Last class, we talked briefly about an early visual effects technique called “front projection”. I found this interesting because I wondered how filmmakers would be able to project the images without the actors being in the way of the screen. I realized how it works after watching the Shanks FX video shown in class and another video I found.
Front projection is used to act as a backdrop for filmmaking. In the video by Shanks FX, most of the examples were using the projector with moving images. One of the examples that used this technique was a film called Oblivion. I was so excited to see this because I remember first watching this film years ago and seeing the behind the scenes footage. In the movie, several scenes are made to appear as though we’re many feet in the air. The filmmakers used a large open space and their projection screen wrapped all around the four walls, the corners curving gently to not disturb the image. In the center, they had their set pieces and props, such as a home with large glass windows and a futuristic helicopter.
The footage they used was of the movement of clouds with the sunrise and sunset, taken from a volcano in Maui called Haleakala. This was a great application of the front projection technique because building a set near a volcano and hauling filming equipment out there wouldn’t have been realistic. The filmmakers of Oblivion were able to achieve a seamless and believable environment for the film using front projection. I would like to give the technique a try as well, possibly in a future project!
Sydney McPherson
ANIM223 - HISTORY OF ANIMATION - FALL 2019 