ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

3 years, 6 months ago - Marlom Tander

Since no one replied, my take is that you should experiment with both before you write something you later realise is unaffordable on your budget. But do so now, so that you get a feel for them, and what workflows you like/hate. And how long stuff takes, because time is money :-)

My opinion - if it can be done with projection (front or rear), that's easier if only because you have a "live" take in front of the projection and can see that it's working, or not. Green screen I think you're blind until you bring the elements together in post, and if they don't work as hoped, you're into a reshoot or stuck with a result not as you'd wish.

3 years, 6 months ago - Davin Jeayes

HI Matthew,

I've done both methods; a) back projection onto a screen beyond the car and b) replacing the background in post (non green screen actually). The second method allowed us to shoot in a blacked-out garage and the backgrounds to replace were ones through the rear windows when shot at an angle to allow a good view of that area without the actor covering any part of it. If the actor would be partially obscuring the bg to replace then a green screen would be better. However, in both scenarios, the scenes were 'night' scenes so we really wanted to limit the light on set and using GS does require lights on the screen itself.
I'd recommend using a projector and screen as the easiest approach - no keying and green screen in post and allowed us to shoot in a large warehouse so we had a bit more flexibility for shots. The garage shoot only really worked from the front of the car due to the limited space in the garage for side shots. Happy to discuss. Davin

3 years, 6 months ago - Philip Carr

Back projection and green screen always look fake to me. Better use small cameras such as GoPro inside and outside the car.

3 years, 6 months ago - Vasco de Sousa

I would go with rear projection if you are shooting digital with a tight schedule, as you can see what you will end up with.
Most people I know who shoot green screen mess up the first time and get spill all over the place (so parts of the people and vehicle would disappear.)

Rear projection does look fake, but it worked for Hitchcock and others. If the story and pacing is good enough, audiences will forgive it.

I would go with green-screen if you want to eventually go into effects work or become an editor, because it will teach you more. But, yeah, personally I hate post production, it is too long already on low budget films.

3 years, 6 months ago - Yen Rickeard

Maybe I was lucky with my green screen shots, but they worked simply and easily for my purposes. I even used a grass lawn as a green screen once and had no problem (using Avid to edit) The problem with a supposedly moving car is getting the shots for either green screen or projection. I would suggest the filming is done at the same angle as the shots taken in the garage, but from the exterior of the vehicle, along the same line of sight. Unless they are supposed to be at night there will be serious issues of continuity, but if you can overcome these then you only have problem of either projecting realistically, or editing out the green screen. Maybe simpler to hire a low flat-bed truck, drive the vehicle on, and take off the wheel to lower it.
Is the journey an integral necessity? Could they not just stop somewhere where you can shoot? A simple establishing shot of the vehicle travelling past a camera would establish the journey. Whatever you choose, I wish you luck, you have chosen a quite tricky debut production

3 years, 6 months ago - Matthew Mosley

Thank you for all the feedback. To answer a couple of questions: The film takes place during the day and 55% of it involves the car driving which can't be changed as it's a getaway movie set in real-time (I may have bitten off more than I can chew formy single location, self-financed directorial debut)

3 years, 6 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

https://i.imgur.com/QVGk7Ci.png this shot was green-screened - whole sequence was in fact. There were complications to overcome with reflections and spill, but it looks pretty convincing I think? But this was on a green stage with proper lighting, not just throwing up a curtain.