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The Virtual Backlot

Though the tech keeps getting more seamless, I think it's fair to say 9 times out of 10 we can spot a greenscreen.

The final — and crucial — touch to this “blended reality” is lighting. With global illumination, the environment lights the object and that, in turn, is how the cinematographer lights the actors. “Probably one of the biggest black arts is how to light the actors so they really look like they’re in the environment,” he says. One of Stargate's 16 visual-effects supervisors always attends the live-action shoot to make certain that it’s lit properly for blending with the virtual backlot. “You need at least a visual-effects supervisor with a keen sense of lighting on the set and a DP who is very understanding and comfortable shooting green screen,” Nicholson says. “It’s a combination of direct light sources and also positive and negative reflective surfaces.

--Studio Daily | Shoot It on the Virtual Backlot

About J. Ott

John Ott is a writer, filmmaker and futurist. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.