Human Cloning and Camera Techniques
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009 running time 12:12
In this episode we show how to duplicate your actor and break down some basic camera set-ups.
Segments
Do you need a professional website, blog, or portfolio; and don’t have the cash or know-how to get it done? Well then… Squarespace is the answer to your prayers! Check out their amazingly easy to use interface at: squarespace.com.
The Cloning Effect
Cloning can be very easy if you keep a few things in mind while you’re shooting. Be careful of shadows, don’t move your camera (unless you plan on motion tracking), and shoot where the light won’t shift.
First...lock your camera on a tripod and have your actor play out the scene in all the positions you need. Again, be sure not to move the camera at all! Any shift will ruin the effect. Next...bring your footage into your editing suite or effect software; placing one clip on top of the other; then just mask your actor out of the clip on top, add some feathering, and you should have a pretty good effect.
Interacting With Yourself
If you want to have your actor move behind himself, you will either need to do frame by frame masking, or use a green screen. I typically lean toward the masking; green screening on location is really tough without the proper gear (which isn’t cheap).
Once you’re done, check out our Film Riot twitter for updates on the latest movie news and filmmaking tips.
And if you have an idea for an effect that you’d like to see made into an episode, shoot us an email at FilmRiot@Revision3.com.
Highlights
iraq iran
(
3:12
)
netflix
(
0:05, 6:09, 6:29, 6:46
)
squarespace
(
0:06, 10:14
)
cloning
(
0:14, 1:10
)
Automatically Generated Transcript(may not be 100% accurate) ( more )
" This episode of the right is brought to buy Netflix and Squarespace. But -- right facilities mystery of the facts and techniques -- of your favorite Hollywood films today we're gonna get some human cloning and the later basic camera time."
" Yeah. -- it's."
" But it go red bulls -- a lot. We're gonna vote for it felt -- post production of the grab some popcorn and get comfortable. That this felt right."
" 88 and let's give."
" You indicated gang now. I think in the bathroom to explain can't. Sort spontaneously cloning you looked -- you know. It's -- told according thing. Now this. Q well. I know this. Is that the word scenes. Excellent -- these certain word what weird it."
" Ejection time."
" Thanks."
" Well it's a polite."
" And -- stupid. -- There's nothing in here to drink no more thought there's be liquidated for to be drink a glass cup."
" Against all of that. That the -- Even know what that means a lot. Cool. There. In the bathroom. I'm not okay."
" About that a -- that's actually relevant to the episode. Was."
" Didn't. --"
" And flooded out that -- back on track thought watching the trailer throughout the wonderland like the tenth time. And I got an email Iraq Iran a script that'll be shooting in the beginning next month and -- to -- in -- to -- But there's one thing I don't have a twin brother. And India's. Trying to think of something wondered if that. --"
" Com. Me and."
" Warren. -- gotten us."
" Afford to do the effect I have to decide what method used green screening masking or a little bit about. I decided to go of masking because of low budget about from behind toys would be really hard to use green screening and so get a -- in fact. She is key. For the first shot above the clouds in the kitchen a lot like it went out on the tripod and directed -- the -- in different spots there. -- make sure not to move -- camp at the temperatures at all the effect won't work. Number on your -- and after. Now we're really putting out the facts or any other editing software starts stacking your clips. Then with the masking tool -- out your -- out of each one of layers except for the bottom. Then adjust the mask to make for the characters don't interfere with each other than and a feather to help the -- They could use a green screen -- Iraq it will be himself about -- electric mask. But about a controlled studio environment you might have some disappointing results. You doing. Next up have -- actor actually interact with himself. To do this like a point of reference for just to look at and the picture that we have in the right spot once -- moved to the other side. Then shot the scenes with enough angle action that I could come around easily -- out there act. That's just like before bring your footage and after effects and other editing program the two clips together using them asking people not to attracted attention himself like we did you have to be friendly for masking or he's agreeing to either way while you're -- be careful of status if you got a shadow crosses the -- where you gonna -- clone. And -- in the fact. No he's not actual operation with -- you creepy that it will."
