Matte painting definition
A matte painting is a painted representation of a landscape, set, or distant location that allows filmmakers to create the illusion of an environment that is nonexistent in real life or would otherwise be too expensive or impossible to build or visit 

Matte painting beign used in films started off really because of financial or physical limitations. It would beither be too expensive, impractical or sometimes impossible to shoot on actual location. 1905 Norman Dawn took his photos and painting and placed them on a large sheet of glass. Black tape would then be put over the part of the camera the painting would go. These were all painted by hand or mixed with photos.

Later on Digital Painting came along. this meant a much more realistic look could be achieved in the paintings. Painter Chris Evans was the first to create a digital matte painting used in a film. in 1985 it was used in a Sherlock Holmes film. Other examples of using matte paintings are in films like star wars, Indianna Jones and The Planet Of The Apes.


Example of a matte painter painting a scene for Star Wars

Matte painting then developed to digital methods in the 1990s. The paintings were scanned into a computer. by 2000 hand painted matte paintings were very rare. However some were still used, for example in the film Titanic. Now matte paintigns can be done with digital drawing tablets and Textures and 3D models are used so more dynamic filming can be achieved

 3 examples of matte painting over 3 decades are
Count Dracula's Castle  in Dracula (1931)
North  by North West unitednations building (1959)
railway line in The Sting (1972)

quotes
"Paint has now been superseded by digital images created using photo references, 3-D models, and drawing tablets. Matte painters combine their digitally matte painted textures within computer-generated 3-D environments, allowing for 3-D camera movement."
"Traditionally, matte paintings were made by artists using paints or pastels on large sheets of glass for integrating with the live-action footage."
"The computer animation (another first) blended perfectly with the digital matte, something a traditional matte painting could not have accomplished."

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Inconviences- 1.Possible bad weather when we are filming outside. Solution- check weather before hand 2.At the moment not everyone in the group has done the same work because Amy is away. Solution- send the work to amy and show her what we've done 3.Equipment might not be available the times we need it to be. Solution- check when equipment is available and make sure we can use it then. Minor Problems- 1.not confident of how floating effect is achieved. Solution- research and watch tutorials to learn how it can be done. 2.Tennis Ball effect didnt look very realistic when we tested it. Solution- Review test footage and see how it can be improved 3.Using actors with no experience. Solution- either try and find different actors or make sure the actors know what they are doing so it works well 4.We haven't decided on who is doing the voiceover yet. Solution- choose somome who is not already in the film. 5. Actors not having free time when we need to film. Solution- Plan exactly when we will do it according to when everyone invloved can do it. Major- 1.Dont have many backup actors. So there may be a shortage when we come to film. Solution- get some backup actors for if the others are ill etc. 2.May run out of time for filming. Solution- make a timetable and plan when to do what so we can get it done in time

PRODUCTION MEETING