Building a green screen space w $20k

dillont

dillont

Well-known member
Greetings,

I'm running a studio/editing facility at Cal, and I've been given a chunk of money to build a greenscreen space in our shooting studio (a converted classroom). Got $20,000 to spend.

So I'm wondering where I can find out schematics of a green screen (floor to ceiling)? We'll be using our woodshop students/instructors to build it, and I want to give them good plans to work from.

Also, knowing the need for nice even lighting on the background - what lights should I be looking at to evenly light the space behind the subject?

Are there any sites / forums that I would be able to get access to this information? Much appreciation for any information any of you can provide.

Dillon Thomas
 
Sounds like you have the money to do it right. If I were to do it again and had the money, I would go with these guys.

http://procyc.com/home.php


I had a 3000 sq ft studio in LA up until about a year ago, and myself and some friends (Hollywood set plasterers) built a two wall cyc from scratch. I dont have the plans anymore, though. My cyc was white, but green is just a matter of paint.

The good thing about getting a cyc from the guys above, is that if you ever have to, you can tear it down and move it elsewhere. It is mostly permanent once it's in, but it can be taken down and reused. As opposed to mine which would have to have been sledgehammered out.

I never got the pricing for the guys above, but I suggest you check it out.
 
Awesome - thank you for the link.

Seems to be perfect for what I'd like to get installed.

Thanks again!

Dillon
 
Of course the key to a good key is flat even lighting. Problem is most people end up pouring too much light on the green in a quest for even lighting. Greenscreen needs very little light since it has a lot of white in it (unlike blue screen). Best lighting is some type of flourescent such as KinoFlow or Videssence units on top and on the sides. Think of it as two lighting areas: one area is the greenscreen and the other is the lighting you do on the subject...so you have to have enough room for separation between the two. Ideally, they shouldn't mix their lighting elements.
 
Dillon, I didnt want to get too much into lighting considering I dont know what you already have and what the $20k is specifically for. Will you need to take care of lighting with that money also? I have some good ideas for that too.

What is the size of the space and what are the height of the ceilings? What are the dimensions of the greenscreen you want? Single, double, or triple wall?
 
we made a nice cyc out of plywood and 2x4's. strong as heck. Probably a lot cheaper than that plastic thing. Also that plastic one looks very glossy, you can see all kinds of light reflecting off it, looks like a problem to me, and how well is paint gonna adhere to it?
 
Laugh all you want but I've never seen any plastic that adheres as well as wood.

Also, looking at the video, it doesn't strike me as a marvel of engineering--and you'd think a company pitching a product to the film and video industry would put more effort into their promo video. I bet they make sure you pay enough for that thing though.
 
Hey there,

I've contacted the company (and the other company as well) and am in the process of getting quotes and asking questions about using greenscreen paint on them.

As for lights, I'm thinking of 2 or 3 kinoflows (?) to set up the nice even lighting for the green screen - we have 6 other light kits where we can light the subject separately.

As for the space, it looks to be about 12x12 and about 10ft tall.

My total budget for everything is $25k.

Thanks for all the suggestions

Dillon


GageFX said:
Dillon, I didnt want to get too much into lighting considering I dont know what you already have and what the $20k is specifically for. Will you need to take care of lighting with that money also? I have some good ideas for that too.

What is the size of the space and what are the height of the ceilings? What are the dimensions of the greenscreen you want? Single, double, or triple wall?
Click to expand...
 
If your ceiling is high enough, I´d go with an even grid of chinese lanterns to get basic shadowless illumination. Since you have a good budget you can even get Chimera lanterns.
You only need the green to hit around 50-60 IRE.
Then you are free to set the keys for your actors.
 
I dont think he has the ceiling room to go overhead. He has 10 feet, my last studio was 12 and it wasn't a lot of room for overhead lights.

I think if it has a couple long Kinos suspended at 45deg along the cyc, then one on each side.

My concern here is that he has the money to do it right, so there is no reason to cut corners and half-@ss something like many of us would have to do in our garages.
 
Hey 12 year old girl with a gun to her head,

The green screen space itself will about approx 12x12, and perhaps 10 - 12 feet high. The room that the green screen will be in is quite large, (about 40 x 80ft?)

Not sure I can mount lights to the ceiling - lovely "rules" of the UC system and safety, as well as portability if we decide to move the screen to another location.

I've looked at the coollights website before, but read some bad reviews about them here - are they okay to use for greenscreen work?

Thanks again for the recommendations. I'll probably commence with building it in August.

Dillon
 
dillont said:
Hey 12 year old girl with a gun to her head,

The green screen space itself will about approx 12x12, and perhaps 10 - 12 feet high. The room that the green screen will be in is quite large, (about 40 x 80ft?)

Dillon
Click to expand...

I would try to get a bigger greenscreen 14-16x14-16 would be great you have more room for wide angle shoots..... Just suggesting (that's what I would like to have .....)
 
Ditto what Inaki said.

Just for clarity, what do you intend to shoot in front of the screen? If it's just "weatherman" stuff, or seated interviews, that 12' is fine. Bigger always gives you more options.


Regarding mounting lights to the ceiling, UC safety regulations are on thing, but it wont be any more difficult to move those lights than it will be to move the cyc. I expect it would be easier.

I had only heard good things about the Cool Lights. I have never used them, though. You do have the money for Kinos so stick with that.

I have a call out to some guys I know that do greenscreen work. I've asked for a "money no object" lighting suggestion and see what they say. I used the "money no object" simply because if you dont say that then people will try to tell you that you can get by with work lights.
 
Okay.... regarding lights, this is the reply I just got from a top VFX guy:

Fixtures

Tubes

Note that the recommended fixture is the 4 tube, and also note that it is a specific greenscreen tube for the greenscreen work.

He didnt include light arrangement, but here is a pic of the stage used for the Timefest entry "O2":

2b.gif



Note that is is only lit overhead. I really think that two fixtures overhead will be all that you need. I do not know that one on each side will be enough.

If you have a theater department at the school, stage crew should have plenty of experience hanging lights that dont fall down on people.
 
Hey Inaki and Gage,

Gage, that is a SWEET setup there! How long is that wall??

We definitely don't need a screen that big - it will be simple standing shots, maybe a duo shot, and perhaps a short walk (virtual news set). Don't need to fit a car in the shot at all.

After taking measurements, it seems that we'll be best with going with either a 16 ft straight wall, or a 12x12 foot extended corner unit. I'll be getting quotes today from vendors (and from procyc).

As for the lights, THANK you for suggesting the theater dept. I hadn't thought of that, and will be phoning them about their recs / help.

I'm looking at getting 3 or 4 of these to light the screen http://www.coollights.biz/cl655-cool-lights-watt-fluorescent-video-soft-light-p-32.html. Given the dimensions I said above, I think this should cover it. Might get a couple extra 2 / 4 bulb soft lights depending on $ left over.

Thanks again for your advice. I'll be taking some before/during and after pics of this project. While I've worked in a greenscreen studio before (Academy of Art in San Francisco has a great green screen studio in its basement), I've never built a full blown one before.

Thanks again!!

Dillon
 
Regarding the Coollights - I know people that own the Tungsten fresnels and they like them, but the more I read around here, the opinion doesnt seem too positive about their Flos. Also, if you noticed in the Kino link I gave, those tubes are specifically designed for greenscreen work - I really think they are the best way to go.

Regarding the picture above: I only posted that as an example of a prp greenscreen cyc - not as an example of scale that you should build to. But to answer your question, it is 30wX16d.

Also, feel free to post some pics so we see what you are working with and to document the before/after process.
 
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