A Simple History of Green Screen Hollywood
Green screen Hollywood technologies, also known as chroma key is actually a technique utilized by filmmakers to blend two separate images with each other. This succeeds by causing the background (a solid color that is usually green or blue) transparent in order to reveal another image that is the specific backdrop which will be shown on film. This method of filming is also called color keying, blue screen, and color separation overlay (CSO). It was mostly used for weather reports. Forecasters got shot in front of chroma key screens and the background was replaced by actual maps which indicate weather forecasts. The chroma key technique is also employed by filmmakers and photographers as well.
The green screen first made its appearance in the 1930’s at RKO Radio Pictures. The particular backdrop used in those days had been blue. This process of motion picture making was developed so as to generate special effects for the film “The Thief of Bagdad.” Apart from the chroma key approach, filmmakers depended on a very tedious and time consuming process called “travelling matte.” This made transition just like “wipes” possible.
Larry Butler is regarded as responsible for starting the blue screen approach. Actually, he even took home an Oscar for visual effects with regard to his work in “The Thief of Bagdad.” After his accomplishment in the 30’s, Butler was the first person to utilize chroma key technology in Technicolor, providing the way for modern green screen Hollywood technology.
The very first films to benefit from Chroma Key technology was the movie version of Ernest Hemingway famous novella, “The Old Man and the Sea,” starring Spencer Tracy. After the “Old Man and the Sea,” more and more movies made use of the chroma key approach. A number of popular film which take advantage of chroma key technologies are The Empire Strikes Back, Lord of the Rings, Titanic, Star Trek, as well as 300. Movies that take advantage of CGI or computer generated pictures are also made with the help of green screen technology. This is how obtaining out of this world settings and awesome creatures can easily be presented on film.
Nowadays, green screen Hollywood technology isn’t just confined to big budget studios. It’s also utilized in photography. Through the original blue screen, green was adopted afterwards simply because filmmakers discovered a green background does not need wearisome lights. Cameras are most sensitive to this color, so the end result of films taken on green screens are usually easier to utilize and manipulate. With that in mind, chroma key technology is now identified to photography enthusiasts and filmmakers’ greatest friend.



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