Cheap and Easy Greenscreen

StaticNoise · 10-06-2010 05:24PM #1

Evening Boards Users,

Right, I'm recording a video, and for some clips it would be handy to have a green screen in the background. However, the budget is very small for the project: Zero. So, I've been doing some research trying to find a way to record some Chroma Key footage.

I'm going to be making a portable greenscreen, composed of PVC pipes and cloth- however, getting the best kind of cloth and colour is the issue. With a low budget, and due to the fact that it's my first time trying such a project, how did you get around it? Did you paint cloth? Did you paint wood? What advice do you have to achieving a greenscreen? Any tips on lighting, on the cheap, with no professional gear at this time?

(Greenscreen Article: http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Portable-Green-Screen)

I await your reply with interest,
Many thanks.

(I am based in Dublin)

EKRIUQ · 10-06-2010 09:47PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK0Yqd5M9UQ

StaticNoise · 10-06-2010 10:47PM

Thanks for the reply, but that's one of the videos that I've seen.
I'm asking, on short notice and at a low budget, how did Irish users do it?

Plus, this is apparently advertising for the company.

NealB · 12-06-2010 12:44PM

Try this:
Buy a king-size bed sheet or something similar and dye/paint it a vibrant green. Stretch it out to remove creases and try to keep a bit of separation from your subject so you don't get any green reflecting onto your subject. Lighting is important, blast the screen up bit (1.5 -2 stops over), and keep it evenly lit. Obviously you don't want any green in your foreground (clothes etc) since that's the key colour. Do a test before the shoot to tweak your approach.

FYI the melting scene in Terminator 2 cost in the region of million to do in post. A low budget skit was done, can't remember the name of the film, and they used mercury and a flexible flooring that they could manipulate to make the mercury move. That was a home made solution and cost a fraction of the original but looked the same. On a zero budget you’re going to have compromises, but that’s the fun part of it.

deflemonkid · 14-06-2010 02:08AM

NealB wrote: »

Try this:
Buy a king-size bed sheet or something similar and dye/paint it a vibrant green.

I'll second that idea, i recently filmed a music video for a friend of mine on a zero budget and used a green bed sheet for the green screen. Worked a treat!!

StaticNoise · 17-06-2010 11:21AM

Guys, I really appreciate the feedback that you have given me.
I will try my best with these and I will hopefully post the results.

Thanks again,

SN.

Cheap and Easy Greenscreen

Comments