" Right. Well to tiger. And MV go around although they'd like up -- rivals or. -- In. Good golly it was hot air my right. Front the front seat just not."
" Netflix. But just sport."
" I'd vote on a lot of right James oddly that would that would I."
" That's patient and -- and we get them one bit that they give that."
" But don't listen -- who's honest and --"
" Why hello run Netflix plans sort of the sport in -- no -- you got a free two week trial check out Netflix dot org plus --"
" Away and does my friend. Netflix. "
" come all and."
" I have three question three. One do you live in Florida to having whatever reason is what you learn -- right at the -- can you make a short film and just today. If your answer is yes well then here to Pittsburgh 48 hour film project challenges -- to write shoot edit and scored short film in one weekend. And it's coming to Orlando the winning teams on the -- of pollution. An international festival shown during the 2010 and maybe show it off Lincoln day the 48 hour film project kicks off August 14 and excited save on one of the gets cut. So if you wanna see you there thinking register your team today at 48 hour film dot com forward slash -- Because space is limited."
" you ask questions."
" He's just you don't element to it. Okay what's this you close -- what -- what exactly. When your subject fills the entire friends it's an actor it's from the top of the head to just -- Let's in the icu even close that facility from the top of the -- taxes the --"
" Us to ask you know. -- sort of knowledge."
" Steve explain and that's -- yes. And this is the director Alice is alongside the entire body here and yes -- UV you'll be disappointed you but let's look at your characters such not to be confused with the flying dutchman. -- That's when your friend -- typically used -- Partners is a high angle -- a little reversing rules when you're shooting one to put -- the second shot the other. Your time. Is that the geographies."
" The freezer."
" But I do know -- don't do -- Dolly shot. But it Delhi India's. Means. A lot master after all. They did have looked. There's an idea that popped into my head on how to enter card you know just -- on track to track and car or -- don't attract and keep these bags that you -- on the back. Then have a driver -- that you shot to be -- you stabilized camera. -- except for it yet. I didn't pop in an end. Of the unit count. Yeah."
" Thank you for the camera on the tripod trap on the content. -- And that's in this episode some cooperation if you have any tips and techniques Felix in the show you can email me at Josh and the cooperation dot com and I'll see that the president."
" These two walks like a duck talks like a duck and acts like a --"
" that's the argument about."
" Squarespace is a publishing system for anyone looking to build a blog portfolio or any other kind of and Squarespace seen the amazing thing that they are have built trying to build an incredible insight they have that we just want to that so now I can go in and of this size color and and positioning. All the elements of my site without having you know -- at all and they've made it insanely easy to people like confident that did -- to check out -- and don't dot com and leave a comment on the news section. But let's go to thing. And jump over Squarespace dot com and get -- type stuff. And if you do and don't forget to represent for you from the from a -- film right you can get 10% off a life of order."
" of the episode has always at you have an effective technique they want to show you can email me it felt right at revision3.com. And if you -- you some twittering you can hit that ball but O'Brien underscore -- To me as -- Allen and got out of work and of course don't forget about the overnight FaceBook it's always posting new and cool stuff there's definitely check it out -- CSX's."
" that."
" You guys do."
" This episode of the right is brought to buy Netflix and Squarespace. But -- right facilities mystery of the facts and techniques -- of your favorite Hollywood films today we're gonna get some human cloning and the later basic camera time."
" Yeah. -- it's."
" But it go red bulls -- a lot. We're gonna vote for it felt -- post production of the grab some popcorn and get comfortable. That this felt right."
" 88 and let's give."
" You indicated gang now. I think in the bathroom to explain can't. Sort spontaneously cloning you looked -- you know. It's -- told according thing. Now this. Q well. I know this. Is that the word scenes. Excellent -- these certain word what weird it."
" Ejection time."
" Thanks."
" Well it's a polite."
" And -- stupid. -- There's nothing in here to drink no more thought there's be liquidated for to be drink a glass cup."
