Large Green Screen Background?

Chris Messineo

Chris Messineo

Veteran
I have a small studio (2,000 square feet - 40' x 50' with 15' ceilings) and I am looking for a large durable/flexible green screen solution.

I would like to be able to hang a large cloth/vinyl/paper from the the ceiling and let it curve and drape on the floor. Most of the time the actors will be in front of the chroma key, but sometimes they will need to stand on it.

I am thinking of this solution from Matthews: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542759-REG/Matthews_319167_MATT_Blue_Green_Screen_20.html

Does anyone have any firsthand experience with it? Does anyone have any other recommendations? I need something at least 12 feet wide.

Thanks in advance,

Chris
 
I've never found cloth at all durable once people have to walk on it. With a great space, such as you have, if you can afford to lose a couple of feet off one dimension, then I'd seriously consider a permanent wall, with infinity curve at the bottom, then paint the floor and wall. Once it gets worn on the floor, a roller and a bit of effort gets it back to pristine condition in half an hour. Cost wise, a piece of white cloth on a track may be cheaper to cover a permanent green wall up than trying to get the creases out of a big screen. You can have it as wide as you like, and this gives you so much more scope. I'd really consider it if you do more than occasional green screen work. I bought before I knew better one of the chinese kits - which are fine but the cloth is pretty thin - and wrecked it by one of the people spilling coffee on it. A stain that never came out! My previous success with big walls lasted so much longer - and the occasional scuff just got painted over in a few minutes.

I'm not great DIY'er, but the curve for the bottom of the wall is actually quite simply. Mine had to go around two smaller walls, and the curve from one wall to the other was the trickiest. If yours just runs down one wall, the hard bit doesn't even need doing! I also repainted it different colours as we needed it. Green to white, then back to blue, then green again. Each layer even covered up some of the tiny perfections. The only downside is that we found the layers would eventually separate from the studio floor, often revealed when somebody dragged something across the floor, and a hole appeared. When that happens, you have to pull it up from the floor and do it again. Once a year-18 months.
 
paulears said:
I've never found cloth at all durable once people have to walk on it. With a great space, such as you have, if you can afford to lose a couple of feet off one dimension, then I'd seriously consider a permanent wall, with infinity curve at the bottom, then paint the floor and wall. Once it gets worn on the floor, a roller and a bit of effort gets it back to pristine condition in half an hour. Cost wise, a piece of white cloth on a track may be cheaper to cover a permanent green wall up than trying to get the creases out of a big screen. You can have it as wide as you like, and this gives you so much more scope. I'd really consider it if you do more than occasional green screen work. I bought before I knew better one of the chinese kits - which are fine but the cloth is pretty thin - and wrecked it by one of the people spilling coffee on it. A stain that never came out! My previous success with big walls lasted so much longer - and the occasional scuff just got painted over in a few minutes.

I'm not great DIY'er, but the curve for the bottom of the wall is actually quite simply. Mine had to go around two smaller walls, and the curve from one wall to the other was the trickiest. If yours just runs down one wall, the hard bit doesn't even need doing! I also repainted it different colours as we needed it. Green to white, then back to blue, then green again. Each layer even covered up some of the tiny perfections. The only downside is that we found the layers would eventually separate from the studio floor, often revealed when somebody dragged something across the floor, and a hole appeared. When that happens, you have to pull it up from the floor and do it again. Once a year-18 months.
Click to expand...

I wish I could do this, but I need to keep the space more flexible than that. Thanks for the suggestion though - it sounds awesome!
 
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