actor trick

[daviddolores]

I have a feeling this is something that can be done, but I don't know how.

It is: a way the actor can have his/her own reflection in front of his/her view of the camera lens so that (s)he can watch his/her own face while acting.

Has anyone done this? Maybe there's a special reflective material which only minimally interferes with the camera?

[daviddolores]

hmmm....just to clarify, This would be a way for the actor to look IN the camera while at the same time at their own reflection.

[daviddolores]

Thanks Roger,

Let me make sure I understand. So the key to the reflection is that the entirety of the actor's view of the glass being backed by black. Correct?

As for the other, more contrasty solution, I apologize for being uninitiated in beam splitters. Can you clarify?

David

[mattias]

> So the key to the reflection is that the entirety of the actor's view of the glass being backed by black. Correct?

just darker is fine. the reflection is always there, and the darker the background, the more visible it will be.

/matt

[MovieStuff]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Courier, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by daviddolores:

Let me make sure I understand. So the key to the reflection is that the entirety of the actor's view of the glass being backed by black. Correct?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

As Mattias pointed out, just darker is fine. The easiest way to see this is to take a piece of glass and put some black paper on the back. It turns almost mirror like.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Courier, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by daviddolores:

As for the other, more contrasty solution, I apologize for being uninitiated in beam splitters. Can you clarify?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, a piece of ordinary glass can be a beam splitter, as described above. A beam splitter lets part of the light pass though and part of it reflect. Really good (and expensive) beam splitters are used in all sorts of optical devices, such as holography, cameras, etc. The one way mirror material I spoke of is used in security boothes in stores and things so that a security guard can watch people without (supposedy) them being aware.

When you look at a piece of one way mirror material, it looks just like a regular mirror, only a little darker (usually not noticable to the average person). Hold the mirrror up to the light and you can see through it.



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Roger Evans
MovieStuff
http://www.afterimagephoto.tv/moviestuff.html

[MovieStuff]

If you build a frame with a standard piece of glass in it, the shoot through it with the camera and camerman draped in black cloth attached to the frame at the sides, the glass will reflect the actor's image but the camera can still shoot right through it. It's just like looking at yourself in the reflection of a window during the day. People can see out but you can't see in. If you need more of an imbalance, use a beam splitter. Go to any glass shop and ask for a one way (or two way) mirror. They're the same thing. Costs about $10 per square foot and is generally about 60/40 transmission. The regular glass should work fine though as long as you completely cover the camera and camera man. It would help if he wore a black shirt, as well.



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Roger Evans
MovieStuff
http://www.afterimagephoto.tv/moviestuff.html