Help from experienced filmakers would be very appreciated!

C

Christoph

Ok, this is my first post on IndieTalk.com so excuse my noobiness. :)

For school I have to make a short film for an end of the year project. I dont know how to properly explain this so I will just try my best... I have to make a movie by myself or with a couple of friends. This movie has to be about 5 to 10 minutes. I would like to know if it is possible to merge two video sequences of myself on different sides of the shot together to make the effect that I am interacting with myself. Could you guys let me know how I would go about doing this, what software I need or if it is even possible. If it would require software, prices would be appreciated. Thanks in advance to anyone who replies!
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
If you are doing standard over the shoulder shots, get someone with the same clothes and hair to help you out.

When you are doing a master shot from the side, you could do it with pretty much any advanced software!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
http://revision3.com/filmriot/cloning

You should be able to do it with any software that allow you to "crop" your video and allows for more than one layer of video... lock down your camera and act one side, then act the other side and line up your dialog bits with one side on the bottom video track, and the other on the top track, then adjust the crop on the top layer to reveal the bottom footage... don't cross the line of the crop.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
knightly said:
http://revision3.com/filmriot/cloning

You should be able to do it with any software that allow you to "crop" your video and allows for more than one layer of video... lock down your camera and act one side, then act the other side and line up your dialog bits with one side on the bottom video track, and the other on the top track, then adjust the crop on the top layer to reveal the bottom footage... don't cross the line of the crop.
Click to expand...

This is exactly how you do it. The term for this method is called "split-screen". Every single sitcom from the 80's used this method at least once, when someone's evil twin showed up, or they were cloned, or whatever.

It's very important that you control the lighting. Everything needs to stay consistent. If you shoot outside, a cloud rolling by will really screw up your shot.

Also, although Knightly already mentioned it, I just want to reiterate and really emphasize the "locking-down" of your camera. Don't let it move, not one bit. For this purpose, once I press "record", I don't call cut until I've shot both sides. Even if you're really carefull, just the slightest bit of movement, from touching the camera, can ruin the shot.

This reminds me of my first proper short, and I hope you don't mind me sharing it with you. We used split-screen a total of four times in this silly little movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0fy6UHUrIo
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top