GREEN SCREENHow did it change the production of films?

What is Green Screen Technology?

o Green Screen, or Chroma key technology, first became know and favoured in the 1970s.

o Chroma key technology was recognized to be one of the most inventive as well as imaginative techniques of creating effects when it came to filmmaking and photo modifying.

o The use of a green screen is a special effects/post-production technique for layering two images or video footage together

o A solid color screen is made clear and is replaced with an actual background

The History of Green Screens

o In early filmmaking, a complex and time-consuming process known as ‘travelling matte’ was used prior to the introduction of digital composition

o Travelling Matte - a process that was used to superimpose backdrops with actors performing against a blank wall

o In the 1930s, the blue screen method was developed at RKO Radio Pictures to make more effective films

The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

The Thief of Bagdad (1940), was the first film to use the blue screen method and won the Academy Award for Visual Effects that year.

Green Screen Revolution

o As filmmaking progressed it was discovered that green was a more effective colour for the screens.

o In 1970, the colour blue in Chroma key was finally transformed to the colour green.

o In the same year, the green screen process became famous when it was applied to video editing as well as photography.

Why did blue screens change to green?

o Green became the colour of the screens when technological advancements became accessible

o Green was chosen because modernised cameras were more sensitive to this colour.

o Digital cameras are widely used in todays industry whilst the normal cameras film makers used to use that favoured the color blue, are rarely used.

Green Screens in Filmso Green screens are effective in

establishing the genre of a film. o For example, modern sci-fi films cannot

be filmed in space, so the use of a green screen means that the action can be filmed in the studio and the space background can be edited in later.

o Also, backgrounds that are not easily accessible to film scenes in front of can also be superimposed after filming.

Impact of Green Screeno The use of green screen meant that film

production costs saw a decline.o Actors can film in the studio in front of the

green screen then backgrounds can be superimposed into the shot.

o This means that the production company do not have to spend as much on locating and shooting the scene in front of the backdrop that matches the writers description.

o Instead, the effect can be added during editing.