How to Clone an Actor in the Same Frame (Split-Screen Effect)

[Baho]

I'm struggling to figure out the best way to go about doing a particular editing concept. Essentially, I'm trying to clone a character on screen, I need to have two of the exact same person interacting in the same frame. I know a lot of this comes with camera placement, anything anyone could tell me on how to go about doing this would be appreciated, particularly in regards to editing. Thanks a lot.

Baho.

 

[DBXMe2]

It's not really an editing concept, it's a special effect. SOOOO here's how you do it!

Get yourself a copy of Combustion, or Adobe After Effects, and this is what you'll be doing.

You'll have 2 layers of video. One layer, you'll have the video of you walking or whatever... and then on the top layer, you'll have the camera still in that SAME place, you didn't move it or touch it, and then you'll have you doing whatever it is you want to have interact with yourself. AND THEN this is the big one, you'll draw a mask over your top layer to cut off the image which is in the way of your bottom layer.

The end result is you doing stuff, and your self interacting with yourself.

GL buddy... look up tutorials on character duplication on After Effects programs.

 

[Jody Michelle Solis]

You want to have the same character interact with an exact duplicate of himself in the same shot.

Here is an example and how I would tackle it in After Effects:

The Synopsis
I want the same character, sat at each side of a table having a conversation (Let's say Mr A and Mr B). Mr A halfway through the conversation will pass a glass of water to Mr B who will pick it up and take a drink.

The Shoot
At first I would film Mr A having the conversation on his side of the table, and have someone off-screen reading Mr B's part for timing. I would leave 2 seconds gap between Mr A finishing his part of the conversation before Mr B has to speak. At the same time I would record the sound of the take on a separate device*. Half way through Mr A would pass the glass across the table - once done I wouldn't move the glass, just keep it in the same place for Mr B's take!!

Now I would film Mr B on his side of the table, and listen to the previous recording on the separate device* then signal to Mr B to say his parts of the script. Remember the timing/part of the script where the glass is passed across by Mr A, I would give it a few seconds and have Mr B pick it up and take a drink - before filming this take, I would do a few dummy runs because if something fouls up after Mr B picks up the glass, it means filming the part of Mr A all over again! :x

While filming both shots:
I would make sure there is a clear space/gap between Mr A and the glass and Mr B and the glass when filming.
Also that when filming the actor looks in the direction/empty space where the Mr? will be sitting.

The Edit/After Effects
Depending on the sound recording I may have to delete/lower levels on Mr A's take where the person was reading the part of Mr B off-screen.

I would first sync both clips up conversation/timewise. Then just box mask Mr A's clip down the middle, making sure to overlap the glass on Mr B's take (This should show Mr A and Mr B at the table with the glass on Mr A's side). Hopefully the few seconds gap between Mr A putting the glass down and Mr B picking it up, would give me time to move the box mask across following the arm of Mr A (This should now show Mr A and Mr B at the table but this time the glass near Mr B). I may have to create a more detailed mask around the fingers. If I really wanted to be clever I would have someone walk past the table on one of the takes, but this would mean a lot of detailed masking! :shock:

I know I have gone on a bit! and this may not be the idea you have... but this is the way I would tackle it in After Effects.

http://www.grafxflow.co.uk/forum/

 

[TigerFX]

See if this helps you at all.