" Against all of that. That the -- Even know what that means a lot. Cool. There. In the bathroom. I'm not okay."
" About that a -- that's actually relevant to the episode. Was."
" Didn't. --"
" And flooded out that -- back on track thought watching the trailer throughout the wonderland like the tenth time. And I got an email Iraq Iran a script that'll be shooting in the beginning next month and -- to -- in -- to -- But there's one thing I don't have a twin brother. And India's. Trying to think of something wondered if that. --"
" Com. Me and."
" Warren. -- gotten us."
" Afford to do the effect I have to decide what method used green screening masking or a little bit about. I decided to go of masking because of low budget about from behind toys would be really hard to use green screening and so get a -- in fact. She is key. For the first shot above the clouds in the kitchen a lot like it went out on the tripod and directed -- the -- in different spots there. -- make sure not to move -- camp at the temperatures at all the effect won't work. Number on your -- and after. Now we're really putting out the facts or any other editing software starts stacking your clips. Then with the masking tool -- out your -- out of each one of layers except for the bottom. Then adjust the mask to make for the characters don't interfere with each other than and a feather to help the -- They could use a green screen -- Iraq it will be himself about -- electric mask. But about a controlled studio environment you might have some disappointing results. You doing. Next up have -- actor actually interact with himself. To do this like a point of reference for just to look at and the picture that we have in the right spot once -- moved to the other side. Then shot the scenes with enough angle action that I could come around easily -- out there act. That's just like before bring your footage and after effects and other editing program the two clips together using them asking people not to attracted attention himself like we did you have to be friendly for masking or he's agreeing to either way while you're -- be careful of status if you got a shadow crosses the -- where you gonna -- clone. And -- in the fact. No he's not actual operation with -- you creepy that it will."
" Right. Well to tiger. And MV go around although they'd like up -- rivals or. -- In. Good golly it was hot air my right. Front the front seat just not."
" Netflix. But just sport."
" I'd vote on a lot of right James oddly that would that would I."
" That's patient and -- and we get them one bit that they give that."
" But don't listen -- who's honest and --"
" Why hello run Netflix plans sort of the sport in -- no -- you got a free two week trial check out Netflix dot org plus --"
" Away and does my friend. Netflix. "
" come all and."
" I have three question three. One do you live in Florida to having whatever reason is what you learn -- right at the -- can you make a short film and just today. If your answer is yes well then here to Pittsburgh 48 hour film project challenges -- to write shoot edit and scored short film in one weekend. And it's coming to Orlando the winning teams on the -- of pollution. An international festival shown during the 2010 and maybe show it off Lincoln day the 48 hour film project kicks off August 14 and excited save on one of the gets cut. So if you wanna see you there thinking register your team today at 48 hour film dot com forward slash -- Because space is limited."
" you ask questions."
" He's just you don't element to it. Okay what's this you close -- what -- what exactly. When your subject fills the entire friends it's an actor it's from the top of the head to just -- Let's in the icu even close that facility from the top of the -- taxes the --"
" Us to ask you know. -- sort of knowledge."
" Steve explain and that's -- yes. And this is the director Alice is alongside the entire body here and yes -- UV you'll be disappointed you but let's look at your characters such not to be confused with the flying dutchman. -- That's when your friend -- typically used -- Partners is a high angle -- a little reversing rules when you're shooting one to put -- the second shot the other. Your time. Is that the geographies."
" The freezer."
" But I do know -- don't do -- Dolly shot. But it Delhi India's. Means. A lot master after all. They did have looked. There's an idea that popped into my head on how to enter card you know just -- on track to track and car or -- don't attract and keep these bags that you -- on the back. Then have a driver -- that you shot to be -- you stabilized camera. -- except for it yet. I didn't pop in an end. Of the unit count. Yeah."
" Thank you for the camera on the tripod trap on the content. -- And that's in this episode some cooperation if you have any tips and techniques Felix in the show you can email me at Josh and the cooperation dot com and I'll see that the president."
