How did Kubrick shoot HAL's "eye" in 2001: A Space Odyssey?
How did Kubrick shoot HAL's "eye" in 2001: A Space Odyssey? We see the reflection of the astronauts approaching HAL, but not the camera.
How was it done?
Best Answer
You don't see a reflection. What you see is an actor coming towards the camera. The HAL lense and light reflexes are added from a different layer.
In Odyssey Kubrick used a technique called "Front Screen Projection"
A technology that uses projecting a pre-recorded movie on a very reflective material (Scotchlite by 3M in the case of 2001:SO) using a one way mirror set at 45 degrees toward the projector. Beetwen the mirror and Scotchlite the actor was placed (or in case of 2001:SO the whole scenography). The camera record that through that one way mirror.
Here's a picture of the setup they used (photo taken from Stanley Kubrick Exibition in National Museum in Krakow/Poland).
In the left part of the blue cube you can see HAL's eye. On the black wall a pre-recorded movie (or in the case of this exibition - visitors) were present.
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How did Kubrick shoot 2001?
Arguably the most impressive special effect in 2001: A Space Odyssey is the trippy "Star Gate" sequence (the one that attracted all those college students upon release). The effect was achieved by using a film technique known as slit-scan photography (as well as shooting various paints and chemicals moving in a pool).How did they film the zero gravity scenes in 2001: A Space Odyssey?
The illusion of astronauts floating in space was created by hanging stunt performers upside down with wires from the ceiling of the studio, often for hours at a time. The achievements of 2001's effects, which were all done without the benefits of computer technology, are nothing less than amazing.Who did the cinematography for 2001: A Space Odyssey?
2001: A Space Odyssey (film)2001: A Space OdysseyStarringKeir Dullea Gary LockwoodCinematographyGeoffrey UnsworthEdited byRay LovejoyProduction companyStanley Kubrick Productions11 more rowsHow did they film 2001 space?
2001: A Space Odyssey196820101984Kubrick's The Shining(1980) - Rare Behind The Scenes Footage
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Answer 2
Nowadays CGI would be used for a scene like this (see Mirror shot without camera reflection in "Velvet Buzzsaw").
CGI Lens shot:
But since that technique was most likely not available at the time and might also not have been a great fit for Kubricks artistic approach, there must be a practical solution at works here. Other movies have done similar things as discussed in How do they film the mirror scenes in movies?.
I would suggest that Kubrick used a combination of multiple techniques for the given effect. Similar to the scene in the linked SO, it might not a reflection but instead a lensed window into a room with the actor/astronaut and most of the lightning. The yellow light in the very center, might be a smart reflection from the cameras side using a slightly different technique of using an off-center object to be reflected towards the off-center camera, having them both appear centered (this is the go-to practical mirror-filming technique).
Off-center mirror shot:
The framing of the lens might also have been on the cameras side and been carefully lit to have the desired look. Afterall, Kubrick was a master of lightning as well.
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