2 way mirror

[Ben Lawrance]

Hi All,

 

I've been given a task to create a reveal in a mirror (Snow White - Mirror Mirror on the Wall etc)

 

 

What the director wants, is a 2 way mirror. Looks like a mirror from the front, but when you light behind it, it becomes see through.

 

 

It's hard to explain in words, but the effect she wants is like when Elpheba comes out of the wardrobe in Wicked.

 

Now, I've been searching the net for a while, but I don't think I'm searching with the right words.

 

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to where to get this stuff, and if it's going to cost the earth. The mirror is an oval type shape, and won't be any bigger than about 2 foot wide, buy 3 foot long.

 

 

Any help received with thanks

 

Cheers

Ben

[boatman]

Whatever search terms did you put into Google that failed you? "Two way mirror" came up with this link in just a couple of seconds.

[JimWebber]

But will a two way mirror work when used like that? I was under the impression that one side was reflective, however much light you threw at the other side?

 

 

Jim

[Jivemaster]

Try getting a (small test piece of ) mirror and removing the backing paint with paint stripper. Then you may see enough of something behind when suitably lit.

 

Also look into car pimping window films applied to glass.

[rik.eke]

The cheep and traditional method is the use the effect known as Pepper's ghost.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepper%27s_ghost

 

You just need an angled piece of glass, or perspex. Lots of howtos on the web.

[Brian]

Also look into car pimping window films applied to glass.

Which is the 'proper' way to do it on the cheap. If you don't want glass then perspex will work just as well.

[kitlane]

Also look into car pimping window films applied to glass.

 

Also, look for Solar Window Film. Same sort of product but possibly cheaper and available in larger sizes. I've used this on glass and perspex for effects similar to that you are attempting and it is quite successful.

 

Also, have used this without a substrate (glass or perspex) as a shrink film; you have to be careful not to melt it but it does work.

[rik.eke]

For the ultimate cheap: Double glazing film

 

http://www.focusdiy.co.uk/invt/119351

 

Just tape it to a frame and take a hair dryer to it. Only down side is that its easy to damage.

[theoisamazing]

Hope this is of some use!

 

http://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/acrylic-mi...hru-3446-0.html

[Kate.Frost]

I have experience using both kinds- we originally went with the proper, expensive film idea after instance from the designer, but it proved too see-through, too fragile. We luckily had enough left in the budget to replace with perspex which worked a treat. Just have to keep polishing it to remove fingerprints (which give it away!) and package carefully if on tour to minimize scratches.

[dombrown]

Can you not just use normal glass? The audience wouldn't see the reflection of a mirror anyway and if its dark behind it will reflect, imaging looking out of a window at night from a lit room, you get a reflection. When you want the glass to be see through, you just light the character behind the glass and then the glass becomes "transparent". Also, if you have an actual mirror, of properly reflective surface, you may have problems with lighting reflecting into the audience and the audience seeing things "off stage" dependent on the angle of the mirror.

Dom