR, Andrews is on phone with TECHNICIAN, we’ll cut back and forth between lab and car.JACOBSYou mean we just can’t grab the tape and bring it back?TECHNICIANChances are there is no tape. Most systems now a days are fully digital. So, you are going to have to go over the recordings and make sure the video you want is there.JACOBSThe guy said it was there!TECHNICIANYeah, but it could be over-recorded by now. So make sure. And, you need to figure out how much footage you need to collect, then make sure you collect in the native file with the proprietary player.JACOBSOkay, slow down. Speak English please.TECHNICIANThe native file is just the original form of a file. With most digital systems, the specific attributes of the video files are proprietary to the program that created it.JACOBSYou’re not speaking English yet.TECHNICIANDVR’s use compression to get more space out of their storage. Some compression throws away potential image detail. The native file format is usually the least compressed. Best image, but you usually need specific manufacturer software to play it. A lot of systems export what we like to call ‘open file,’ like .avi. Problem is, they’re usually compressed even further. Which means image quality is reduced.JACOBSWhew. I actually understood that.TECHNICIANGood. So get me both formats. One other thing. We’re gonna need to know the output options on the machine to retrieve the video.JACOBSOutput options?TECHNICIANYeah. It could be a DVD, CD burner, or USB port...JACOBSOkay I’m with you. If we run into anything weird we’ll give you a shout from the store. Otherwise, we’ll call you when we’re inbound.TECHNICIANOkay.He hangs up; ANDREWS gives him a look.SCENE 6: STORE OFFICECUT TO Interior STORE, ANDREWS AND JACOBS WITH STORE MANAGERANDREWSSo this is about ten minutes’ worth, you said?JACOBSWhat’s the video format?MANAGERIt’s an avi file I think.JACOBSIs that the native recording?MANGERI’m not sure what it is, but it’s what we have….JACOBSHang on.ANDREWSCalling for backup?JACOBSYou bet your badge…..TECHNICIANEdwards.JACOBSYeah, yeah, we’re here. Now listen, we have the avi file but the fella that’s helping us out is not sure if it’s the native recording or not.TECHNICIANOK. Let me talk to him.JACOBSUm, our technician wants to ask you a few questions.MANAGERSure. Hello?TECHNICIANHi. I need to get some system information.MANAGERSure.TECHNICIANIf you can get me a brand name and a model number, then I can figure out the native format.MANAGERI don’t see a brand, but the model number is xl 327. ?CUT TO TECHNICIANTECHNICIANYeah, I know it. the native format isn’t AVI, it’s DVR. Does that sound familiar?MANAGERNo.TECHNICIANOkay, thanks. Would you put Agent Jacobs back on ?MANAGER HANDING PHONE TO JACOBS, he’s clearly worried that he’s somehow letting them down.MANAGEROkay. He wants to talk to you again.JACOBSYeah? Really? Okay.Sir, we’re gonna need to retrieve the native file in addition to the avi file. Can you do that?MANAGERI don’t know how. But the installer may still be here on site. Let me see. Sara. Is the CCTV guy still here?SARAYes.MANAGERCan you send him to the office please?SARAHSure, stand by.MANAGERThank you.ANDREWSGood. We’re gonna review the avi files while we wait, ok.MANAGERHelp yourself !ANDREWSThanks. Okay here we go…That’s weird.JACOBSWhat…ANDREWSLemme check…. yeah, there’s only these FIVE camera views. Just these and that’s it.JACOBSOh, so you’re thinking of getting all the camera views.ANDREWSYeah, why not, I mean I’ve got at least fifteen, sixteen cameras, we should review them all. We could get lucky.INSTALLER WALKS INHi guys. How can I help you?ANDREWSHi. Yeah. We need video from all the cameras during the time of the incident in the native file format. Can you do that?INSTALLERYeah, sure. No problem. It’ll take a while. Did you want the viewer with that?ANDREWSYeah. And we can wait. Can you throw in the avi’s too?INSTALLERSure.ANDREWSThanks. You never know how many people need fertilizer till you see it like this….JACOBSYeah, I’m thinking about paving my whole yard, save some time….ANDREWSYou see what we were talking about earlier, with resolution and frames per second.JACOBSYeah, I see that camera there isn’t picking up all the video frames but it’s a tradeoff between camera quality