Big Mistake

[luvB5]

TV Guide for October 6 to 12. Page34 in an article about the new SciFi Channel series Sancturay says:
"Sancturary is about to makeTV history. The new SciFi channel series is the first show to shoot almost entirely on green screen with virtual sets and backdrops."
As I and every other Babylon 5 fan knows: that just ain't so, Joe.
I intend to write the guide and let them know that B5 was the first to that.

[Jan]

I think they mean TV show and in that case they're probably right. While B5 had some virtual sets and green screen, it never came close to being "almost entirely". The Lost Tales was, but that wasn't a show or for TV.

Jan

[luvB5]

I think they mean TV show and in that case they're probably right. While B5 had some virtual sets and green screen, it never came close to being "almost entirely". The Lost Tales was, but that wasn't a show or for TV.

Jan

I agree Jan, but B5 pioneered the GS tech and was the first show (Trek included) to utilize it on a weekly basis, thus bringing down the over all cost per episode for an sf episode by about half or better as I understand it. If that's so Sancturary just carried on the pioneering efforts of B5. Kinda galls me when sole credit is implied to the wrong group -- like people believing that Bill Walsh and the San Francosco 49'ers invented the West Coast Offense in football.

[JoeD80]

Although it's true B5 did a lot with virtual sets and greenscreen, most of the show was shot in traditional sets on soundstages and there were still something like 60 standing and moveable sets for the show. That warehouse on Tamarack is huge. A show shooting almost entirely greenscreen will require a lot less space.

[KoshN]

Although it's true B5 did a lot with virtual sets and greenscreen, most of the show was shot in traditional sets on soundstages and there were still something like 60 standing and moveable sets for the show. That warehouse on Tamarack is huge. A show shooting almost entirely greenscreen will require a lot less space.

A show shooting almost entirely greenscreen will also not be as believable. To me, B5, Crusade and the Rangers pilot had the ideal amount of real sets and greenscreen. B5-TLT didn't do as well, and felt flat to me at times, but that may have been because of the way some scenes were photographed. If they used a long focal length lens, it would compress apparent depth in a scene and make it feel flat. e.g. The Lochley/Priest discussions in her quarters felt flat, to me.

[Garibaldi's Hair]

If they used a long focal length lens, it would compress apparent depth in a scene and make it feel flat. e.g. The Lochley/Priest discussions in her quarters felt flat, to me.

A scene which was shot on a proper set, rather than green screen, wasn't it? At least that's what it looked like to me.

[Jan]

JMS has said that Lochley's quarters were a real set, though I gather that it wasn't a whole set from comments Tracy made at a con. She told how she was rehearsing a scene and had to ask where the door to her quarters was.

Jan