Green Screen Techniques

Learn how to properly light and expose green screen shots.

Green Screen Techniques

Developed by Jason Tomaric, FilmSkills
ABOUT THIS LESSON
Green screen is a popular and powerful technique used to digitally replace the background with any video or image by shooting it against a blue or green screen. When done properly, the effect is nearly imperceptible.  However, getting a good clean key can be a challenge. Whether you’re shooting green screen for a million dollar feature film or for YouTube, this module walks you through every aspect of what colors to use, how to properly light a green screen, where to place your subject and even what video formats work best.
 
  • 25:18 video that walks you through the steps of properly shooting a green screen shot
  • Complete resource guide
  • Example of how green screen techniques were used to shoot a falling scene
  • Three Quicktime shots of increasing difficulty with which you can practice your compositing skills.  Each clip includes a background plate.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
  • What the green screen process is and how it can be used in a movie
  • How to choose the correct color for the background screen
  • The differences between using blue or green
  • What digital formats are the best and worst at acquiring green screen footage
  • How to properly light the green screen
  • How to properly light the actors
  • How to coordinate props and wardrobe when shooting green screen
  • How to frame a green screen shot
  • How to create multi-layered special effects
  • How to full subjects full body
ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
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Jason Tomaric

Jason Tomaric

Director, Cinematographer Los Angeles, California
Jason J. Tomaric is an Emmy, Telly, and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer of four internationally-distributed feature films, dozens of national television commercials, music videos, and the largest film training content library in the world, published author of 8 books - used in many top universities, and creator of AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform. 
 
Jason has worked in Los Angeles and around the world in over 20 countries. His clients include Disney, NBC/Universal, National Geographic, McDonald’s, Toyota, Scion, Microsoft, and Paul Mitchell, with narrative work screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and South by Southwest film festivals as well as on Netflix and on all broadcast networks.
 
Jason has taught and/or guest lectured at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA, Columbia College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, San Francisco State, University of Notre Dame, and numerous film festivals.
 
Jason has written eight industry-defining books, all sold in bookstores, and used in film schools around the world. The American Society of Cinematographers hails Jason's books - "There are no wasted words in Tomaric's tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director's craft.  It's difficult to think of a step in the process that Tomaric fails to address." 
 
Jason’s DVD training series on Hollywood film production have trained filmmakers in over 40 countries, with distributors in Europe, Hong Kong, New York and Australia.
 
In 2010, Jason launched FilmSkills, which combines the world’s largest film training video library with his proprietary learning management system.  Adopted by 47 universities within the first year, FilmSkills is now the leading industry-standard training solution for motion picture and television production.
 
In 2015, Jason launched AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform that bridges the gap between academia and industry.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS LESSON
Jason J. Tomaric

Jason J. Tomaric

Emmy-winning director/Cinematographer
Jason J.Tomaric is a multiple Emmy, Telly and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer. With four feature films, sixty commercials, music videos and an educational DVD series on the market, Jason's approach to filmmaking has made for a successful, fulfilling career. Jason has worked in over 20 countries as a director and has taught at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA and the New York Film Academy. Jason's book, "Filmmaking"(Focal Press) is available in bookstores worldwide.
 
Jason is also the creator of FilmSkills.
Ryan Carter

Ryan Carter

Visual Effects Artist, "Spiderman 2", "Dune", "Day After Tomorrow", and "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow"
Visual Effects Supervisor, Ryan has produced CGI and compositing services for numerous clients over the past 15 years, including: "Voltron," "Dune," "The Day After Tomorrow," "Spiderman 2," "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," and "James Cameron’s Aliens of the Deep".
Scott O'Connor

Scott O'Connor

Visual Effects Compositor and novelist, "Half World"
Scott O'Connor (Lead Designer, GO Studios) was born in Syracuse, New York. He has lived in Newport, Rhode Island and Chicago, Illinois, and worked as the lead graphic designer for Motown founder Berry Gordy’s private label in Los Angeles. He co-founded GO Studios in 2005. GO specializes in high-end motion graphics and video/image editing for film, TV and the Internet.