Filming Mirrors.

Z

-zach-

Veteran
There may be a part in an upcoming movie where I'll need to film the actor in front of a mirror. How do I do that without seeing the camera in the mirror? I know that I could use a creative angle, and not see the camera, but I'd prefer if I wasn't in the shot and it was straight on. I also know this could be achieved with AE, but I pretty much suck in all things Adobe... I don't want to see a bunch of brush strokes and stuff where the camera used to be. It may be a straight shot with the actor looking at the mirror, but it might go from actor, swivel, and then view the mirror. Any help would be appreciated.
 
What kind of shot are you wanting? I would think that would affect the "solution".

Do you want a shot over the shoulder of the actor (from behind him/her) looking into the mirror at the actor's reflection? If so, my first thought is put the camera directly behind the actor then slowly move to one side or the other until you see the same angle/shot, but the camera doesn't appear in the mirror in the shot. My other thought for this shot would be to put a second mirror behind the actor at a 45-degree angle then point the camera at this second mirror.

Have never tried these and don't know if either would work... but in my mind they work perfectly :D

Hope it helps,
Larry
 
Yes, describing the shot may help

Can the camera be hidden anywhere into the background ? This is a common technique; either in a closet or dark hallway behind the mirror or even on an exterior ?

piercecam7ax.jpg
 
I want a shot perfectly in front of them, but with the sink reflecting, and you can see the edges of the mirror. Go look at the mirror in your bathroom. I want that reflection of the whatever behind you, I want to see the lights, I want everything that you see in my shot... Basically taking a movie of yourself looking at the mirror, minus the camera. That would be the shot
 
I think its time to whip out the drawings i made a few months ago for a fellow user asking a similar question.

Step 1

stepone.jpg


Step 2

steptwo.jpg


Step 3

stepthree.jpg



Hopefully my amazing drawings sorta helped you get an idea of what to do....Learn AE and how to use its trackers...thats how youll get this shot to look nice...and the timing has to match when filming twice..so when his reflection moves..it matches with the real person.
 
Can you explain the drawings a little. I'm not sure I get it. Looks interesting though and I would like to try it.

Thanks.
 
Well its a different idea sorta kinda..

in the other post the guy wanted the camera going thru the mirror..and i said shoot a background plate to go in the mirror. so its like

Step 1

shoot the front of the mirror like you would be standing directly infront...and you could move the camera closer to the mirror to make it more dramatic but its not neccessary.
So if you were to move the camera towards the mirror...go as close to the mirror as possible...and on the corners of the mirror in a spot that you can paint out easily in AE or Shake..which ever you use.

Step 2

Shoot the actor now. Put the camera in the same direction the mirror is facing and film the actor...if you have camera movement...make sure to time the movement about the same time as the first step..but its alot harder to get the movement downpact..so my suggestion is to shoot stationary...

Step 3

Now put the clips in AE or Shake....make the bottom track the clip with the actor in it and the top clip the one with the mirror...cut out the mirror so the track underneath shows...if your gonna have camera movement...then its gonna be a B I T C H!!! because then you have to time the movement of the camera like 99% perfect.


But thats about it...but if your not doing any camera movements...the markers on the corners dont need to be there.

Kinda make sense?
 
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Ah, I get it. This would work. It would be more of a point-of-view shot. I was thinking that the cam would see the back of the actor's head and the actor's reflection. Thanks
 
Well its pretty much the same process...only in step 1...add the actor.

But make sure the movements are matched to look synced between the reflection and real person.
 
Yes, that would be tricky. I think I'm going to do some tests just for the heck of it. When I have time that is. Thanks again.
 
With that method wouldnt you still see the camera that is behind the actor in the video shot by the camera behind the mirror?
 
I originally posted this a year and a month ago. I love it.

Keep the ideas coming guys, I'm sure somebody will need this information in the future.
 
you could go all out "Terminator 2 - director's cut" style on it - have the actor's twin sister sit across a frame and perform movements in sync :) You can see this on the T2 DVD (the various special/ultimate editions of it)
Arnie was sitting on the mirror side while a dummy was filling in for his cyber head on the camera side. Linda hamilton was on the mirror side, her sister was w/ the dummy i believe. they rehearsed to do it all in sync. all props that u could see in the mirror were also physically mirrored
of course what the others have mentioned would sure be much easier and less expensive :)
 
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