What every journalist should know about the chroma key

Abstract

The article is a review of modern foreign literature about Chroma key. Everything is described in detail: from contradictory terminology to the history of the formation and development of this technology. Unfortunately, in Kazakhstan there is no educational literature on this topic, intended for future or already working journalists. The purpose of this article is to adapt foreign information and fill the gap with its help. The scientific significance of the work directly follows from the lack of such research in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The methodology is based on the monitoring of foreign publications, their analysis and layout, using such an applied method as a review. The use of Chroma key significantly reduces the cost of producing media content and helps quickly go through the post-production stage. In addition, Chroma key allows to connect objects that cannot exist next to each other in reality in one frame. The results of the review prove that Chroma key opens up additional opportunities for creativity, in particular for journalistic stand-ups. The main problems arise when graduates of journalism faculties at the workplace for the first time encounter the fact that they themselves must organize shooting with Chroma key. Even if a separate technical specialist is included in the editorial staff, each member of the shooting crew must know the basics of working with the so-called “green screen” or on the “greenback” (journalistic slang). The value of the work is that the author offers a brief step-by-step instruction for any journalist who wants to learn a new technology. The journalist must understand and even “feel” the difference between the dimensional types of Chroma key: stand, wall, stage, room and corner. The journalist should know when it is possible to use blue cloth; what you need to have in case of unplanned combined shooting, why do you need a white bed sheet, tennis balls on the fishing line, red crosses made from electrical tape and what is best suited from clothes. The practical significance of the work’s results lies in the fact that the described skills and knowledge can significantly expand the creative and technical capabilities of a journalist, accordingly, improve his qualifications.