Green Screen ? How Effective Is It ?

[12quidkidinnit]

I was wondering about trying this because a location I'd like to use might turn out to be too difficult and impractical to actually use. Part of this is actually getting the 3 actors there at the same time. So, if I was to take a series of still photographs of the location, from all the angles required, and then film the actors against a green background, how likely is it to actually look realistic, compared to just going there and filming in the usual way ?
I should mention that I can get all three actors to somewhere else at the same time to film the scene with a green background.

I've not tried anything like this before, but it could be a useful way to achieve what I need to. I'm using a JVC single CCD camera, and Premiere Pro 1.5.

The scene is set in a quiet corner of a bus station. Two of the actors are already there, standing talking, when the third walks into shot. They have a brief conversation and then one actor walks away.

Any tips, ideas or suggestions welcome. :beer:

 

[ilauzirika]

Hi
Well, this past summer i shoot a greenscreen fx project (for fun). I filmed it with a cheap 1 ccd consumer camera (a nightmare to key). But with the proper lighting (you need to lit the background and the foreground differently, halo/rim light, contrast between th subject and the background). I used four worklights(no budget) and some household lights. Try to avoid wide shots as you will need to make your actors stand on the greenscreen(this causes lots of problems ie: shadows and green reflections). When filming wide shots try to use soft light on your subject just to avoid harsh shadows.
If you finally decide to go green remember to match the light of your greenscreen setup with the lighting in the original pics.

About the software, keying with premiere isnt really effective. I would say look for someone with after effects or other effects software and ask him to let you use it.

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/9915/1170771227.jpg this is what i used
Good luck

 

[kyle.presley]

Also, keep in mind your focal lengths. this to me is what makes composite shots look fake. If you photograph the scene using a 35mm lens, film your actors using the equivalent focal length of your video camera, from the same distance that you photographed the scene. If you do use a one chipper, be sure you light it very well. Better yet, ask a friend to borrow a 3 chip camera for the shot.

 

[ilauzirika]

Also, keep in mind your focal lengths. this to me is what makes composite shots look fake.

yes, that is a real problem. It happened to me and its really anoying and difficult to fix (at least for me).

 

[Cool Lights]

Also, keep in mind your focal lengths. this to me is what makes composite shots look fake. If you photograph the scene using a 35mm lens, film your actors using the equivalent focal length of your video camera, from the same distance that you photographed the scene. If you do use a one chipper, be sure you light it very well. Better yet, ask a friend to borrow a 3 chip camera for the shot.

Just add a bit of blur to the backround "plate" in photoshop. Makes for an effective looking shot.

 

[Kevin Lee]

I have major problems keying in premier pro 1.5. I am using dvx in progressive(progressive is recomended). So I use after effects with keylight. It works fantastic!