Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 17:51:38 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Green screen - lighting & video editing on the chea


Let me qualify it by saying I am totally green at using the the green
screen, lighting it and applying the software, BUT  I am totally
having a good time with it and encourage you all to mess around with
the technology now that the technology is available and affordable.  I
also think that New York and LA don't have a monopoly on video medium
and that this available technology levels the playing field.

I have always thought that the collective talent in our field should
get together and give those two monopolies a run for their money.  I
highly respect the work coming out of them and alot of them are our
comrads, but I also am getting a little tired of the majority of
children's television puppetry looking like clones of the Muppets
(though I adore what they have done) There are many other ways of
approaching puppetry on TV.  I was very pleased to see the different
approaches on the puppetry vignettes on Between the Lions like shadow
and cardboard rod puppets etc.  Look at what Julie Taymor has done for
instance.  She alone has redefined puppetry for the main stream.  My
only problem there is that I think the public think she invented
bunraku and other aspects of world puppetry that she incorporates.
She is an amazing genius and I encourage all of us to try other
approaches that aren't derivative of Jim Henson's genius.  OK , I have
probably stepped on toes here, but what do you all think?

On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 2:05 PM, William Hennes
<williamhennes-AT-charter.net> wrote:
> Hobey AWESOME!!!!  Thanks for posting!
>
> William
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Hobey Ford" <hobeyone-AT-gmail.com>
> To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 6:16 AM
> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Green screen - lighting & video editing on the chea
>
>
>> Here are some useful links on the subject
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluescreen
>> http://www.mediacollege.com/video/special-effects/green-screen/
>> http://www.tubetape.com/
>> http://www.deskshare.com/Resources/articles/vem_greenscreentechnique.aspx
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS-f4dobNnI
>> http://www.stormforcepictures.com/howto-buildabluescreen.php
>> http://www.digitalproducer.com/2003/06_jun/tutorials/06_02/guntergreen.htm
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eya3gBuA01U
>> http://www.bluesky-web.com/broadcastvideoexamples-greenscreen.html
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 8:37 AM, Brad Shur <mr_utamaro-AT-hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Great post Hobey!
>>> I was inspired to make a new mail folder for "Puppetry tutorials" just to
>>> save this.
>>>
>>> B. Shur
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 08:13:18 -0500
>>>> From: hobeyone-AT-gmail.com
>>>> To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
>>>> Subject: [Puptcrit] Green screen - lighting & video editing on the cheap
>>>>
>>>> Ever want to get into video keying or green screening ? (like the
>>>> weatherman standing in front of the map which isn't really there)  I
>>>> have built a green screen in my shop and installed some permanent
>>>> lighting.  I cleared on wall of my rehearsal space above the shop and
>>>> covered the two windows with cheap  linoleum floor covering.  Then to
>>>> eliminate the edge between the floor and wall I created a curved
>>>> "sweep" by using linoleum again.  Instead of costly green screen paint
>>>> I bought the most luminous lime green flat paint I could find.  For
>>>> lighting I am using four flourescent double fixtures but I replaced
>>>> the ballasts inside the fixtures with electronic ballasts which cost
>>>> around $20 each.  This eliminates the 60 cycle flicker which messes up
>>>> the video.  It is also important to back light the area with
>>>> adjustable spotlights with amber gels on them to create a lit edge on
>>>> your puppets in a contrasting color from the green.  For each video
>>>> shoot I set up soft filtered overhead lighting on the puppets which
>>>> are played several feet from the green screen.  The width of the
>>>> screen is 25 feet and height is 8'  The floor is also painted green
>>>> coming out 4 feet from the wall.  For  a small green screen you can by
>>>> cheap vinyl party table clothes and tape them on the wall.
>>>>
>>>> For video editing I am using final cut pro on my mac which has "color
>>>> keying" effects to process the video. If you have a Mac, Final cut
>>>> comes in a simple "express " version for around $200.  For PC use
>>>> adobe premiere which comes in a cheap ($139) version called)  Premiere
>>>> elements.  These softwares require a considerable  learning curve but
>>>> have professional quality results if you use a professional camera and
>>>> know what you are doing.  You can get great result however with your
>>>> home digital video camera, especially for promo tapes or how to videos
>>>> not for the big screen but for viewing on laptops or TV.
>>>>
>>>> Your digital home video camera is fine for youtube resolution but I
>>>> hire a camera man friend with his expensive camera to do professional
>>>> quality shoots and then edit them myself.  This saves a lot of money
>>>> and pays for itself quickly.
>>>>
>>>> For a green screen gloves and suit I bought double stretch lime green
>>>> velour and sewed jammies, booties and gloves.  To sew gloves (also
>>>> works for black velour) trace your hand on a poster board and then
>>>> widen and modify the lines so that  no finger or thumb is narrower
>>>> than 1 3/16" wide and ad a 1/2" around the wrist and arm on each side.
>>>> cut out this template.  lay two layers of double stretch (streches in
>>>> both directions) velour on a table with the velour sides face to face.
>>>>  trace the template on the fabric with chalk and sew the along the
>>>> lines with a zig zag stitch. A surger is better if you have one but I
>>>> dont.  now cut away the excess fabric not to close to the stitch and
>>>> turn inside out.  For a hood visor they make lime green netting. use
>>>> several layers an sew the into the face window on a velour hood.  I
>>>> also keep lime green tent fabric and extra velour on hand to mask
>>>> things.  They make lime green duct tape for rods but beware its murder
>>>> to remove.  Also keep flourescent green poster board on hand as well.
>>>> It can serve as a green screen too or as masking.
>>>>
>>>> Video keying takes some experimentation and ivestment of time but you
>>>> can start making your own keyed videos likke the big boys and girls.
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>>>
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