How do I shoot video with a black background?

[OM2]

I want to shoot video with a black background

I started off wanting a pure white background - shooting on a green screen and then chroma keying
This seems to be harder than I thought!

I've seen one place where they have lots of interview video with a black background
I thought this would be easier than chroma keying

What do I need?

I have 2 500w day lights. Do I need more lighting?
Do I *have* to use a reflector?

Black background - what do I need?
Cloth background? Cardboard?

How far from the background should I be when shooting video?
I imagine far away as possible so that any blemishes are not caught
But, can you suggest a distance?

Any help would be great

Thanks


OM

[netmask56]

Black velvet drapes provide a good non reflective black background, most other materials can have a sheen or colour variation. Make sure to back light the subject as well as any other normal lighting that is needed. You may have to fidle with the black levels in editing depending on what you are using.

[edDV]

And keep some distance between the backlight and background material. Also barn door the fill and key lights to avoid light spill onto the background.

[OM2]

black velvet drapes? does the creases in them not show up??
if i try to get any black backdrop material that is non reflective, will that be enough?

i also have 6 40w daylight lamps, this is in addition to the 2 500w daylight lights i have

the video i want to shoot, from hip upwards

see the following image for what i was thinking of doing:



(ok... i drew this myself!! if u want to hire me for my drawing skills, let me know )

i was thinking of having the 40w lights on the floor just behind the subject
(if i'm not shooting below the hip, i assumed this would be ok?)

and having the 500w daylights at angles

do i need to have a reflector somewhere?
i've seen this in a few other places used

the above arrangement is simply what i 'think' is correct!!

please tell me what i should be doing right!
thanks

[OM2]

... barn door the fill and key lights to avoid light spill onto the background.

barn door?
key lights?
light spill?
erm: can u explain more or give me a few pointers where to read up?
(not being lazy, i just assumed if i googled for those terms i'd get all sorts of results!)

[julitomg]

OM2...Those 40 watt lights...are they directed towards your subject, aren´t they?...as backlight?....they would be more efective if you place them ABOVE your subject, not on the floor, so the light falls on his/her shoulders and head. The idea is that the back light will "separate" your subject from the background and make it easier to key the scene.

[Video Head]

... barn door the fill and key lights to avoid light spill onto the background.

barn door?
key lights?
light spill?
erm: can u explain more or give me a few pointers where to read up?
(not being lazy, i just assumed if i googled for those terms i'd get all sorts of results!)

Barn doors keep the cows from escaping to the neighbour's field

They are also the flap type devices that you see on the edges of studio lights. There are usually 4 of them on each light housing and you can adust them to control the amount of light being directed to specific spots within the beam diameter. Very usefull for eliminating shadows and fine tuning your lighting effects.

You usually want to use a minimum of 3 lights in any studio set-up. Key lights are direct, fill lights are indirect. Lighting is an art unto itself and it can take years of practice to get OK at. Some people just have a natural eye for what will work and look good. There are soft lights, spot lights, light boxes, filters, an array of lamps of different kelvin levels and many other tools available. You might consider taking a stage craft course to get a leg up.

With the background you are using you will have to be very aware of any shadows being cast and where they are appearing. If you have ever watched a weather person infront of a keyed weather map and you can see their shadow move on the map then you will already know how distracting it is. The other problem I can see with a totaly black background is that someone who is wearing black or has black hair could appear to be a floating face...could be a good haloween effect but otherwise not so desireable. The nice part about shooting infront of chroma blue/green is that you can always change the background later to fix any "oversights" that happened during the frenzy of the shoot. At any rate, you still need to work with your talent's wardrobe to ensure that you do not encounter the dreaded chroma key bleed - anyone ever seen the weather map start showing up on the broadcasters tie or jacket? You may also need to take into account the nasty little habit of NTSC to create dancing lines if your talent is wearing a checked sport coat or a dress with thin horizontal designs. Everyone starts focusing on these technical errors and do not hear what the talent is saying.

Good luck.

[edDV]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=Basic+TV+lighting&rlz=1R2ADRA_enUS343&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

[dLee]

What you're trying to achieve is called "limbo" - meaning nowhere - no set, no surroundings.

If you're shooting on a stage or large enough room, light your subjects from above (as suggested). Beg, borrow or steal a third .5K light to use as a hair light.

Place your fill light a foot or two further back than your key to create a slight shadow on the face which gives them shape.

When you iris down to correct the exposure for the skin tones, the surroundings will disappear if the background or walls are far enough away.

If you want catchlights in the eyes, put a small light directly above the lens.

In my experience, velvet is a decent background, but a non-shiny black muslin is even less reflective than velvet.

If you must shoot with a background, you can shoot with a longer lens from further away and blur the background details into nothingness.

[MysticE]

An understanding of depth of field will also help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field

[zoobie]

You just need to learn to light your green screen correctly then key it any way you wish. The best way is to experiment in your studio and get your feet wet with your own setup before buying a bunch more. I read up for 3 months before spending a dime.

[I find the worst examples out there include a $7 greenscreen with $7000 worth of lighting]