I have an upcoming production and I'm having some trouble with my green screen-ing. It is an aerobic workout video with one instructor and 9 other participants and we are shooting in a well-lit dance studio. Here is where I'm stuck...the client now wants a greenscreen backdrop, but how can i adequately light the screen without showing bulbs in the frame?

I'm somewhat familiar with the keying process and don't anticipate any other snags, as long as I get the lighting right during the shoot, but I welcome any and all advice. Thanks.

do they make chroma key green light stands?

Or you could paint the stands chroma-green.

Hi Donald,

Normally it's easy enough to keep the C Stand out of the picture, zooming in a bit if necessary. Anyway, if your stands are too close to the screen, I doubt you'll have uniform lighting on the screen. Otherwise, in editing use a mask to cutout the offending areas.

Good luck, Michael

Donald,

I'm sure you have thought of all of this, but here are my thoughts...

Have you done much greenscreen work?

Does the client want to pay up for this?

Because I see this as a disaster waiting to happen!

10 people in front of a non studio controlled greenscreen. Yikes!

I am assuming they will be full body shots?

You will need quite a large green area.

You might be able to light it from side to side and get a decent key, but the problem I see is that once you go greenscreen, you are roped in.

If you get to post and the video does not look "believable" you are setting yourself up for the client not being happy and not wanting to pay for a re-shoot because "you are supposed to be the pro".

I would only do this if the client pays extra, knows full well that it might not work, and it is a risk.

Basically make sure this is not one of those situations where they think "hey, greenscreen would be cool!".

In the past, I'd hire someone familiar with green screening to work on the shoot. They're great at setting it up, lighting it and doing the keying.

Also, I've been looking at green screens here:

http://imagewest.tv/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=10

Heath

This one's nice, too:

Green Screen Pro Video Studio (http://store02.prostores.com/servlet/tubetape/the-128/Green-Screen-Pro-Video/Detail)

Not sure about the software, though...

heath

Sorry for neglecting the thread but I've been terribly busy scrambling for this shoot. Here is where I stand... The client really wanted a green screen and was willing to pay for it as well as a lighting 'specialist' to help me set up before the shoot. I painted a wooden box chroma green and will be hiding work lights to help even out the lighting on the lower half of the green screen. What do you guys think?
Also, I've been experimenting with my settings to best capture the movement in this workout video. Higher shutter speeds seems to help, will this or any other tweaking I will do to compensate for the fast movements of the girls affect the keying, or vice versa?

I've gotta go with Tim on this one. Unless you have some heavy-duty GS experience, this is one shoot that might have you tearing out your hair. Any way you can rent the space for a test shoot? I know it will cost extra, but you'll know right away if you're over your head or within your comfort zone.

I have made arrangements for the studio to be empty for 2 days before the shoot

I have an upcoming production and I'm having some trouble with my green screen-ing. It is an aerobic workout video with one instructor and 9 other participants and we are shooting in a well-lit dance studio. Here is where I'm stuck...the client now wants a greenscreen backdrop, but how can i adequately light the screen without showing bulbs in the frame?

If you have the space and your screen is muslin (cotton), try lighting the screen from the back.


J.