Green screen Hollywood technology, a. K. A chroma key is a technique used by filmmakers to mix 2 separate pictures together. This works by making the background ( a solid color which is usually green or blue ) clear in order to show another image which is the particular background that’ll be shown on film. This strategy of filming is a. K. A color keying, blue screen, and color separation overlay ( CSO ). It was primarily used for weather reports. Forecasters were shot in front of chroma key screens and the background was replaced by actual maps that indicate weather predictions. The chroma key strategy is also used by filmmakers and photographers alike.
The green screen first made its appearance in the 1930′s at RKO Radio pictures. The background used back then was blue. This technique of film making was developed to create special effects for the film “The thief of Bagdad.” apart from the chroma key technique, filmmakers depended on an awfully boring and laborious process called “travelling matte.” This made transition such as “wipes” possible.
Larry servant is thought to be in charge of pioneering the blue screen system. In fact, he even took home an Academy Award for visible effects for his work in “The burglar of Bagdad.” After his success in the 30′s, butler was the first individual to use chroma key technology in Technicolor, paving the way for modern green screen Hollywood technology.
The first films to take advantage of Chroma Key technology was the flick adaptation of Ernest Hemingway famous short story, “The Old Man and the Sea,” starring Spencer Tracy. After the “Old Man and the Sea,” more films used the chroma key methodology. Some famous film that employ chroma key technology are The Empire Strikes Back, Lord of the Rings, Titanic, Star Trek, and even three hundred. Films that make use of CGI or computer generated pictures are also made with aid from green screen technology. This is how having out of this world settings and amazing creatures are able to be shown on film.
Today, green screen Hollywood technology isn’t just restricted to large budget residences. It is also used in photography. From the original blue screen, green was employed later on because filmmakers found out that a green background doesn’t need boring lighting. Cameras are most sensitive to this color, so the result of films shot on green screens are easier to work with and manipulate. With that said, chroma key technology is now known to photographers and filmmakers’ best friend.