Candidate Tips From Andy Millard: How To Use Green Screen Videos To Expand Your Reach

So many candidates told me that they found Andy Millard's advice to candidates column useful in July that I figured I'd share his latest as well. July was very general. This one is very specific-- the use of green screens in video-making.

The video above gives you seven tips for using the green screen technique effectively. Andy shared 4 more below:

• Illuminating the green screen behind you with video lights might help produce a cleaner key. The main goal is to have an even hue across the entire green screen so that the editing software doesn't have to guess which parts to key out.
• Have your subject stand well in front of the green screen-- ten feet is usually a good distance. Otherwise some of the green from the screen might reflect on the subject, which can make for a blurry key.
• You'll notice that all the "location" backgrounds in the video are slightly blurry. That's intentional; it makes the shot more believable. A good camera will focus on the subject, leaving the background at least somewhat out of focus-- so we recreate that effect by blurring the background a little.
• Don't let your subject wear green! The editing program will pick up on it and key it out, making the speaker look like they have holes in them. Not a good look for a modern professional.

​He adds that there are tons of little tricks and techniques to improve your chroma key project. You can spend a ton of time and still end up with a less-than-perfect video. But if you've got the time... well, he encourages candidates and their campaigns to give it a try.