GMB using split screen for presenters

I think I'd prefer it if there was a line down the middle, just as a hint its being done. I think the HIGNFY windows are a bit too far down the zoom call route but I'm a bit wary about this as it seems a bit fake and, as suggested by noggin, perhaps sends the wrong idea.

It'd be like the occasional white flash instead of a noddy shot during an interview to show a cut. Just a hint that there is some tv magic here.

Definitely looks better this morning, although the backdrop still has a small, but visible cut.

Think it works quite well, maybe it would look better if they turned the actual screen green then superimposing the presenters and then replacing the green with a now seamless background, then when they cut to a distance shot, the actual background changes in sync, would that work?

Maybe they don’t want it too realistic otherwise it gives the wrong impression.

Remember the old ITV "theatre of news" did a lot of the dramatic camera moves and animations partly bc they couldn't do a clean cut and change the backdrop perfectly in sync.

Although obv that was 15 years ago. Might not be an issue now.

That sounds like a lot of faff just to get a half decent two shot, and I highly doubt they need the hassle in a live environment of needing to change the output of the screens exactly in sync with the vision mixer every time they cut to a wide shot. Plus green screen hardly ever works that successfully when the green backdrop is on a screen rather than being a physical, properly lit backdrop.

So I don’t think we’ll be seeing this two shot “solution” in use.

I honestly don’t see why there’s suddenly this effort to make everyone look like they’re sat next to each other on so many shows anyway. Social distancing is a part of life, and will be for the short term future. I jusy don’t see the benefit in going to trouble using camera trickery to make hosts on TV shows look like they’re “back to normal” when we all know they’re 2m away from each other and that’s looked fine for the last 4 months or so.

I never had a problem with them not being sat next to each other. All that's happened is that they now have to constantly explain that it's just a merged shot in response to questions about social distancing.

Yeah I don’t think this is an improvement at all. They look too close together even for normal times.

It was an idea I don’t understand the ins and outs of tv production!

How the split-screen is looking today is certainly better than the recent couple of attempts at it, hopefully they stick with this or something like it until they can do things properly again.

They're getting there. That intro though - like someone discovered that effect so just decided to use it over and over again.

As Flux mentioned on the last page, the double box works well on a show like GMB where as the split screen feels more relaxed and works better on a show like TM.

Piersanna Regan