" These two walks like a duck talks like a duck and acts like a --"
" that's the argument about."
" Squarespace is a publishing system for anyone looking to build a blog portfolio or any other kind of and Squarespace seen the amazing thing that they are have built trying to build an incredible insight they have that we just want to that so now I can go in and of this size color and and positioning. All the elements of my site without having you know -- at all and they've made it insanely easy to people like confident that did -- to check out -- and don't dot com and leave a comment on the news section. But let's go to thing. And jump over Squarespace dot com and get -- type stuff. And if you do and don't forget to represent for you from the from a -- film right you can get 10% off a life of order."
" of the episode has always at you have an effective technique they want to show you can email me it felt right at revision3.com. And if you -- you some twittering you can hit that ball but O'Brien underscore -- To me as -- Allen and got out of work and of course don't forget about the overnight FaceBook it's always posting new and cool stuff there's definitely check it out -- CSX's."
" that."
" You guys do."
Please visit the sponsors of this episode. Interested in more Revision3 special offers?

Netflix
With Netflix, you can order over 90,000 titles including Blu-Ray titles with free shipping both ways to and from your home. Netflix plans start from only $4.99 and new members can start with a 2-week no-risk trial.

Squarespace
Squarespace is an extremely easy to use, fully hosted, completely managed environment for creating and maintaining a website, blog or portfolio. Its intuitive format and features let you be as simple or as sophisticated as you want in the way that you organize your content, no matter what it is your website calls for. Either way, you'll end up with a website that looks like you paid thousands of dollars to design it for you. For plans starting at $8 dollars a month, Squarespace is a deal you can't beat.
kzap
Started discussion: August 6, 2009 @ 2:54am GMT
Episode 11 - Human Cloning and Camera Technique
In this episode we show how to duplicate your actor and break down some basic camera set-ups.
Cloning can be very easy if you keep a few things in mind while you’re shooting. Be careful of shadows, don’t move your camera (unless you plan on motion tracking), and shoot where the light won’t shift.??First...lock your camera on a tripod and have your actor play out the scene in all the positions you need. Again, be sure not to move the camera at all! Any shift will ruin the effect. Next...bring your footage into your editing suite or effect software; placing one clip on top of the other; then just mask your actor out of the clip on top, add some feathering, and you should have a pretty good effect.
Watch or download this episode now!
[CENTER]---
[LEFT]Great episodes, I did a cloning effect for a film a while ago, I used 3 techniques:
Split screen:

Which surprisingly worked really well.
Face replacement:

An idea I came up with and failed dismally.
Double:

Which work as well as I thought it would.
[/LEFT]
[/CENTER]
OliverBlank
4 months ago
Another really cheap way to do a dolly shot is go to a second hand store and find a cheep wheel chair. I got one for 4 bucks. You can either set up the tripod in the wheelchair, secure it as you see fit and be VERY CAREFUL, or have the cameraman, with a tripod or monopod for stability, sitting in the chair, while someone else pushes it. You can get a reasonably good dolly in closed areas, or other places you can't easily get a car, like hallways and rooftops.
It also makes for a nice piece of furniture. Mine is the desk chair I'm sitting in RIGHT NOW.
Unfortunately, I have little use for dollies, I do a lot of faux documentary style work, and, while precarious, it generally works best for the effect, to just have the camera man walk around following the actors.
It also makes for a nice piece of furniture. Mine is the desk chair I'm sitting in RIGHT NOW.
Unfortunately, I have little use for dollies, I do a lot of faux documentary style work, and, while precarious, it generally works best for the effect, to just have the camera man walk around following the actors.
kzap
4 months ago
In reply to oliverblank:
Another really cheap way to do a dolly shot is go to a second hand store and find a cheep wheel chair. I got one for 4 bucks. You can either set up the tripod in the wheelchair, secure it as you see fit and be VERY CAREFUL, or have the cameraman, with a tripod or monopod for stability, sitting in the chair, while someone else pushes it. You can get a reasonably good dolly in closed areas, or other places you can't easily get a car, like hallways and rooftops.
