Tech Corner
By Christopher Zara
March 21, 2006
Working With Chroma Key
It may not be fair, but low-budget filmmakers rarely have access to the same
visual effects toys as the big players out in Hollywood. If you're making a
low-budget superhero movie, for example, it probably won't be cost-feasible to
hoist your lead actor above the streets of Manhattan with a crane. Fortunately,
all the top editing software programs come equipped with chroma key features,
which let you edit in your own backgrounds at will. This is usually done by
shooting against a green- or blue-screen backdrop, which is then replaced by the
desired backgrounds in post-production.
A professional green/blue-screen, while pricey, isn't out of the question for
low-budget filmmakers. A typical 10' x 16' backdrop usually starts around $200
(screens come in various types of fabric that can affect costs). A top dealer
for professional backdrops is the visual effects company EEFX (www.eefx.com),
whose screens are made from a patented foam-backed fabric that reduces glare.
EEFX also sells chroma key paint, specially formulated to match its screens. The
paint comes in handy if you need to use stands, shelves, or other props that you
need to render invisible.
The problem with professional screens is that they get a tad more expensive once
you factor in the cost of the various stands and hangers you need to support
your backdrop. Filmmakers looking for a low-cost alternative to professional
screens might want to turn to Mac guru Jeff Geerling, whose popular support
website shows you how to make a portable backdrop and frame for under $50.
Greeling's site includes a complete list of all the supplies you'll need (most
of which are available at your local Home Depot) and a step-by-step guide for
assembling the screen. A do-it-yourself green/blue-screen is a great way to trim
a few bucks off your limited budget, leaving you with more resources to pay for
your superhero's utility belt. Visit
www.jeffscomputersupport.com
for more info.
March 15, 2006
The Freesound Project
Finding high-quality sound effects for your film can be a tiring, even maddening
component of post-production. Short of going out and recording the sounds
yourself (which can be time consuming and quite costly), you may find yourself
trolling pop-up-heavy websites looking for low-cost alternatives―a tactic that
usually results in equally low-fi sounds. Enter the Freesound Project, a growing
online library of audio snippets, samples, and sound recordings available free
for download.
Freesound receives most of its sounds from regular users who frequently
contribute to its database. This by-artists-for-artists model gives the site an
accessability not found in other sound effects sites. Because Freesound's
contributors also use the site, they're very adept at knowing how to assign
relevant keywords to their sounds. Subsequently, Freesound is endowed with
excellent searching capabilities, including a "sounds like" keyword feature that gives users a host of similar search results in addition to their specific
inquiry. Another effective aspect of Freesound's navigating abilities is the
recently-added Geotagging, a feature that allows sounds to be tagged with the
location where they were recorded. Freesound's Geotagging incorporates the
always-comprehensive Google Maps layout, which makes it easy to zoom around the
world looking for site-specific sounds. This is a useful feature if your film
includes, say, a gnarly surfing scene requiring authentic sounds from the
California coast.
All the audio content on Freesound is made available under the Creative Commons
Sampling Plus Deed, a licensing agreement outlining the legalities of using the
sounds for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. The Creative Commons
license essentially gives filmmakers free use of the sounds so long as they
attribute the work in the manner specified by its author or licensor. For an
earful of what the Freesound Project has to offer, visit
www.freesound.iua.upf.edu.
March 8, 2006
Bella Professional Series Keyboard for Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro nonlinear video-editing software is the undisputed champ among
independent filmmakers working on a modest budget. Yet, as anyone who has
attempted to learn it can attest, mastering the arcane Mac-based software can be
a daunting prospect. An editing keyboard specifically tailored to Final Cut's
robust workflow flexibility (a major selling point for fans of the software) can
be a terrific way to soften the blow for new editors.
The Bella Corporation makes the most plush (and the most pricey at $189) Final
Cut Pro keyboard on the market, available as part of its popular Professional
Series. The Bella keyboard is definitely a cut above similar Final Cut
keyboards, complete with clearly marked specialty keys and multimedia keys,
along with a fully programmable jog/shuttle controller. The jog/shuttle is
undoubtedly the unit's finest feature, allowing you to play and hold clips at
the speed you want, while utilizing precise frame-by-frame control―a handy
device to have at your fingertips. The Bella keyboard also comes with its own
software containing presets for Final Cut's most popular editing and composting
applications (additional presets are available free for download on the
company's website). A good suggestion for Final Cut 3 and 4 users is to leave
your software's default settings as they are to maximize its compatibility with
the keyboard. Bella's Professional Series marks the next generation in editing
keyboards, a smooth succession from the company's original Post-Op EZ Keyboards.
Made specifically for seasoned pros working in the industry, they are grasped
almost as easily by beginning filmmakers who simply want professional quality.
And just in case you were wondering, the unit can also be used as a traditional
keyboard, so none of your illegal pirating activities will be interrupted.