Barring that, using green screen or not really depends upon how the film is being shot and what’s required, and visual FX are getting a lot easier to accomplish. I believe there is a series by Hollywood Camerawork called “Visual Effects for Directors,” which simply and easily explains the process behind most visual effects, and how they can be accomplished on a budget.

Visual effects, like any good production element, can add a lot of value to the screen – IF done right. Thankfully, with technology today, that’s can be more a matter of the director’s knowledge than their budget.