Comment Two things... (Score 1) 336
1)Cant you do this by using the apparent dimensions of the screen to determine the position of the camera? Given that the screen is rectangular and x*y in size you should be able to say "In the cammed version the screen appears trapezoidal. Now we can draw an imaginary line from the center of the screen out to the wall of the theater. The screen appears z large in the image (and maybe use the focus to figure zoom level) and that gives me distance from the screen.
2)SO WHAT if you do know which seat the pirate was in. When was the last time you bought a movie ticket that had an assigned seat associated with it? I've never purchased movie tickets by seat number. Never had the chance to. It's not gonna happen. movie studios have too much invested in "first weekend sales" statistics to risk people saying "Oh, I could only get seats in the far left of the right side aisle. I'll go when I can get better seats."
NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
Though...I guess they could put nightvision cameras into the the theater, center position, just above the screen so they can go back and see who was in which seat during the movie. I kind of doubt it though. However, if anyone knows of this happening please make LOTS of noise about it. I like to know when I'm being covertly surveilled.