Glossary: Front / rear projection
Composite process whereby footage meant to appear as the background of a shot is projected from the front or rear onto a screen; figures in the foreground are filmed in front of the screen. In rear projection, foreground and background tend to look quite distinct. In front projection, a two-way mirror is used, angled so that the camera photographs the actors against the screen by shooting through the mirror. Front projection blends foreground and background fairly smoothly.
From An American in Paris
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Frame 1: Rear projection of Place de l'Opera in background |
From 2001: A Space Odyssey
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Frame 1: Front projection of sky in background (the tiger's eyes reflect the light of the projector) |