How do I film a Mirror?

Clarence · Post by **Clarence** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:23 am

I've seen it in many movies: You seen the reflection of a person in the mirror, from their point of view. Then, they open it and you see the inside revealing that it's not just a piece of glass.

I know you can film a mirror from an angle, but how do you film on head on?

Jass Films · Post by **Jass Films** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 3:06 am

you can only do it on an angle, unless you do some tricky editing in post. But that would take ages to explain how to do. But just remember, you can film from any angle, left - right - up + down. So just experiment with what you are trying to do. I'm sure you'll be able to work out what you are trying to do.

Themovieman44 · Post by **Themovieman44** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:18 am

In the film Garden State, the created a wall around the camera to mask it. This allowed them to film the mirror head on. The only time you can actually see the camera is when he opens the cabinet and it's quick. If you have the film watch it with commentary.

BrownCowStudios · Post by **BrownCowStudios** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 5:53 pm

A two-way mirror comes to mind. This can be seen in the elevator scene in The Boondock Saints. If you've got the DVD, watch this scene with commentary, and you'll understand what I'm talking about.

crb · Post by **crb** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:09 am

I would still consider doing a slight angle, but get as close to head on as possible. Or the other thing would be to cover most of teh camera with a neon color tape, etc. In post try to key it out. I don't know, just a thought that came to mind.

Clarence · Post by **Clarence** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:15 am

TheMovieMan, Garden State was exactly the movie I was referring to! I have it right now, I'll take a look at what you said.

Catscratch44 · Post by **Catscratch44** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:51 am

I have a friend who blue screened the mirror but it looked really hoaky

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:33 am

The real trick is to get the camera pass directly in front of the mirror, with the camera invisible.

It still dazzles and bewilders me when I see that...

rep22 · Post by **rep22** » Sun May 15, 2005 4:08 am

I guess I've never really thought about it before tonight, but....Would it be possible/work to perhaps construct something that looks like a mirror,(whether its a stand alone mirror, or one on a wall) and cover the part where the actual mirror would be, with a blue sheet. then film the mirror from behind the subject or whatever, and then get a shot from where the mirror is, pointing in the direction of the subject, then through premiere position the second clip over the blue screened part?

I was just reading this thread, and got this idea. I've never used blue screening before, so I dont know the effectiveness of using it.

Lemme know if you think this would work or not.

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Sun May 15, 2005 4:14 am

That might be more trouble than it's worth, but anything is possible if you are willing to put the time and effort into it.

rep22 · Post by **rep22** » Sun May 15, 2005 4:31 am

Yeah, I kinda figured it would be pretty time consuming. but like i said, ive never done any bluescreening stuff, so im not sure what all is involved in doing that.

Also, would simply a blue sheet work for bluescreening? or would you need like a painted wall or something to that effect? I've seen sites of peopls who have made a whole wall strictly for bluescreening, but i didnt know about a sheet or whatnot.

cantoloupe · Post by **cantoloupe** » Sun May 15, 2005 5:10 am

invisibility clock....

windog · Post by **windog** » Sun May 15, 2005 8:09 pm

just take a film of a bloke going up to a mirror and then film the bloke in front of the camera as if it was a reflection!

rhys · Post by **rhys** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 8:31 am

Well i have a way, if u have after effects that is. Film a person as normal in front of the mirror and have the camera in front of the mirror. Then film it all again exept place the camera where the actor was and then use cc power pin to put it onto the edges of the mirror.

windog · Post by **windog** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 8:36 am

what??

foxwood · Post by **foxwood** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:19 pm

just film it from an angle that is the easyist way to do it and if you play with your cam positioning enough it will look almost like its head on. Also I just realized somthing going back and looking at the mirror shot in A taste of Arm, which if my video stuff was all reinstalled I would upload to show you, but if you use a smaller mirror, on thats not floor to celling, etc, you can hide the cam a million times easyer and still get justabout a head on shot. I got so close to the mirror with the cam that if I was to move an inch, I would be seen, which messed up a few shots.

windog · Post by **windog** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:20 pm

amen.

Directordude · Post by **Directordude** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:46 am

put blue screen on the mirror then film the man doing his ruitine. 2nd get in front of him and film doing it again. put it in blue screen portion. best way to do this would be to film just behind the guys head blur his head with manual focus and then let the second video clip do all the work

rep22 · Post by **rep22** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 4:52 am

Directordude wrote:put blue screen on the mirror then film the man doing his ruitine. 2nd get in front of him and film doing it again. put it in blue screen portion.

hmm...that way of executing this effect sounds very familiar ^.....lol

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