Hollywood's Best-Kept Secrets: Behind the Green Screen Magic

4. Boardwalk Empire

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Boardwalk Empire's green screen technology is a prime example of how contemporary visual effects could change period works. This specific scene shows the development of filmmaking technology, in which a few well positioned green screens can generate a whole historical waterfront environment. Creating such a picture in past decades would have needed not only access to a lot of water but also historically authentic ocean liners and period-appropriate set pieces—a very costly and logistically difficult task. The ability to digitally replicate these components has transformed period filming by enabling films to reach historically realistic settings free from the outrageous expenses of practical effects. With precise period realism in every frame, this technological development has let directors portray more ambitious historical tales.