A Guide to Green Screen
A beginner’s guide to filming with green screen and how to edit a short movie.
These instructions are designed as a beginner’s guide for filming and editing a green screen video.
At the touch of a button your class can be transported to anywhere in the world, or even beyond! Green
screen is simple to use and provides limitless opportunites for child led learning and assessment.
We have designed these instructions so all filming and editing can be completed on one device. Our
demonstration uses an Apple iPad. We are using the Veescope Live app to film and iMovie to edit our
movies. You will need to download these apps prior to filming. Please be aware that other similar green
screen and movie editing apps are available to download from your app store.
Alternatively, If you are using a PC, you can create and edit a green screen movie using Window Movie
Maker. An online seach will provide you with a simple ‘How-to’ guide for this.
Veescope Live - £2.29
Veescope Live is a very simple filming device which makes it easy to create highly effective green screen
movies. Veescope live is free to download. However your movie will be watermarked with the app’s
branding and logo. For £2.29 (price at the time of writing) you can download the full version where this
will not be present.
iMovie - £3.99
iMovie is an user friendly tool for editing your home videos. It provides simple templates in a range of
movie making styles. By following just a few simple steps you can insert, edit and add sounds, text and
other effects to bring pizazz and excitiment and to your movies. The app costs £3.99 (price at the time of
writing).
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Filming Using Green Screen
If you are making a green screen movie you would probably guess that you may need a green screen.
Although this is recommended, you can actually make your green screen using any colour background,
even a brick wall! Bear in mind that any props or clothes you use which feature the same colour as your
background will disappear, as if by magic, when you are filming. Try it out, it’s actually loads of fun!
Preparing Your Movie Set
You will need to make sure you have covered the whole background area of your set. You could use big
sheets of paper or a large cloth, stretching it to cover the wall area and fixing it in place. Make sure you
have cleared enough space for movement and you that are filming in a well lit area.
Depending on what type of film you are making you may wish to mount your iPad using a tripod. For
example, a static camera, mounted on a tripod would give you the best effect if you are making a news or
weather report but it would be less important if you are making something with more movement and
action.
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Lights, Camera, Action!
User Interface
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Once you have downloaded the Veescope Live
green screen app you will need to understand
how to use it.

The first thing you need to do is adjust the
settings on your user interface. Don’t worry this
is not a scary as it sounds. It simply means
chosing the front or rear facing camera (1)
making sure your audio levels are not too loud or
too quiet (2) and that you have framed your
scene just the way you want it (3).

You may be need to make some adjustment to
your camera. The Keying tab (4) allows you to
adjust the colour (5) and strength (6) of your
background picture. By toggling the sliders left
or right you will quickly find the right setting to
achieve the best quality picture.

The most important thing to remember on the
user interface is the recording button (7). Press
record, shout “Action!” and you are good to go!
To stop recording simply press the button again.

Even if you are filming in a well-lit area you may
still need to make some light adjustments. For
the best green screen effect click on the
Transition tab (8) to adjust how light or dark
your image looks.

The Light Guide (9) improves the amount of
detail in hair and transparent objects. You can
also remove shadow and any other
imperfections in the background. Toggle the
slider (10) left or right to achieve the best picture
quality.
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Choosing Your Background

You can select your background by clicking the
Background tab (11). By pressing the Select
button (12) you can choose one of the photos or
videos provided or choose one of your own
from your camera roll. Your background will
provide the setting for your movie. Your setting
is limited only by your imagination; Present the
weather from the arctic, easy. Interview an alien
on mars, not a problem. Live with monkeys in
the amazon, it’s just a click away.

The Adjust button (13) allows you to move your
background image so you can get the picture
lined up exactly the way you want it.

You can change your setting in an instant using
the Previous and Next background buttons (14).
These buttons allow you to switch your
background image during filming.

If you are stuck at any point, click the Help
buttons (15) for a detailed walkthrough for each
stage of the movie making process.
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16 – When you have finished filming you can click
Play (16) to watch your movie.
17. If you are using the free download you will see
the Veescope Live Watermark – To remove this
watermark from your videos you will need to
download the full version of the app.
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Editing and using iMovie
Once you have finished your filming using the Veescope Live App, you can edit your video using iMovie.
iMovie is simple to use. It allows you to add effects and editin one programme.
Starting a New Movie
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Click the Projects tab (1) then,
to start a new project click
Create Project (2).

Your New Project (3) can take
the shape of a movie or a
trailer.

Choosing Movie allows you to
combine videos, photos and
audio to make your own movie
in a range of styles.

Trailer allows you to import
your photos and videos and
then using a template you can
create a Hollywood style movie
trailer in a range of cinema
genres .

Click Movie to start editing
your green screen movie.

There are lots movie styles you
can choose from. For example,
there is a movie style for a
news report and one for a
travel story.

Find a style you thing you
would like. Press the play
button (5) and you can preview
what each style looks like and
choose the best one for you. If
you want to keep it simple,
click Simple.
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We are going to using the Simple
template but you can choose the
best one to suit your movie.
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Click Create (6) to get started.
Editing Your Movie

This is where you can make
and edit your movie.

Select the All button (7) and
you will find your green
screen film. Choose it and
press the arrow to add it to
your board (8) so it to be
edited and any effects can be
added.
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Adding Effects
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There are a lot of great ways
you can edit your movie

Click Audio (9) to add music
and sound effects (10). You
can even record your own by
clicking the microphone (11).
This is ideal for voiceovers.

You can trim your movie to
make the clips longer or
shorter. Simply click the
yellow bar at either the start
or the end of your film and
sliding them to the right or to
the left (12)

Other tools for editing your
movie can be found at the
bottom of the screen (13).
One particularly useful effect
is Titles. Here you can add
words and information to
your film. Select from a
range of text styles (14). You
can also decide where on the
screen they will appear.

Click Undo (15) at any point if
you change your mind about
something you’ve done.
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Have a go. Explore the many
different ways you can make your
movie special. If you are stuck at
any point, click ? (16) and you will
be given further help and support.
Your Finished Movie

When have finished editing
your movie click Done (17).
Now you can view your
completed work (18).

Name your movie by clicking
the title (19).

You can save your movie by
pressing the export button.
This will allow you to save it
to your camera roll or send it
on by email.

If you would like to change
something about your movie
you can click edit to continue
your work.
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We hope you found these instructions useful. Making your own movie is extremely rewarding and a great
way to express yourself creatively.
Please do make sure you get permission from everyone featured in your movie, confirming they are happy
to be part of your project.
Enjoy!
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