I need to create a small stadium crowd scene; i.e., one that is watching a karate match in an old-style kung fu movie.  Several hundred people all looking and dressing similarly.  What's the best way?  Some permutation of the AZL Crowd?  Vue?  Thanks!
ss

Attached Link: http://www.sparkyworld.co.uk/3d7own.htm

Rendering the crowd figures in the same light set as the final scene look better.

Theres a tutorial on alpha planes for you at the link above. 
Ignore the animation title- the same basic principles apply.

BTW - you can ignore the bad spelling as well :)

 I think there would be a great market for low poly crowds in different types of clothes.
Love esther

there are but they can be expensive.
www.the3dstudio.com/product_details.aspx

Predatron has a nice set - but not very Kung Fu ish - unless you need modern clothing like hoodies and t-shirts.  Excellent set as well. If you buy from their site direct theres a good saving as well.  

Well, you can use an Ecosystem in Vue to create a crowd. If you want an animated crowd, I would suggest using alpha planes as mrsparky has mentioned.

Here's a tutorial on how to use After Effects to create a crowd.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1k4az_tuto-after-effects-make-a-crowd_tech

The same principles can apply to Alpha Planes in Poser/Vue.

 Thanks everyone for the help.  My crowd doesn't really need to move, but I do need to pan over it in a stadium setting in 3-D, so I'll take a shot at creating it in Vue.   
SS