Green Screen Hollywood History
Green screen Hollywood technology, a. K. A chroma key is a technique used by filmmakers to mix 2 separate images together. This works by making the background ( a solid color which is mostly green or blue ) clear to show another image which is the particular background that’ll be shown on film. This strategy of filming is also known as color keying, blue screen, and color separation overlay ( CSO ). It was essentially used for weather reports. Forecasters were shot in front of chroma key screens and the background was replaced by tangible maps that indicate weather predictions. The chroma key strategy is also employed by filmmakers and photographers alike.
The green screen first made its appearance in the 1930′s at RKO Radio pictures. The backdrop used back then was blue. This technique of film making was developed to create computer effects for the film “The burglar of Bagdad.” except for the chroma key strategy, filmmakers depended on a very tedious and time intensive process called “travelling matte.” This made transition such as “wipes” attainable.
Larry servant is thought to be responsible for pioneering the blue screen method. In fact, he even took home an Academy Award for visual effects for his work in “The burglar of Bagdad.” After his accomplishment in the 30′s, servant was the first one to use chroma key technology in Technicolor, preparing the ground for modern green screen Hollywood technology.
The first films to profit from Chroma Key technology was the movie adaptation of Ernest Hemingway famous novel, “The Old Man and the Sea,” starring Spencer Tracy. After the “Old Man and the Sea,” more films employed the chroma key method. Some famous film that make use of chroma key technology are The Empire Strikes Back, Lord of the Rings, Titanic, Star Trek, and even three hundred. Films that employ CGI or PC generated pictures are also made with the assistance of green screen technology. This is how having out of this world settings and wonderful creatures are able to be shown on film.
Today, green screen Hollywood technology is not just limited to giant budget studios. It is also used in photography. From the initial blue screen, green was used later on because filmmakers found out that a green background doesn’t need boring lighting. Cameras are most attuned to this color, so the result of films shot on green screens are less difficult to work with and manipulate. With that said, chroma key technology is now known to photographers and filmmakers’ best buddy.
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