Ann Curry And NBC's Green Screen Secret (VIDEO)

NBC has many fancy election graphics, including the one virtual reality effect in which an anchor appears. On election night Ann Curry is manning the pricey election exit poll floor show. After it appeared Curry was stabbed by some data early in the night, Brian Williams had the directors turn off the graphic and show viewers how Ann Curry is just standing in a green screened room.

WATCH:

Read more about Election 2008 coverage here.

Comments

[InternationalObserver]

Brian Williams should have taken a cue from CNN and told viewers she was standing a holgraphic chamber.

But seriously, kudos to Brian Williams for NOT saying that. And the reverse is true of CNN, for claiming their green screen chroma-key BS was a hologram. It was NOT. Wolf Blitzer was NOT looking at a hologram, he was IMAGINING someone there, and the studio superimposed the image so we at home saw both people.

[bola47]

that virtual set behind chuck todd was too fake looking. if your going to do this, do it right.

[Tom95134]

Actually, I thought it looked pretty good considering that they had a lot of number crunching going on in Hi-Def. Maybe you should stop setting so close to your screen that you put nose prints on the glass.

The stuff that really looked crappy was on FOX. It looked like it was done using a desktop computer running a 386.

[Tom95134]

And if you wanted something that really looked fake, the CNN faux-holographic image totally sucked. The edging of the image was so bad it shouldn't have been put on-air.

[ElBruce]

Now Colbert's going to grab that footage and have his people do an Ann Curry green screen challenge.

[mystudio]

In case anyone was wondering, the green screen backdrop NBC used on election night was provided by Pro Cyc, Inc. www.procyc.comm). They provide modular backdrops (also called cycloramas) for green screen and blue screen virtual sets for many of the major networks. The CNN backdrop is also Pro Cyc, as well as ESPN, CNBC, NFL Network and many others.

[Sloan48]

I actually thought this green screen scene was nicely done by NBC/MSNBC. It wasn't over the top like the disturbing CNN holograms. I saw the holograms appear and I switched stations. I expected Lord Vader to appear.

[Hirnlego]

"It doesn't hurt"

Do these things really need a mention???

[Seeitmyway]

Brian Williams himself thought it was over the top, which is why is was so cool when he had them "take away the magic". I was more amazed seeing it all go green!

I love the transformation that Brian has gone through this past year. Starting with his Saturday Night Live appearance. He was hysterical!!!!

[miatamama]

It was all beautiful, but sort of disturbing at the same time. Maybe I need to get out more......

[myklwain]

it was stunning.

[miatamama]

You know, in a weird way, the virtual reality stuff made me feel less trustworthy of NBC's coverage. The make-believe stuff kind of interrupted the reality stuff. humm....

[midknightryder13]

Why? It's the same technology every weathercaster in the country (and the world, for the most part) -- just taken to the next level.

[mykalimba]

It's only partially the same technology used by weathercasters. The graphics are composited behind the human actor using the same chroma-key ("green screen") technology, but that's about it.

Notice how the computer-generated background remains in proper perspective as the camera moves and pans around the human actor. Now think about that is happening.

The system must track the position and orientation of the camera in order to correctly render the background. Once that's done, the chroma-key is replaced with the rendered background.

[Inthematrix]

I really like Brian Williams for some reason.
http://inthematrix.wordpress.com/2008/10/27/obama-vs-mccain-dance-off/

[thedogatemyhomework]

And, I really can't stand Ann Curry for alot of reasons.