or what we can fit on the drive.JACOBSWhoa- whoa! Back it up, back it up about two seconds.ANDREWSOkay……JACOBSFreeze. Make it bigger. That guy.ANDREWSThat could be… I mean, that’s a denim jacket… can’t see much else, but…JACOBSHe was in here you can bet a week’s pay.ANDREWSHey, did you make a site plan?INSTALLERYup. We keep that with the system. It’s right here.ANDREWSThanks.SCENE 7: FBI LABCUT TO LAB, It’s a bit later, they’ve got everything they need from the home supply store. TECHNICIAN has just loaded all the data. ANDREWS is studying the site plan.ANDREWSIf this site plan is accurate they’ve got pretty good coverage…JACOBSWe’re looking for Tuesday the fourteenth, around eleven in the morning.TECHNICIANOkay…Here is what that guy wanted to give you, the AVI file, and here…is the native, proprietary format.The latter is much better.JACOBSWow.TECHNICIANYup, they lose a ton of resolution when they convert formats.ANDREWSHey guys!Grab camera four and step through about eleven oh five, I think the guy must have…TECHNICIANParking lot…..JACOBSGood idea, we get a better view.ANDREWSThere!TECHNICIANThat him? By the GREEN car?JACOBSI think he’s right. Can you get closer to get a license plate number?TECHNICIANNo way. These cams are good but they’re just set up for a wide angle view of the lot. I can’t get the plate, but it looks to me like that’s a GREEN late model 4-door.JACOBSI am sick to death of “almost”!TECHNICIANLemme just see if they…oh yes, Thank you, thank you, thank you!JACOBSWhat?TECHNICIANLook, see this site plan has everything…SITE PLAN IS SHOWN CLOSE, maybe graphically highlight the info as the tech mentions is.TECHNICIAN continuedit gives camera positions, resolutions, frames per second, setup, frame size - everything, this is exactly what a site plan is supposed to look like, now we just need….ANDREWSTry camera three!TECHNICIANExactly.JACOBSWhat’s camera three?TECHNICIANIt shows a lot of the same area, but slightly different angle but much, much better quality. And more frames per second... gives us more to work with. Let me just…move through…All three of them are very still.JACOBSBingo!TECHNICIANThat’s him!ANDREWSThere he is!JACOBSGot his face…We’re zooming in very slowly on his face, the image will jump in our viewTECHNICIANNice resolution, and we can get inPretty close….ANDREWSI think our best bet is camera twelve, behind the register.New image. Sharp. We recognize him but the image is wide angle. And:JACOBSThere!TECHNICIANWait, hold on, hold on…they have a close-up camera….JACOBSThere’s the tattoo! Right there!ANDREWSYep we’ve got four gallons of bomb making fluid ,the car, the tattoo and his face!JACOBSI’m gonna call our guy at the motel. Hello Cal! Yeah, listen up, it’s Jacobs, we’re pretty sure that the guy’s in a GREEN, late model 4-door, we—do you? Sit tight. I’ll get back to you.Andrews, Get SWAT and the bomb techs to that address!We have your face!SCENE 8: TAKE DOWNWe CUT TO Bomber’s room, and we see again the static and snow over the face… but as JACOBS speaks, the snow fills in with an accurate image. He seems surprised, almost as though he’s aware of some new visibility, and that’s when he turns at the sound of the officer knocking… meanwhile we can see the SWAT team in position, ready to move and on JACOB’S screen we hear:JACOBSSo many ways for the system to fail…Through the ensuing, we will see the bomb and SWAT team staging, then entering….JACOBSThe wrong camera…the right camera, used the wrong way…not making the most of your site plan…not getting the most out of your recording equipment…insufficient training of the staff that works with the gear…But: when the system works…This line spoken just as they’re taking the bomber down, in crashing, painful, super slow motion….then everything but JACOBS shrinks and she says, simply:JACOBSIt can make all the difference.Into the frame steps Annie WerschingSCENE 9: HOST WRAPWERSCHINGWe hope this video makes a difference in the way you think about and operate YOUR CCTV system.If you’re gonna do it, do it right – for yourself; for law enforcement; and your community.For a quick review, along with more details on CCTV operations, set up and maintenance, click on the special features section of this DVD.I’m Annie Wersching. Thanks for watching.