Actually, I'm chasing the technique used to make Hayley Mills into twins.
I love the movie Parent Trap (1961) and the visual trick it pulls off, the illusion of two Hayley Mills in the same three-dimensional space. And I have always wanted to learn how to do it.
Working to acquire a skill that I don't fully understand, on equipment that I'm not completely versed in, has been the hallmark of this videography journey. It's exhilarating. It's frustrating. I stay up too late. I forget to hydrate. I feel like a kid. I feel super old.
The Hayley Mills technique used these days is called masking. It is the visual equivalent of collage or appliqué, but digital and with a moving target. It can be used for making twins but it's also used for removing images you don't want in your shot or for adding a little title trickery.
This month's blog post is about my pursuit and capture of the masking technique. The link to the video is here. (5:54)
Masking Project #1:
This hallway has eight doors and five people coming and going. Can freshly showered Auntie get from the bathroom to her bedroom without being seen? (3:39)
"A Hallway Farce" stars my friend, Elaine, who previously had small roles in "French Crullers" and "Pasta Making," both part of the A Year of Baking Dangerously series.
Masking Project #2:
After learning video masking, I was eager to do a quick, clean project. I went outside into a high-contrast environment and made this 13-second video. Filmed at Volunteer Park in Seattle.
Trivial Matters:
Best Film Editing: Parent Trap was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film Editing in 1961. West Side Story won. Dad's Digs: Disney still receives requests for design plans for the beautiful ranch home owned by the father (Brian Keith), but it never existed except in the studio.
Surprising Sounds: In 2005, Paul Anka released Rock Swings, an album of rock songs with a swing jazz interpretation. It includes Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" and an amazing version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
