Blast to the Green Screen-y Past

Evolution of Effects

Within film, special effects were needed from the very beginning to give them the special "magical feel" that everyone is familiar with today. From the rudimentary beginnings using simple exposures to create some of the first effects to the green screen of today, innovations are always needed to make the movies even more realistic. But I needed to see the beginnings in order to fully appreciate the much more simple task of green-screening. So I decided to find some examples of the special effects that soon developed into the cinematic beauties many are used to. The main source used is from Filmmaker IQ.

The Magician's Medium

What is the Magician's Medium?

The Magician's medium is one of the first methods used for special effects, used and created by one of the first pioneers of film, Georges Méliès. Georges uses multiple exposure to create his effects, meaning he paints over some spaces in the lens of the camera and re-shoots the scenes later with the paint removed, giving more exposure to a subject rather than the background. The only issue was that films utilizing this can't go across the camera, as they would walk into areas blocked out from the paint. What came next was a solution, the "Black Screen" or also known as "The Williams Process".

The "Black Screen"

How did the Black Screen technique work?

This progress was simpler, tape actors acting in front of a pure black background, and with blanching out the film, actors were distinguished with pale, white figures while the background can be changed from anything, from previous filmed scenes to still images. The Black screen made it easy to distinguish the actors and let them move around, becoming one of the first "moving mattes" to be used in film. A famous example is 1933's "The Invisible Man" where the main actor wore all black to go with the black background and made himself "invisible" within the film.

The Dunning Process

Who created the Dunning Process?

A man named C. Dodge Dunning found issues with the Williams Process, as shadows were lost against the screen and it made the whole film seem two dimensional. So he created a method of using a blue screen to track the moving mattes of actors and used a yellow light to shine on actors, highlighting them more AND have them keep their shadows. However, this method was faulty as well, as it could only be used in black and white films well and when used in colored films due to the meddling of Lawrence Butler, there was always a noticeable blue line within the shots. The fine details of hair and smoke were also lost. So as to compensate, along came a new method, the yellow screen.

The Yellow Screen

Who owned the Yellow Screen Camera?

Yellow Screens involved actors being shot in normal light and acting in front of a blank screen illuminated by sodium vapor lights (used in streetlamps at the time used, in the '60s and '70s) it was tuned to a specific wavelength for a specific camera, nothing else would work. Disney owned the only camera in existence, which made rivals try to find a suitable counterpart to counteract Disney's superior technology. This was found with the Color Matte Difference.

Color Matte Difference

What was the purpose/technique of Color Matte Difference?

The Dunning Process was revisited and made rediscovered by Petro Vlahos (also creator of the yellow screen process) by using the old bluescreen once again. He used a "positive" (Green Cancellation process) and ran the film through a color negative and exposing both film strips together under a blue sheet to light to create a difference matte. (This is where filmmakers separate the fuzzing blue overhue from the background out.) The matte was made clearer with the blue and green lights the same amount. Then the matte was run through AGAIN using green and its opposite mask, red, to create the synthetic blue separation. This complicated process remained in popular use for about 40 years until the digital age came up.

Digital Process

Where is this used now?

This is the current form of special effect technology, and the one many are familiar with. The reason green came about was due to the fact that green was easier to light than blue, as well as cheaper. Green is brighter on computers than blue, and blue is also the color of the sky. Bright green was less common than blue overall. Other screens are still used for filming in digital today, depending on shots or movies, but green is the easiest due to the green being easier to read on camera and the mattes being easier to define due to the enhancements of digital cameras.

Thoughts

I have learned much about the history of effects, I didn't even know there were so many so early on in film! But since the industry is continually growing, effects will continue to do the same. I just can't wait to see how much more realism can be added to our movie going experience. Peace out peeps!

Imagine eMagine

The Classy Red Carpet Affair for Midwestern High Schoolers

eMagine excitement

eMagine is a film and art festival designed to celelbrate the Midwest's up and coming arts and film students. Displaying the best of the best, it is undoubtedly one of the best perks of being an e-Communication student. You get a nice evening out with your classmates, you see their hard work, as well as get inspired to improve your own, and you get experience of professionalism that one may see in the future. This contest is one of the better ways to ensure at least some are willing to go an extra mile to put in excruciating details into their work, in high hopes to win the top prize and get recognition for the hard work they had put into their projects. This event is one in which everyone within e-Communication gets excited for. eMagine just so happens to be the biggest contest for high schooler-run media in the area, with about 20 schools sending in the best of their best. Olathe Northwest has hosted eMagine ever since the school's opening, with each year getting larger with more fantastic entries than the years previous. This year being no exception. Last year, I vowed to enter in my own work for at least a shot of being in the finals. I myself entered in four of my own projects I was proud of into eMagine, but lost out to some who were better experienced than I was. Even still, I couldn't wait for this event, especially knowing many of my friends had made it to the finals!

The Night to Remember

I had gotten a nice dress for the occasion, knowing it was meant to be treated like a junior Oscars, with a classy feel as well as nice occasion. I went with my sister, who didn't get a chance to last year. As soon as I got there, I met up with my fellow friends within e-Comm and sat near the front within the middle section. So I got really good seats to watch, without any hindrance in my way. So we all watched everything from hilarious Christmas music videos to serious news packages, from my friend Katie Arpin placing 3rd in her entry to watching my friend Shona winning the animation category. I enjoyed myself and got inspired to do more, wishing I could one day be in the running for a Pixel (the award given out at eMagine). But this year, I was happy to be a spectator to the talent of my peers. Watching these videos reminded me of why I joined e-Communication almost two years ago. Of the talent that develops from our teachers' instructions, and I realized how much I've improved due to their tutelage. So now, I'm anxiously already brainstorming ideas for next year, finding ways to animate with better quality I've ever had been before.

Animation

I believe that the animation section was brilliantly made and well done over the night, with the third place "Floating Islands" animation inspiring me, as well as the flowing smooth animation of the Dragon. The winners deserve their awards and I believe that the videos and animations were placed in the correct place.

Graphic Design

The graphics were executed with such grace and beauty that I'm impressed to see that it was made by high schoolers. My favorite of the night was my friend Katie Arpin's with her design for Amelia Earhart, as I saw her working on it, and it was brilliant.  Her skills were exemplified easily and I hope to see her improve next year!

Video

The videos were well made, well produced, and kept me entertained and entranced the entirety of the night. But the one I loved the most was the "Christmas Vacation" video, as I laughed the entire time it was playing, it flowed smoothly, and the script was brilliant. I wish that we did a video like that as like a group e-Comm video for school, cause then everyone will have so much fun making it!

Web

I never realized the complexity of the websites until I saw the finalists. each one had its own unique flare that I found both inspiring and admirable. The "as Though Lost" website was so simple, and elegant in its own way. I looked at it later and couldn't believe students created it! Well done, my fellow e-Comm peeps!

Afterwords
Honestly, one of this year's highlights was eMagine, cause it gives me a broader perspective of my peers' achievements and work. It also gives me ideas on how to approach my own, not giving up and doing the best I can to start animating like I want to do professionally. This gives me the ambition I need to further enhance my skills, and maybe one day win eMagine like I've dreamed of. But I first have to learn even more skills than I already know. So, until next time friends!

Afterwords

Honestly, one of this year's highlights was eMagine, cause it gives me a broader perspective of my peers' achievements and work. It also gives me ideas on how to approach my own, not giving up and doing the best I can to start animating like I want to do professionally. This gives me the ambition I need to further enhance my skills, and maybe one day win eMagine like I've dreamed of. But I first have to learn even more skills than I already know. So, until next time friends!