MovieChat Forums > The International (2009) Discussion > Elevator Scene - No Camera Reflection

Elevator Scene - No Camera Reflection

posted 15 years ago by CamoDamage
8 replies | jump to latest

While there's been a bit of bashing of this movie for being slow and boring, the whole film is filled with understated bits of genius. The Guggenheim scene is quite possibly one of the best action set-pieces of *beep* just starts happening out of no-where" moments. There are a lot of things that happen in the background that are pretty cool that you just don't notice - when you just need to stop and take a second look.

One of these is in the elevator when Clive and Naomi are on their way up to see the Italian arms manufacturer. The camera is pointed to them as they stand with their backs to a mirrored wall. You can see the elevator doors opposite them, which then open to show the guy standing outside.

This scene is pretty cool because - normally, you would see the camera in the reflection - but it's like the camera isn't even there! It's invisible! I'm sure there's some post-production trickery here, but you don't even notice it.

It's a general theme that runs through the movie - things happening that you don't notice.

Check it out.

[–] rsquires 15 years ago

A similar scene occurs in Terminator 2. This is the scene where they open up Arnold's brain to enable the learning function, and you see a mirror in front as they do this (I forget the details). Anyway, in the special feature segment it's explained that they used the twin of one of the actors, and a dummy for Arnold for the mirror image. Another way to do it is film them from the back, then project that film onto a transparent screen that replaces the backwall of the elevator as the front scene is shot.

[–] slowsnailstudios 15 years ago

I'm sure there's some post-production trickery here, but you don't even notice it.

not necessarily... they could have shot through a two-way mirror...

...has been a Browncoat since 2002... and is proud... ^_^

[–] snowleopard 15 years ago

You actually see not only their reflection in the mirror, but the second reflection (blurry) in the shiny metallic elevator doors! It's likely the scene is a composite shot on green screens, but pretty cool, yes.

[–] andyd-1 15 years ago

yes it would now be easy to get rid of the cameraman with CGI etc.

[–] thekino 15 years ago

1) Frequently CGI is used to remove cameramen from mirrored shots

2) Take another look at the Guggenheim shootout. The CGI bullet holes are awful, not to mention in one shot, right before they duck back under the wall they disappear for 1/4 second; like, the CGI cuts out.

It was lazy filmmaking IMHO.

[–] bbball 15 years ago

ad 2), what makes you think that the bullet holes in the Guggenheim scene are CGI?

[–] droche-3 13 years ago

I notice this right off, too. But it is not a tricky mirror shot at all. There was no mirror in the "elevator". They are acting in front of a green screen, with tiny cameras behind their head (capturing their performance from the back). The reversed performannce is played over the green screen in the CGI post production. The "center" of the shot--the one the would see the camera--was never recorded, so the elevator doors are spliced into the ceneter third of the screen.

"When you throw dirt, you lose ground" --old proverb

[–] 13 years ago

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