Advanced "Cloning" Advice

[ikander]

Hey All,

I'm about to start pre-production on a short that features only one actor. However, that actor happens to play two parts in the same shot (much like Nick Cage in Adaptation or Haley Mills in the Parent Trap).

I understand the concept of simple cloning/compositng--Lock off your camera, get a clean plate, and then shoot the actor in different takes, and combine in post.

However, what if I want to do some more advanced digital trickery? Such as have them cross paths? Is the only way to do this by rotoscoping the masks through each frame? Is there a better technique?

What if I want to have the actor pretty different in each shot (i.e. have a beard as one character, but not as the other). Do I just have to be meticulous and pray that that the shots line up?

Any advice would be appreciacted!

 

[KevinP]

Place a small greenscreen behind the character when in one of the positions.

 

[ikander]

To give folks an idea of the effect I'm trying to achieve, check out this short film.
http://www.vimeo.com/2381662

How do you think he managed to shoot himself looking so different and still composite the shots so well?

 

[KevinP]

I can't see any effects there that aren't simple split screen or green screen.

Nice short film though.

 

[ikander]

One version has him with a beard, the other clean shaven. Obviously, these were shot at different times...so do you think he used green screen or did he just attempt to match up his setups perfectly?

 

[KevinP]

I don't mean to knock the movie but you're possibly over complicating what is involved. The two sections could be shot 60 minutes apart or the next day. How long does it take to shave? If the set is artificially lit the lighting conditions can be recreated exactly.

It looks like split screen for most of it and then the over the shoulder stuff is either masked rather than split (same technique) or a green screen on the rear of the hairy guy! I just can't recall if they overlap - if they do it's greenscreen.

It's not difficult technically - where he scores is the planning of his shots before he started to shoot so it all works nicely. It's well done but not difficult.

 

[ikander]

Yeah, I guess I am over-complicating it a bit.

Thanks for the advice. Basically, it's just going to take a lot of planning...but, I should be able to pull this off.