filming in mirrors/reflections

[Nate Benson]

I'm working on a project and one of the shots calls for a reflection in the mirror, much liks zach braff in garden state. But I obviously dont want to get the camera in the shot. Has anyone done shots like these? If so how do you go about it. Thanks in advance

[Marcus Marchesseault]

The only way I know of to handle a mirror is to shoot it at an angle. You may also need to set up your scene so it looks normal on camera even though the talent may not be able to see themselves clearly in the mirror. Changing the angles for the camera may look weird to you on the set, but the only thing that counts is how it looks on camera.

[Matt Newcomb]

Yep, you obviously can't be straight on, so you're going to have to try and find some interesting angles to show your reflection.

[Steve House]

Or you might not use a mirror at all, instead putting a green screen in the frame in place of the mirror and compsiting in a shot to make up the "reflection."

[Paul Jefferies]

Originally Posted by Steve House

Or you might not use a mirror at all, instead putting a green screen in the frame in place of the mirror and compsiting in a shot to make up the "reflection."

Or even go the whole way and build a fake wall with a mirror hole in it, use a stand in/double for the back of the head and have your actor facing out from behind the mirror hole, if you see what I mean (see whichever marx brothers film it is that uses this technique...)