What is Green Screen or for that matter Blue Screen?
Part OneThe first part of green screen video is the background layer. This is the footage that is behind what you do on the green screen.
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Part TwoThis is the footage that is shot against the green screen. This footage is imposed on top of the base footage, albeit with the green removed.
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Part ThreeSoftware is used to combine the two layers of video and remove the green screen part from the video to help us make things appear, that might not be.
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So let's get this started...
So the first thing is to go out and shoot some background video, right? Not so fast! Before doing any kind of video or even any kind of digital storytelling project, there needs to be a plan. So let's look at a few steps.
Defining the Scope of the Project: Before turning the students loose, the teacher/leader needs to define the project for the students. This can include providing: the scope of the project, the goals of the project, and the parameters of the project
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Step 1 - Brainstorming: Brainstorming combines a relaxed, informal approach to problem solving with lateral thinking. It encourages people to come up with thoughts and ideas that can, at first, seem a bit crazy. Some of these ideas can be crafted into original, creative solutions to a problem, while others can spark even more ideas. This helps to get people unstuck by "jolting" them out of their normal ways of thinking. -Alex Osborne, Applied Imagination, 1953
Brainstorming helps you arrive at the general idea about what you want to create your film. |
Step 2 - Script Writing: The script is the heart and soul of your film, no matter how short or how long. It defines the story you are telling. Even if there is no talking in your movie, the script describes the places and events that have yet to be recorded or acted out.
Try reading or telling your story out loud. Listen to the writing style. Revise the sentence structure and vocabulary choices until the story has a style that suits your audience and purpose. |
Step 3 - Storyboarding: Storyboards provide the "BIG" visual blueprint of all the detailed choices you make for each scene or image frame for your story. Modify the storyboard as often as needed while keeping track of both the details and "big" picture of your film.
Storyboard Template - Digitals.us Storyboard Template - Comic Life |
Step 4 - Organization: Each film is a project, each project should have a folder to keep all resources and assets organized together. If you store files randomly or separately, you will spend precious time looking for them in their different locations. One way to do this is to create a master folder for the project, then create separate folders within that folder for the pieces of your film, pictures, video, audio, text, etc. |
Step 5 - Gather your assets: This means to get all props, costumes, pictures, audio, etc. gathered in preparation to shooting your film. Make sure you include in this your green screen.
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Step 6 - Filming: Finally, your preparation is finished and you can start filming your masterpiece. Go to your location(s), make sure you have all of your necessary equipment and get the film in the can, or phone, or whatever you are using. For green screen your location shooting will primarily be your background footage. Always shoot more that you are going to need, you can always take footage out, your may not be able to get out to shoot more.
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Step 7 - Shoot your Green Screen Footage: You should now be ready to shoot your green screen footage. Green Screen can be very simple or it can be very complicated. With green screen you need to pay very close attention to some of the variables as you are shooting. The first of the variables is to make sure that your green screen material is a smooth and wrinkle free as possible. If there are wrinkles in your screen, there will be wrinkles in your footage. The second variable to pay close attention to is lighting. You want to make sure that you are not casting shadows on your screen. Sometimes this means that you need to put some light between the subject and the green screen. Udemy Green Screen TutorialGreen Screen Basic Reviewed |
Step 8 - Put your video together (editing): Putting together your video in iMovie is really pretty simple. Once iMovie is open, create a new movie by going to File––> New Movie. For the green screen project when asked to pick a theme, choose no theme. Name your movie, note where it is being saved (by default in the Movies folder). Now you are ready to import your media files. Click on Import Media, then navigate to where your media is saved. Import each piece of media that you need for your film. Once the media is in the library you are ready to piece together your footage. The following videos will guide you through the process. iMovie YouTube Tutorial Kelly's Green Screen Tutorial |
Step 9 - Share and enjoy your final product