Thoughts on an outdoor greenscreen stage?

J

jdv

Well-known member
I'm planning on building an out door green screen stage in my backyard (which is pretty big).

Figure the stage floor will be something similar to a deck. Easy enough.

But what about the actual green screen? Two basic options, either something easy to take down like the PVC setups I've seen, or building flats or something similar .

I'd like to build something permanent, but I doubt want the city inspector giving me hell. Also ,we get some wicked gusts of wind that I fear would totally shread normal flats.

And ideas would be mucho appreciated -

john
 
Just use PVC. That way you can have the size scale to what you want and you can take it down. You don't want to leave your screen open to the weather all the time.
 
I would make wooden frames of greenscreen,Such as making 4 sections of 4' x 4' (Or whatever size you'd like) Using to make them 2x4's and 1/2" Plywood to cover them,then paint the frames Chroma Green!

Easy enough right?
 
On the dancers scenes on the video on my home page. The stage was on Panavision's parking lot. It was about 2 feet high. The green screen was 20x20.

Maybe this will give you some ideas.
 
The problem you will have is:

You live in MICHIGAN and have very interesting weather due to lake effect many months in winter...

I would just put tall C stands linked at the top by metal tubing at the back of your stage, buy a big green threaded (as opposed to dyed) greenscreen, clamp the heck out of the greenscreen all around, and weight down the legs of the stands with around 34 million pounds of sandbags (I'm exagerating). Roll forward so you lose the bottom corner and double side tape it down on the stage. Then I would really light the greenscreen well, and also light the performers really well.

When the wind comes up dismantle and wait for better weather. :engel017:
 
wgzn said:
what is it exactly that youre wanting to shoot on the stage?
Click to expand...

A zero budget sci-fi flick.

Weather is one way isn't bad (rain is fine as I plan on mking it wet all the time anyway), but the wind tearing down my screen is.

I'm lazy - the idea of taking down something, storing it, re-building it, and taking it down again is literally a plan of hell to me.

jdv
 
maybe in your case it would be best to construct a wooden set. frame it with some 2 by 4s and then put some thin sheets of wood on the frame, and then paint it all green... wind would be AS MUCH of a problem...
 
Jeez, it may sound dumb, but I never actually thought of using plywood for the "screen."

Hmmmm......

I could prolly use those 8' section of wood used for gardens as the side posts....

john
 
jdv said:
A zero budget sci-fi flick.

Weather is one way isn't bad (rain is fine as I plan on mking it wet all the time anyway), but the wind tearing down my screen is.

I'm lazy - the idea of taking down something, storing it, re-building it, and taking it down again is literally a plan of hell to me.

jdv
Click to expand...

So, LOL, you are too 'lazy' to unfold a greenscreen, stand on a ladder and clip it on between two stands with a cross beam until it is tight; but you will go through all the work of building a metal, plastic or wooden structure including and necessarily, a waterproof drywalled, mudded and painted wall with numerous coats of paint? LOL!!!:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

My suggestion was what I did many, many times for a feature. I can put it up with one other guy in 5 minutes and have it down in 3 minutes or less. Stretched tight and lit it keys great.

Good luck. :Drogar-Happy(DBG):
 
Another temporary option is to go get an inexpensive roll of linoleum and a gallon of green or blue screen paint. The paint goes really nicely on the foamy back surface "padding" and you can roll it all up when you're done. Clamp one edge of the material between two 2 x 4s for batting and then fly those up some beefy light stands or mambo combos.
 
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