An Exciting Hi-tech Way for Actors to Get Noticed

Let me tell you about some computer software that I believe offers one of the greatest hi-tech breakthroughs for actors, would-be show hosts, presentations, and corporate video news releases.

I am talking about a highly affordable but extremely powerful tool for marketing yourself and your business.

I was flicking through a video equipment magazine one day and stumbled on some computer software that really amazed me.

I had always thought of "green screen" camerawork as either being really lousy at the amateur end, and ultra expensive at the professional level (i.e.it's use in movies, as newsroom backgrounds, and for displaying the weather.)

I checked out a website that offered literally dozens of really useful virtual backgrounds at an astonishingly affordable price.

By useful I mean chat show studios, news rooms, a library, lab, loft office, classroom, art gallery, city apartment...

But not only that. It then showed how in each environment you could have a wide variety of camera positions and framings - from big wide establishers, to medium shots, to close-ups. In each example the backgrounds altered correctly (i.e. not just going all blurry as though they had been overstretched) and there were no nasty green halo effects around the actor. You can also do discreet track and pan shots, and the talent can walk and move around without any major problems to deal with.

But there were yet more plus points... the software also generated virtual shadows that absolutely matched body movement, and sometimes there would be objects, like a rail, that could appear infront of the talent.

So here was some great software, but the all important question was "who would buy it?"

Well I think the honest answer remains only people with a specialist use in mind.

Despite all the advantages that I have listed it remains a skilled "art" to correctly green screen someone, especially if you are doing full-length shots involving movement.

If the question was switched to "who needs it?" my answer would be thousands of people!

Here's a few examples to set you thinking.

ACTORS AND WOULD-BE SHOW HOSTS

Most actors who apply for jobs do not have a show reel. Many also don't even have a web presence.

Instead they often have to rely on simply submitting paper resumes and a headshot.

Now for a few hundred dollars they can give a performance on a virtual stage; sell their personality in a colorful chat show studio; present the news from a news room; talk about computer technology from inside a computer, discuss medical breakthroughs in what resembles a pristeen medical unit....

And in the background they can have their headshots or other images displayed on virtual monitors, having video running, and fancy graphics popping up.

So imagine how much of a boost this is to going to be to their efforts to secure work and promote themselves.

Now a potential employer such as a broadcaster can really get a true sense of how they would look and sound on camera in say a studio environment.

The actor can shop their performance around on DVD's, as digital files, or as video on their web sites.

Plus let's not forget casting agents, who are frequently asked to submit video of their top talent.

Wouldn't they suddenly have an extra edge if they had encouraged their talent pool to make the investment in a virtual video slate?

And what about corporate presentations and safety videos, which are frequently filmed in some dreadful office somewhere. Imagine if they now came from a bright and colorful virtual environment.

Even if the boss wants to preserve the look of his office for his presentation using this virtual technology you can take what's called a "video grab" of the background behind him and improve it in all manner of subtle ways. You can digitally alter the lighting, create subtle shadows, remove unwanted elements, insert running video behind him as he talks about a subject, have graphic charts springing up at key moments... there are all kinds of possibilities.

And finally website broadcasters. You've made the investment in a good site, and want to do frequent video broadcasts. But that means buying all the camera, sound, lighting and teleprompt gear, and, even if you are using a green screen, probably being stuck with one pretty unimpressive looking "electronic" background. And although you've got the gear there is no seasoned director there telling you what's good or bad about the script and the performance.

And that is really where I come in. This is the new niche that I am continually expanding and marketing.

I want actors to have the tools they need. I'd like businesses to wake up to the cost-effective and exciting visuals that virtual backgrounds offer. And I'd like web broadcasters to see the benefits of shooting several scenes in a day and getting everything just right - because it will make a big difference. Quality really does count.

So if you are interested in taking a look at what I've been discussing please check out my website, mediatrainingnyc.com, where you can see demo videos and read all about what we offer - and how perhaps we could help make your dreams of Hollywood and the red carpet come true!