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How does green screen work? -

Green screens work thanks to a process called chroma key compositing, or chroma keying. The process involves isolating a specific color, which can then become transparent.

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Magic happens -

The background is isolated using special effects in editing software, allowing the editor to remove the green color. This means the area can be replaced by any image.

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A popular color -

Even if similar techniques were used as far back as the late 19th century, the color green really became popular in the '70s.

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But not the only color -

Any color can be used as a background, as long as it's significantly different from everything else placed in front of it.

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Blue screens -

Blue screens were initially used in the '30s due to their contrast with human skin tones. But it decreased when blue clothing became popular.

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The change to green -

Green also kept this distinction from skin tones. Plus, it was far less popular in the wardrobe department.

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The importance of brightness -

To use a green screen, the set must be well lit. This eliminates any shadows that can be problematic if they cause darker shades in certain areas. If the difference of green is too much, then the editing software may have difficultly understanding what is your green background and what isn't.

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Keep in mind what you wear -

It's important to think carefully of what you wear, including glasses, makeup, and nail polish.  Anything green is going to turn transparent during the editing process, as it will be treated the same as the background. Solid, dark colors usually perform best.

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Green screen in Hollywood -

Now that you know some more about green screens, let's take a look at the films that were shot entirely using this technology.

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'The Great Gatsby' (2013) -

Set it in the Roaring Twenties, 'The Great Gatsby' seems like an unlikely candidate for a film with a lot of special effects. But green screen helped create stunning realism, featuring lavish interiors and skylines from a different period.

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'Gravity' (2013) -

Taking place almost entirely in space, 'Gravity' used cutting edge technology to bring those stunning visuals to life.

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'Avatar' (2009) -

James Cameron's 'Avatar' became a worldwide phenomenon. And thanks to green screen, it offers some of the best visuals of any movie. And the same can be said for its 2022 sequel.

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'Sin City' (2005) -

'Sin City' has a unique, dark aesthetic that was achieved by shooting entirely on green screen. Despite the limitations of 2005, the digital backgrounds and actors blended together seamlessly.

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'Alice in Wonderland' (2010) -

The 2010 live-action remake 'Alice in Wonderland' was filmed entirely on green screen. A huge box-office success, it grossed over US$1 billion worldwide.

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'Aquaman' (2018) -

The underwater kingdom of Atlantis was brought to life through both green and blue screens. Having the actors on wires and the use of fans allowed for the simulation of swimming.

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'300' (2007) -

Praised for its stylish action and overall aesthetic, this was achieved thanks to green screen. Indeed, it would have been impossible to achieve through any other technique.

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'Oz the Great and Powerful' (2003) -

The computer-generated scenery created a world of Oz like we've never seen before. Together with props and set dressing, the physical and digital blended in perfectly.

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'Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace' (1999) -

While the technology wasn't entirely there yet, 'Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace' still pioneered many of the green screen techniques that would go on to become standard practice in Hollywood.

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'The Spirit' (2008) -

By the mid 2000s, green screen technology had advanced tremendously. But while the special effects of 'The Spirit' were good, the plot and characters didn't impress much.

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'Justice League' (2017) -

Despite having a reported budget of over US$300 million, the green screen effects of 'Justice League' didn't come out great.

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'Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over' (2003) -

The majority of the film takes place inside the virtual world of a video game. Green screen was used to bring this world to life. But the end result was highly criticized.

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'Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones' (2002) -

Though the film used practical sets, the majority of it was filmed on green screen. This technology allowed for scenes that would otherwise be impossible using traditional techniques.

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'300: Rise of an Empire' (2014) -

The sequel of '300' didn't have as many memorable quotes and impressive action, but it did have great green screen effects.

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'The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl' (2005) -

This kid-friendly action-adventure film features over 1,000 visuals, which would have been impossible to create with any other technology.

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'Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith' (2005) -

The third and final installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy was also filmed entirely on green screen. And the results are the best of all three, as technology had advanced.

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'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For' (2014) -

Nine years after the original was released, 'Sin City' returned. And though the effects looked just as good, the sequel sadly flopped.

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'Speed Racer' (2008) -

From the visionary Wachowski sisters, who created the Matrix franchise, came the vivid world of 'Speed Racer,' made possible through green screen technology.

See also: 30 films you have to watch once in your life

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