Green Screen Studio Make Special Effects Possible

By Phil Guye

Shooting at a Green screen studio isn't just a very good experience, but also one that doesn't shake your position up. Today, everyone looks to be giving a lot of thought to the quantity of money that they are spending on a picture. It is important for them to add each single greenback before shelling it out. No wastage can be afforded, because money is in such short supply. With the IRS breathing down your neck, trying to gather your taxes down to the last cent, the last thing you need is an issue with the money department. Therefore if you were to shoot at a facility like this, you might ensure that your money was spent well and not a cent went down the drain.

Looking for a studio to provide all those CGI effects generating technologies that a Green screen studio provides should be one of the things that are on the needs list of a director. This is especially true if he is shooting a film that has dinosaurs and outsized snakes or a scene with J Lo and Brad Pitt lounging around lazily on the mossy ground in an exotic, alien Amazon forest. He definitely will not achieve success if he is going to run around in a forest trying to find these prehistoric creatures to physically shoot.

Instead, going to the technical staff of Green screen studio could help him a great amount. They're going to be ready to help him with workable suggestions for creating just the sort of ambience that he's looking for. Considering the indisputable fact that he's attempting to find something out of the Ice or Stone Age, he will have to be clear on his necessities. Whether it be dinosaurs or the setting of an exotic land, anything is possible.

Once the requirements are made known to the staff at Green screen studio, it is their job to provide all the tools that are required to ensure that the shot is done according to the specs provided. All through the year, the staff is faced with challenging ever-changing situations where the requests keep getting more demanding than before. Nevertheless, they try hard to provide what the director is trying to find so that they are able to maintain their reputation as a one-stop shop for all studio necessities.

Since the Green screen studio can be employed out by the hour, there are people who are prepared to working out an arrangement so the studio can be hired for a longer time period at a reduced cost. The amount paid also entitles the director and his crew to be aided by a technical person who is able to make sure that all the equipment is working correctly and in the correct way. Once this is done, the work can go on unhindered and the final result will be miles better than the director was really in hope of. Even artists begin to feel that sense of professionalism that pervades the entire studio, which engulfs the staff as well. - 23812

About the Author:

There are so many other sites giving different forms of advice on how to use green screen but most of them are not very detailed or concise. Before following these, be sure to check my own articles and reviews on Green Screen Studio and Green Screen Los Angeles , You can also reach me at 1-323-851-3825 or phillipguy@hotmail.com

The MMA Legacy Of Helio Gracie

By Ross Everett

The founding father of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and patriarch of the Gracie family, Helio Gracie, died in early 2009 at the age of 95. His influence in martial arts as well as the sport of mixed martial arts is mind boggling. The Gracie family name will forever be synonymous with Brazilian sports, jiu-jitsu, MMA and the UFC"not only due to Helios own accomplishments but the legacy he created both by training others and through his family.

Helio Gracie began studying martial arts early in life, and by the age of 16 had already begun to teach judo in his native Brazil. While Helio had no problem mastering the theoretical aspects of judo, he found that many of its techniques required a great deal of brute strength which made them less effective for a smaller fighter such as himself. Along with his brother Carlos, he began to adapt many of judos techniques to make them more reliant on leverage rather than strength. This experimentation led to the creation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) which is often referred to as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in his honor.

Gracie also had a professional fighting career, taking on champions from other disciplines in a forerunner to modern mixed martial arts. These bouts were grueling, unregulated affairs with rules that were often made up as they went along and time limits that seem barbaric by todays standards. By his own recollection, he had 15 fights against the top fighters of his day. He began his career in'32 by submitting professional boxer Antonio Portugal (whod likely never even heard of a submission at that point, let alone experienced one) in just 32 seconds. Later that year, he fought American catch wrestler Frank Ebert to a draw after the ringside doctor ordered the bout stopped after an ungodly fourteen ten minute rounds.

His most famous battle was against Japanese judo legend Masahiko Kimura, resulting in a rare loss for Gracie. Despite the setback, he fought bravely and may have actually enhanced his legend after refusing to submit to a reverse arm bar (the same move that now bears Kimuras name). Only after his arm was broken did his brother Carlos throw in the towel.

