Double acting - how do?

[Premjit V.P.]

Hi Guys,

Asking just because I am curious!

Double action in classic movies use to have duped characters of actors and actresses and minimally exposing their facial features.

But how come new movies show double action wherein it seems like the characters are portrayed like identical twins (although it is actually not so) where they even touch each other .

bye
Premjit

[guns1inger]

It is usually done as a combination of some or all of the following

1. Doubles - still used cause their cheap
2. Motion control cameras
3. Blue/Green screens
4. Digital compositing and painting
5. CGI partial or full body replacement

Although it can also be done very convincingly with old fashioned optical effects - some of Dead Ringers still holds up well today.

[AlanHK]

The Patty Duke Show in 1963 had Patty Duke playing identical cousins. They used split screen; i.e. superimposing two frames optically. You could spot the vertical feature (a doorframe, etc) that concealed the join. These days of course it's purely digital. The Kylie Minogue video "Come Into My World" features five Kylies, and duplicates of many extras.

[Premjit V.P.]

Thanks Guns1inger - many times you are the first to answer my questions.

Thanks AlanHK for the additional information.

Bye
Premjit

[guns1inger]

If you can, rent the recent Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and look at how they did the Oompa Loompas using a single actor. There is a feature on it on disc two (at least, there is on our local release)