Green screen composite question

A

Andor

Active member
Hey all, I'm not entirely sure where to ask this... Here's the situation:

I'm probably shooting a short film next semester in the DC area. I want a jib shot of a character climbing a hill or a cliff with a view of the city below them. To my knowledge, there isn't really a spot available in the area to get what I see in my head (if you have suggestions on that, it could save a lot of trouble).

I have access to a fairly large green screen in a studio. I also have access to the roof of a very tall building.

Unless I find someone who has a RED and is interested, I have access to some Arri 416's, and it ironically seems most affordable to just shoot Super 16 (I've worked with it before, but not with green screen).

What I'm considering trying is renting an Epic for a day or two. Shooting it on a tripod on top of the building to get a large resolution for the background. Inside the studio, building a raised platform for the "cliff" in front of the green screen. We'd get the reveal shot of the character going to the edge. Instead of trying to match the camera movement at the two locations, we'd just adjust and track the background image in post (to match the studio shot).

If it matters, the shot will be both sunset and night.

Thanks for any feedback, brainstorming, and advice!
 
well, since you have some time, why not schedule a location scouting day, take a friend of similar height to the actor of the short, take a 2 or 3 test still images as a storyboard/test, and see what you can do with it in the studio. and in post.

with a film camera, or a noisy camera, you would probably need to remove grain or remove noise in post which would degrade the image unnecessarily. any video camera that can shoot as wide as you want, or using a dslr in stills mode would do the trick just fine. just plan the jib move before hand and make sure it's somewhat repeatable on the background, and get at least 3 takes of each.
 
And shoot the background plate first so you can match the lighting on your greenscreen subject. Maybe a fan on the actor as well so you get the impression of some outside atmosphere.
 
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Thanks for the replies!

I was definitely wanting the fan since I wanted it to be a really "harsh / windy" night. I will probably get a chance to shoot some tests in the studio this Sunday.
 
Why use a Red or an Epic? The F3 will do the job just fine. You biggest problem shooting this against green screen is not the green screen effect itself or the camero but rather getting the right looking background. You may note that its usually the visual background elements themselves which are difficult to find. Good luck.
 
Amadou said:
Why use a Red or an Epic? The F3 will do the job just fine. You biggest problem shooting this against green screen is not the green screen effect itself or the camero but rather getting the right looking background. You may note that its usually the visual background elements themselves which are difficult to find. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I'm confused as to why you tell me the F3 can do it? I don't have an F3. However, I know I can get a Red easily. I want the higher resolution so I can adjust the background in post to match the crane shot. Not trying to make this a camera debate at all, but the F3 comment seemed left field.

Edit: Of course, if there's something I'm missing I'd love to hear it.
 
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