Gracie's greatest impact, however, may have been through his progeny which is an important part of Brazilian sports and mixed martial arts even today. Royce Gracie is well known as the first UFC superstar, while sons Rickson Royler, Renzo have also achieved considerable fame in professional MMA. At the time of his death, Helio Gracie was a 6th Dan Judo black belt and the only living 10th degree master of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The cause of Gracies death was officially given as natural causes. His last words will go down as a fitting envoi to a man who gave so much of himself to fighting:

"I created a flag from the sports dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood. - 23812

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer and noted authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

MMA Flashback: Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title Changes Hands As Sobral Tops Southworth

By Ross Everett

Renato Babalu Sobral defeated Bobby Southworth by TKO to become Strikeforce light heavyweight champion in the co-main event of the promotions 'Destruction' card. Despite leaving with the belt around his waist, it wont be the centerpiece of Babalu's highlight reel with the way it transpired.

A -350 wagering favorite despite his challenger status, Sobral was expected to use his world class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu skills and vast experience against superior competition to dominate the tough but limited Southworth. It didnt happen that way, as Southworth easily got the better of things in the first round. Southworth looks to use his strength and conditioning to control his opponent en route to a decision victory. While the result makes him something of a MMA equivalent to boxing's John Ruiz, it does afford him the best chance of victory.

The first round displayed Southworth's style in microcosm, with much of the frame spent pushing Babalu up against the cage or on the ground inside his guard not really doing much. Sobral had one effective strike the entire round"and it would decide the fight. During a clinch against the cage wall the challenger rocked Southworth with a hard elbow strike that not only busted his nose but opened a huge cut over his right eye.

Upon seeing the gusher of blood Referee John McCarthy brought the ringside physician over to take a look. The doctor took some time to examine the cut, but eventually the round resumed following the consultation with only a few seconds remaining. As Southworth's corner futilely worked on the gaping wound during the break the doctor once again took a look and better realizing the severity and placement of the cut recommended to McCarthy that the fight be stopped. The veteran official complied, awarding Sobral the TKO victory and the championship belt.

The other half of the co-main event was decided in much more decisive fashion as Scott Smith knocked out well traveled veteran Terry Martin in a mere :24 seconds. Unfortunately, Martin didn't adequately close the distance against a fighter dubbed 'Hands of Steel' and was caught with a perfectly placed punch that knocked him out cold.

In the semifinal event, Duane 'Bang' Ludwig defeated Yves Edwards by unanimous decision in a very closely contested bout. Edwards was originally slated to face lightweight champion Josh Thomson until a toe injury necessitated his withdrawal. Ludwig took the fight on two weeks notice, and after a takedown clinic by Edwards in the first began to control the fight with his superior standup skills. Edwards' superiority on the ground in the first two frames wasnt enough to sway the judges who obviously favored Ludwig's more effective striking.

Earlier in the evening, Kim Couture made short work of overmatched Lina Kvokov as she TKOd her foe in 1:44 of the first round. Couture, the wife of UFC legend Randy Couture, gained even more notoriety for the courage she displayed in her professional debut last June. After having her jaw broken early in the first round, she refused to throw in the towel and went the distance despite a horrific injury. She had a much easier time here"despite the fact that both fighters entered with 0-1 records Couture was significantly more polished as she put Kvokov on the defensive from the outset with her sharp punching combinations. Kvokov kept displaying the rookie mistake of trying to turn away from Couture's blows. The reprieve was only temporary, however, as Couture launched another barrage of punches prompting the referee to step in and wave off the non-competitive affair. - 23812

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance writer who has written on sports betting and how to successfully bet on NFL football. He has appeared on TV and radio talking about boxing, cricket and NFL pointspreads. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a wombat.

The Arena Football League Reaches The End Of The Line

By Ross Everett

After canceling their 2009 season, the Arena Football League has shut down entirely and appears headed for bankruptcy. Earlier this week, the league office released a short statement indicated that it had ceased operations because owners were "unable to reach any consensus on restructuring the league over the past eight months." The league had reached a new agreement with players earlier this year, but was unable to convince enough owners that they had a viable plan to return to profitability.

