Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Projecting face on a moon

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Karin
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Joined: 12/27/06
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Topic: Projecting face on a moon
Posted: 5/03/09 at 7:27pm

Hi,

How would I project the face of one of the cast members onto a moon. I have a large white circle (30 inch diameter) I plan to hang in front of a backdrop for the moon. I would like to project the face of the Fairy Godmother as she is narrating in the opening scene. Is there a way I can videotape her speaking ahead of time and then project it somehow. I have no idea how best to get this effect. I would appreciate someone with technical expertise to share their gift. What equipment would I need? Thanks in advance.

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Spectrum
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Posted: 5/03/09 at 9:06pm

If you have a DLP or LCD projector connected to a video player, it would be a simple matter to project a video image onto a moon. I would suggest using the same color backdrop behind the actor as is used on your moon. You can also mask out any "spill-over" at the projector to keep the image on the moon only (and avoid the edges of your rectangular image spilling onto whatever is beside/behind your moon).

Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

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David McCall
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Posted: 5/03/09 at 10:20pm

We did Wizard of Oz last sumer and I just did something very much like this for the wizard's big face scene.

There was a video projector in the venue already so I just connected a camera. That way it all stayed "live". You will need to light the face. You will probably want to mic the actor as well as add an effect.

I cut an oval shaped hole the size of the actors face in a black tote and mounted it so that she could stand behind and comfortably put her face into the hole. I then adjusted the camera so that the face was projected to the area that I wanted it to appear.

You will probably need a little more masking. This can be done at the camera by putting black tape on the sun shade that is on the front of the lens.

Of course we are throwing away most of the resolution of the projector, but it still worked fine for my application. We had a pretty good projector.

Pictures from Oz

If you bring in your own projector you will have more control over the resolution by placing the projector closer to the "moon". The same techniques should still work.

David M

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KEB54
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Posted: 5/04/09 at 12:20pm

I did that many, many years ago. It was the magic mirror talking in Snow White. We did back projection. That way you don't need a "super" projection that can throw a long distance. The projector is upstage of the the mirror, or, in your case, the moon.

KEB

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David McCall
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Posted: 5/04/09 at 12:36pm

I agree that rear projection has plenty of advantages, but some directors don't want to give up the stage space it required for rear projection.

Many towns have beautiful new "Performing Arts Centers". Some come with decent video projectors permanently mounted in the booth. I'm just mentioning it as a possible asset to some folks that have access to these venues. It does have a lot of limitations that you have to work around.

David M

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bmiller025
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Posted: 6/02/09 at 12:37pm

I am not sure I agree with Spectrum's assertion that the background for the video should be the same color as the moon. I think it would be better to shoot the actor against a black background, and one that is totally flat, with no shadows or folds of fabric to create distracting "noise." If the video is projected against a white moon, you can control how much ambient light is hitting the moon versus the brightness of the video image. If there is brightness in the video image behind the actor, then you can't separate the actor from the background. when it is projected onto the moon surface.

http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm

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Lights and Sound
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Lights and Sound

Author	Message
Karin Lead Joined: 12/27/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 47	Topic: Projecting face on a moon Posted: 5/03/09 at 7:27pm
	Hi, How would I project the face of one of the cast members onto a moon. I have a large white circle (30 inch diameter) I plan to hang in front of a backdrop for the moon. I would like to project the face of the Fairy Godmother as she is narrating in the opening scene. Is there a way I can videotape her speaking ahead of time and then project it somehow. I have no idea how best to get this effect. I would appreciate someone with technical expertise to share their gift. What equipment would I need? Thanks in advance.

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Spectrum Celebrity Joined: 4/16/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 176	Posted: 5/03/09 at 9:06pm
	If you have a DLP or LCD projector connected to a video player, it would be a simple matter to project a video image onto a moon. I would suggest using the same color backdrop behind the actor as is used on your moon. You can also mask out any "spill-over" at the projector to keep the image on the moon only (and avoid the edges of your rectangular image spilling onto whatever is beside/behind your moon). Good luck with whatever you end up doing.
	Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
	IP Logged

David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 5/03/09 at 10:20pm
	We did Wizard of Oz last sumer and I just did something very much like this for the wizard's big face scene. There was a video projector in the venue already so I just connected a camera. That way it all stayed "live". You will need to light the face. You will probably want to mic the actor as well as add an effect. I cut an oval shaped hole the size of the actors face in a black tote and mounted it so that she could stand behind and comfortably put her face into the hole. I then adjusted the camera so that the face was projected to the area that I wanted it to appear. You will probably need a little more masking. This can be done at the camera by putting black tape on the sun shade that is on the front of the lens. Of course we are throwing away most of the resolution of the projector, but it still worked fine for my application. We had a pretty good projector. Pictures from Oz If you bring in your own projector you will have more control over the resolution by placing the projector closer to the "moon". The same techniques should still work.
	David M
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KEB54 Celebrity Joined: 7/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227	Posted: 5/04/09 at 12:20pm
	I did that many, many years ago. It was the magic mirror talking in Snow White. We did back projection. That way you don't need a "super" projection that can throw a long distance. The projector is upstage of the the mirror, or, in your case, the moon.
	KEB
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David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 5/04/09 at 12:36pm
	I agree that rear projection has plenty of advantages, but some directors don't want to give up the stage space it required for rear projection. Many towns have beautiful new "Performing Arts Centers". Some come with decent video projectors permanently mounted in the booth. I'm just mentioning it as a possible asset to some folks that have access to these venues. It does have a lot of limitations that you have to work around.
	David M
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bmiller025 Star Joined: 10/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Posted: 6/02/09 at 12:37pm
	I am not sure I agree with Spectrum's assertion that the background for the video should be the same color as the moon. I think it would be better to shoot the actor against a black background, and one that is totally flat, with no shadows or folds of fabric to create distracting "noise." If the video is projected against a white moon, you can control how much ambient light is hitting the moon versus the brightness of the video image. If there is brightness in the video image behind the actor, then you can't separate the actor from the background. when it is projected onto the moon surface.
	http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
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Topic: Projecting face on a moon( Topic Closed)