For me at least, having a uniform background really helps with believing that the actors are inhabiting the same space. It works whether the background is unlit blackness like for Heroes of the Fourth Turning, a digital one like for The Weir, or just mailing the actors a big piece of off-white background stiff or foam-backed posterboard, or curtain-like material. I've noticed some productions are having their performers in front of a neutral-colored wall, but if the walls are different-colored neutrals, the illusion doesn't work as well.
I would not expect a low-tech producer like Seth Rudetsky's Stars in the House to do this, but for those with a budget or who are charging a mandatory fee, I hope the producers would consider this. It's a low expense to get cheap foamboard or a curtain and mail it out, and it would make a huge difference in the impact of the production IMO. |