Even before the decision was made to cancel the 2009 season this past December, it had been a tumultuous off-season for the Arena Football League. It began with the resignation of long time AFL commissioner David Baker just two days before the Arena Bowl championship game. Though Baker put a positive spin on his resignation saying that he felt it was time, it didn't exactly send a positive message about the future viability of the league.

In October, the owner of the New Orleans VooDoo announced that the team would cease operations"despite being one of the league leaders in attendance. In announcing that the team would fold, owner Tom Benson (who also owns the NFL Saints) suggested that the end of the five year old franchise was in no way an indictment of the New Orleans market.

With a dispersal draft planned to reassign the VooDoo personnel, uncertainty began to reign over the leagues future. The dispersal draft was scheduled and postponed several times amid assurances from the AFL office that rumors of financial instability were unfounded. The most recent announcement finally put all of the speculation to rest.

The inability to get any consensus on a business model for the league reportedly served as the final nail in the AFLs coffin. A major problem was skyrocketing player salaries, and some sort of compensation system tied to team revenues was a necessity. That agreement was reached with the players, but a bigger schism was left between several factions of owners"primarily drawn along lines of overall wealth.

Despite the demise of the AFL, it wont be the end for "The 50 yard indoor war. The sport lives on the AF2 league which, ironically, was originally started as something of a developmental organization for the AFL. The league plays in smaller markets and has a more realistic salary structure. A number of current AFL players"and possibly a couple of AFL franchises"could end up in AF2. - 23812

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published respected freelance writer specializing in casino gambling, surfing and sports betting. He has appeared on a number of TV and radio programs offering strategies for successful NFL football betting. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pet llama. He is currently writing a biography of former NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett.

TV Production and Green Screen

By Phillip Guye

The appearance of satellite TV has seen the virtual explosion of TV channels, broadcasters, production houses and content producers. This is because cable tv and direct to home platforms have indeed pushed the frontiers of TV broadcasting beyond all conceivable limits and onto a world scale. It's no wonder that TV networks across the world utilize the utilization of a Green screen.

One of the common methodologies that are utilized in TV program production is that of employing a Green screen in the background of the studio where a particular program is being shot. This is a component of the strategy of chroma key which deals particularly with the removal of certain photographs in the background of the shot and superimposing this with some other image, which is more suitable for the production. For instance, one can use a screen that is green in color behind a broadcaster who is reading out the weather reports. When viewers watch the program, the green or blue screen as the case may be , is replaced with a weather map or scenes of certain cities or satellite photographs being shown instead.

A Green screen is very helpful for chroma key uses, on account of the fact that the standard human skin tone has little elements of green in it. This provides help in high standard of image superimposition as well as the replacement of background, without interfering much with the general view of the broadcaster who is standing in the foreground. If there had been any green tint or tone in human skin, parts of the body would became invisible when using the other coloured screen, making the effect quite peculiar and extremely unseemly and incongruous.

One of the main advantages of using a Green screen is that it is reasonably simple to effect as well as being cost effective. If one were to use a huge plasma or HDTV screen behind the broadcaster, the effect might be brilliant, but the cost would be far bigger than using a green screen. In nowadays of economic downturn, where cost management is the key, the dice is loaded in favor of using less expensive options.

One can simply make a Green screen that may be used in TV program production. For this, something as straightforward as a table cloth may be employed. This cloth must be frequently painted, so that there are no smudges or uneven areas that would stand out when the show goes on air. One can also employ a plain wall that's uniformly painted in green to form the coloured background. One of the suggestions to remember when using such a screen is if the background image is one of trees or forests, green is a better colour to use than blue for the background, while if the image is of the sea or the sky, green wouldn't be so good. Using a green screen is therefore an efficient method of employing chroma key technique in television programme production, which is favored due to its simplicity and inexpensiveness. - 23812

About the Author:

There are a lot of other sites offering a variety of forms of advice on how to use green screen but a lot of them are not very detailed or concise. Before following these, be sure to check my own articles and reviews on Green Screen and Green Screen, You can also reach me at 1-323-851-3825 or phillipguy@hotmail.com