Links to video room and set design?

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:21 am

I need to read and get help on setting up a video room with a couple of small sets and a green screen.
Colors, lighting, acoustics, etc.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks

Moderator Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 119

Here are a few links (just use green insteal of blue screen):
http://www.vce.com/bluescreen.html
http://www.ralphdickinson.com/bluescreen.html. (Hopefully Mr. Dickinson doesn't mind me copying the link here, but he has some good basic tutorials, including a link for lighting and sound...)

For green screens and supplies, here is one link:
http://www.chroma-key.com/chromakey_stands.html

Or you can use a green fabric from a fabric store, provided it is even, and a strong green color (not forest green, etc) - you can buy backdrops/green screens for not too much though. The key is even lighting on the screen, and separate lighting (as much as possible) on the subject. Also, you want to use neutral lighting on the screen and backlight the subject. Some use a light color gel (magenta, or even perhaps blue or pink) to backlight the subject - just for the subject backlight (the color gel helps separate the edges from the screen when chroma keying).

For sound, keep the stage as quiet as possible. For miking a subject, a wireless lav will give you the best interview approach, but a shotgun mic can give better sound, provided the stage is acoustically treated and very quiet, and the mic has a very strong directional pickup. Some less expensive shotguns are good up to 2-3 feet away, but don't work as well if you are shooting a full head to toe shot with the mic out of view.

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:29 pm

About the "sets". Can you be specific ?

Are these permenant, or temporary?
Do they need to be taken apart and stored, or moved out-of-the-way?

A good design will allow for the above, and should also take into concideration how the set will be lit. It's amazing how much can be achieved when lighting and set design work hand-in-hand.

...as far as Links...don't have any...possibly look at various Set Designer's and Production Designer's portfilios on the web.
If they need to be reused, check out Theater or Stage Design and Construction, they've got it down to an art.

=RR=

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:11 pm

I need two sets, one contemporary, couch and coffee table or etc. and one like a rural Georgia back porch setting. They need to be move able but these two will be in use most of the time.
I have a good relationship with Barbizon lighting in Atlanta and will have them come take a look and make some lighting suggestions.

I'm going to be doing some 30 min TV type programs to start.

If I paint all the walls chroma green will it give a weird reflection on sets across the room? I don't want people to look like they have food poisoning!

Can someone comment on "Serious Magic" Is their vector keying program
a good thing for a novice at chroma keying?

Like I said earlier I'm an audio guy with an itch to experiment with video so any direction from the pros is greatly appreciated.
Larry

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:13 pm

This link seems to be broken.

http://www.ralphdickinson.com/bluescreen.html.

Is it correct?

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:34 am

remove the period from the end, after html - works... Steve

Moderator Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 119

It seems we lost quite a few posts last week. The link problem been answered, as I'm sure many threads had.

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