It also makes for a nice piece of furniture. Mine is the desk chair I'm sitting in RIGHT NOW.
It also makes for a nice piece of furniture. Mine is the desk chair I'm sitting in RIGHT NOW.
Yea, I've never seen a wheel-chair cheap but there are 3 in the school medical room so if I'm shooting something there I'm allowed to nab one.
Basically anything with wheels can be turned into a dolly, although somethings need more work than others.
Although whatever you used be prepared to dub all your audio, especially if you used a car because you won't be able hear a thing.
OliverBlank
4 months ago
My wheelchair is also relatively quiet. Most of the trouble I've had with it can be masked by dubbing in background noises.
MrPopular
4 months ago
Another Great Episode.
Question to anyone out there on the interwebs. I have Motion 2 & FCP, but in FCP i only get 8 point mask which isn't enough for in depth masking. In motion 2 You can mask all you want, til you blue in the face. But I can't find a spot to add a keyframe so that in the next frame I can move the points around the subject? So if anyone has Motion and has some insight, Plz Clue Me In.
Question to anyone out there on the interwebs. I have Motion 2 & FCP, but in FCP i only get 8 point mask which isn't enough for in depth masking. In motion 2 You can mask all you want, til you blue in the face. But I can't find a spot to add a keyframe so that in the next frame I can move the points around the subject? So if anyone has Motion and has some insight, Plz Clue Me In.
xfuuey
4 months ago
hilarious episode. i honestly have never given two shits about film editing, but you guys make it interesting & fun. it actually makes me wana mess around with that stuff in my free time. thanks for a great show. keep it up :)
kzap
4 months ago
In reply to MrPopular:
Another Great Episode.
Question to anyone out there on the interwebs. I have Motion 2 & FCP, but in FCP i only get 8 point mask which isn't enough for in depth masking. In motion 2 You can mask all you want, til you blue in the face. But I can't find a spot to add a keyframe so that in the next frame I can move the points around the subject? So if anyone has Motion and has some insight, Plz Clue Me In.
Question to anyone out there on the interwebs. I have Motion 2 & FCP, but in FCP i only get 8 point mask which isn't enough for in depth masking. In motion 2 You can mask all you want, til you blue in the face. But I can't find a spot to add a keyframe so that in the next frame I can move the points around the subject? So if anyone has Motion and has some insight, Plz Clue Me In.
Same problem here, I can only mask up to 16 points :(
The only way I can find to do it, is apply the masking effect once and do half the image then apply it again and do the other half and then again to get the details.
Takes a LONG time, that's why I prefer greenscreening.
Depending on the shot you should be fine with 8 points, for cloning I normally only use 4 or just straight crop of the image.
wouldy0ukindly
4 months ago
Not as funny as usual
I think you guys are more suited to high energy comedy, like in episode 1. Still a good episode tho.masterevilace
4 months ago
This episode was amazing. Best show on Rev3, at the moment.
It's not only tutorials, but the way you guys present them. These comedy sketches are hilarious and really pull you into the effects
It's not only tutorials, but the way you guys present them. These comedy sketches are hilarious and really pull you into the effects















If anyone is wondering, you will never get to see that video I made with the evil twin, trust me it's bad.
Also there is a continuity error that the two peoples glasses disappear.
I just remembered I've been using the split screen cloning effect even longer than that, one of my very first videos I only had two actors.
It was a fantasy film and one of the scenes was at a funeral, it was the same two actors over and over again with different masks on.
We couldn't even afford a coffin so used an Amazon box wrapped in cloth, at the time we thought it was so high budget, ahh, those were the days.
Enough nostalgia, great episode like I said, the explanation of all the diffrent types of shots were really good and WTF was "Warning!" that was a bit of a non-sequitur, verry funny.
You guys have to look at the automatically genirated transcript here: http://revision3.com/filmriot/cloning maybe it's because you talk so fast but none of it makes any sense.