Green with Factory Fifteen.
Final Roots in the Sky film by Factory Fifteen, with green screen chroma key techniques by My Perfect Cousin
Triangle of Cost-Quality-Time.
“We came to the cousins to help produce our green screen shoot, as they’ve proven on many previous occasions that they get the cost-quality-time triangle better than most; helping us save in less important areas, to excel in those killer moments that really make a film stand out.”
Paul Nicholls
Creative Director & Co-Founder, Factory Fifteen
The Brief.
Every production navigates the triangle of cost, quality and time, but the real skill lies in knowing where to lean in and where to hold back.
Factory Fifteen, the BAFTA-winning creative studio, returned to us with exactly that kind of challenge, a green screen shoot for their client Fabrix that needed precision, creativity and smart decisions.
As long-standing collaborators, our relationship with Factory Fifteen is built on mutual trust. They know we’ll always prioritise the result, making thoughtful calls that protect what matters most, the moments that make a film memorable.
Working closely with Creative Director’s Paul Nicholls & Matt Townsend to realise their vision for Roots in the Sky, we quickly mapped the critical elements for success: tight control of lighting, a seamless post-production path, and a smart, focused production plan that allowed creative moments to shine without overspending on the unnecessary.
Green screen talent lit with chroma key techniques by My Perfect Cousin
The Solution.
Green screen work demands precision. It’s where creativity meets control, and where technical decisions define visual credibility. Every detail, from lighting, camera and movement to casting and props, must anticipate the world the subject will eventually inhabit. Factory Fifteen returned to us because they knew we could navigate these choices creatively and efficiently, without ever compromising on quality.
That started with the capture. We designed lighting setups using advanced chroma key lighting techniques that didn’t just illuminate the subject but also sold the illusion. By rigging reflective gels and modifiers to moving lights, we created subtle effects like shimmering water reflections that matched the intended environments. This approach meant less work in post and a more believable result straight out of camera.
We didn’t just light for the present, we lit for a world that didn’t exist yet. Our role was to anticipate the final composite environment: its direction, tone, colour, shadow and movement.
Nuanced lighting like this not only sells the illusion, it reduces heavy post-production work by maintaining a clean chroma key edge throughout.
“Lighting a green screen scene means lighting the subject and the world they’ll eventually belong to.
You have to anticipate everything, even what isn’t there yet.”
Adrian Weinbrecht
Director of Photography & Co-Founder, My Perfect Cousin
Casting and props were equally important. We selected characters and objects that felt emotionally and visually right. They needed to feel grounded and real, not just on set, but in the imagined world they were part of.
“VFX can only go so far if what you’re filming doesn’t feel real. We focused on cast and props that matched the tone, energy and detail of the final world. That’s what makes the illusion hold together.”
Alex Watson
Creative Producer & Co-Founder, My Perfect Cousin
This awareness and pre-visual thinking, combined with our efficient green screen workflow, allowed us to keep post light and agile, delivering files that were smooth to composite and accurate to the final environment, giving Factory Fifteen a clean runway to build their world in VFX.
This wasn’t just a service job. It was a creative collaboration built on trust. Our focus on precision at point of capture gave Factory Fifteen the space to push the vision further, faster — delivering a seamless result with minimal post.
Behind the scenes on a green screen shoot with My Perfect Cousin
The Results.
This deep awareness and pre-visual thinking, combined with our efficient green screen workflow, meant we delivered files that were smooth to composite and highly accurate to the final environment. This gave Factory Fifteen a clean runway to build their world in VFX for Fabrix’s Roots in the Sky project.
This wasn’t just a service job, but a creative collaboration built on trust. Our focus on precision at the point of capture allowed Factory Fifteen the freedom to push the vision further, resulting in a seamless final product with minimal post-production effort.
We understood the delicate balance of cost, time and quality. By providing high-quality files upfront, we significantly reduced Factory Fifteen’s post-production workload, adding value through efficiency and clarity. This approach saved time and budget while ensuring the final output met the high standards of both Factory Fifteen and Fabrix without compromise.
“Getting it right at the shoot means we’re not firefighting in post. It’s all about working smart, keeping the workflow lean, and delivering what the client really needs — nothing more, nothing less. That’s how we make great stuff without wasting time or budget.”
Alex Watson
Creative Producer & Co-Founder, My Perfect Cousin
Interested in efficient green screen execution that delivers real value? Let’s talk.
