Green screen workflow question?

onedog

onedog

Active member
Hi,

I've just finished a green screen shoot and was wondering how my workflow compares to others as I'm sure my method is not optimized.

There were say, 5 different passes cut together to make up a music clip. Each pass would have a back ground that was consistent. So, essentially 5 scenes to be keyed and CC. The project was compiled in PP and then imported in AE for keying and CC.

Now, I left the original 5 takes on individual tracks in PP so the import is not a complete mess but the clips are scattered everywhere because of the way it was edited.

How would you guys attack this? There is obviously lots of repetition available to speed up the process but what would be the most economical way to key and composite the BG's ?

Thanks for your time
Glenn
 
There are a million different workflows. The one I use is...

I bring the original footage into After Effects, and key it out there. You can then either import the After Effects composition into Premiere (and use it like a normal video clip). Or you can simply render it out in AfterEffects and just import the clip. If you import the composition, then Premiere will use the After Effects engine to render it (seemlessly, with no extra work required from you) when you render the final movie.

It seems whenever I use your approach (starting with PP and importing to AE), I get the same mess you are dealing with now. Of course with a little practice I'm sure that you can make the import more predictable and manageable. But, I am content with my workflow, so I don't even bother with it.
 
I'm all mac based, so first it's all brought in from tape. I edit it, create a rough cut, and get an approval. After changes and fixes it's usually an automatic duck export to AE. Then a key with primatte or keylight, depending on the greenscreen. Then composite, and back to final cut it goes.

Pretty simple, pick up Automatic Duck if you can. It's a life saver...

-Heroic-
 
Hey Heroic,
So when you're finished in AE do you take the project back into FC (via Automatic duck) or do you export a movie from AE and import that?
 
onedog,

Usually the final composites are just rendered (animation compression) and dropped back into final cut where the green screen footage was as a place holder. I've never used automatic duck to bring footage back into final cut. If you use shake or something similar I'm almost positive you can do it that way though (but it's probably not the best option. Final cut renders are slow).

The one thing to look out for is losing a couple frames. Since final cut and AE render completely different you may lose a frame or two. The best way to avoid this is just adding one second handles on anything you composite.

-Heroic-
 
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