Filling a Stadium

[Espinal]

I m asked to fill a stadium with people...with a little camera movement..in various shots.
Its possible to plan the effect in order to make it easier for me to comp it..
I would like to know what is the best way to plan everything....so I will not have any problems.
thanks

[MrMovie]

I'm assuming you're talking about a real stadium filled with real people?

Use a locked off camera. Frame the shot a little wider than what you plan to use so you can add a move later after the comp. Get as many people as you can and film them in one part of the stadium (doing whatever they need to -- standing up, cheering, etc.) Move them to the next section and repeat. Depending on the size of your stadium, you may be able to film them in the lower seats and clone to the upper seat by shrinking them slightly. When you've composited all the parts, add the camera movement and crop as necessary.

If the shots are really wide, you could always buy some stock footage of crowds in a stadium then cut and paste into your background plate of your stadium. Add crop and camera movement after the composite.

[Espinal]

thanks a lot...I have another question...would you use green screen for the closer takes..maybe take a green fabric to the stadium..

[Espinal]

I have another question the director wants the game to happen at night...but he says he wants to take the shots during the day,,,isn t it easier to be done at night..

[MrMovie]

Yes, and yes. Absolutely use green material if you have it (and have enough.)

Yes, it would make more sense to shoot night for night rather than day for night. Typically, crowds tend to have a really strong rim light due to the fact that the stadium lights lighting the field are usually behind them. This will be virtually impossible to simulate with day for night, unless you use digital actors.

One cheat might be to compose the shots so the stadium lights are in the top of the frame (you could even shoot this element at night) and add a bit of lens flare over the crowd to disguise the day for night effect. Just a thought.

The other option is to get stock footage of crowds at night and cut and paste.

[Espinal]

Thanks a lot for your help..