LED Screens
LED Screens can be a game-changer in the way you film your next project. You’ll be able to create the illusion that your video was shot on location without having the expense of travel or building a set. Let us show you how LED screens can save you time and money while creating incredible works of art.
Why Use LED Screens
Are you looking for ways to cut production costs? Then, you might want to consider putting LED Screen technology to work for you in your next shoot. Film your commercial, music video, or movie using this cutting-edge technology that will create the illusion that your actors were in an actual location…without traveling to it or building a set.
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How do LED Walls Work?
An LED wall projects the backgrounds and lighting on screens around the shot area. You can even set up the LED walls to surround the shooting area 360 degrees and overhead.
The actors can move in the shooting area and see the backgrounds as if they are really there. In addition, unlike when shooting with a green screen, the actors no longer have to guess where features of their surroundings are.
The crew can capture all the visual effects at once, background and action, live as the shot is performed. Then, everyone can see the results, and any adjustments can be made right away, on set.
How do LED Screens Compare to Virtual Sets?
The LED wall projects the background of the scene, surrounding the actors with the environment of wherever the action is supposedly taking place. This lets the actors see objects in the background and have a reference point for gestures or motion, as they no longer have to guess where things are.
Virtual sets are backgrounds that are added to the shot later. When using virtual sets, the actors are filmed in front of green screens and have to imagine the environment that they are interacting with. This forces them to guess where the background or other features are. Special effects are added later during post-production.
What are the Advantages of Using LED Screens in Filming?
A significant advantage of LED Screens is that the actors can see the projected backgrounds and use them as reference points. The director of photography also can focus shots on features of the environment easily, without having to guess where the focal points will end up in the final product.
Perhaps an even more significant advantage has to do with lighting. The light from the LED screens can be adjusted to reflect the time of day the shot is supposed to take place, such as noon or sunset. In addition, much of the lighting can come from the virtual sky projected on the overhead screens, which creates realistic shadows.
So whatever conditions you want in your shot: overcast skies, sunrise, high noon on a sunny day, you can use the same set and just change the lighting. No longer will you need to wait for the weather to cooperate.
Realistic shadows and reflections can be created using the screens. For example, if you want a reflection of trees in the foreground on an actor’s sunglasses or the window of a car, this can be done quickly with LED screens. The trees you want in the reflection will be displayed on the LED wall, illuminated from behind. This will produce a natural-looking reflection that you can capture as you shoot the action. You won’t need to add the reflection later. In addition, realistic shadows and reflections heighten the illusion that the shot was filmed in an actual location.
In addition, LED screens avoid the problem of a spill. When shooting with a green screen, the green light is often reflected on the actors or their props, which needs to be removed later. LED screens project light onto the actors, but it is light that matches the color and intensity of the environment of the shot, making post-production removal of spill unnecessary.
The third significant advantage is that many of the effects can be filmed along with the action, saving time and money in post-production.
What Other Advantages Are There in Using Led Screens?
The LED walls are built in advance then adjusted as needed. During filming, lighting can be adjusted. Any CGI or animation can be added as required. As can any effects that are time-consuming or risky to perform on a live set. One stage can film multiple environments, landscapes, or film sets.
But Why Not Just Use Background Footage?
Using background footage is a lot cheaper but has limitations. The biggest one is that the camera angles can’t be adjusted. So you’re stuck with however the original footage was filmed.
With LED screens, the backgrounds can be made to shift with the camera’s motion. This mimics an actor turning their head and getting a different view.
In addition, other effects can be added to add to the realism. For example, objects in the background can move at a different rate than objects in the foreground. This is just one more way the filming looks more realistic, making it virtually impossible for the viewer to tell the filming was done with a digital background. Adding effects in this way is not possible using background footage.
How can LED Screens Reduce Production Costs?
There is much less post-production time because the lighting and many of the effects are added as the shots are made. Using the LED walls in the first place saves time and money because travel to locations is eliminated, sets don’t have to be built, and there are no shooting delays due to weather or set construction. All you need is the proper floor, whether you want tile or grassland, carpeting, or desert. Add in whatever props your actors will need in the scene, and you’re good to go.
In addition, by using LED screens, you can limit how much space each shot needs. As a result, some shots can be done in a fairly small space, freeing up your space for other shots to proceed or be set up. This can cut down your filming time and save money.
Aren’t LED Screens Expensive?
It is true the up-front investment can be significant. But depending on the size and nature of the project, the LED walls will be more economical than building sets, traveling to locations, or intensive post-production work. For example, if your commercial, music video, or movie set is an exotic location like a tropical island, outer space, or even an imaginary world, LED screens save you the expense of travel or constructing elaborate sets.
And as filming progresses, if you decide to make changes to the background, there’s no problem. You can move mountains, trees, buildings, or other features with a few clicks and resume shooting.
When Would LED Screens Not be a Good Option?
If you are filming something without much action, such as a presentation, then a virtual set would be a more economical choice. Scenes involving explosives or other events that might damage the LED screens would be better shot in front of green screens.
What Facilities Are Necessary to Shoot My Project?
When looking for a place to shoot your music video, movie, or commercial using LED Walls, ensure the studio has all the amenities you will need for a successful shoot. These include sound stages, cyclorama walls, and green screens. In addition, the professional spaces should come with supporting areas, including a make-up room, conference room, flexible office space, dressing rooms, kitchen, and green room holding areas.
How can I Explore Using LED Screens for My Next Project?
We’re glad you asked! Just give us a call, and we can demonstrate how we’ve used LED screens in other projects. Then we can show you how we can use LED screens to create a virtual reality that will help you film your next movie, commercial, or music video.