I agree with the method of the green screen.

Shoot clean plate locked downm.

Then shoot actor coming in again locked down, but with green covering the mirror.

Put the actor shot on V2, and the clean plate on V1, now apply the spectramatte to V2 and key out the green.....Seems to me that this would be much simpler, quicker and cleaner than trying to mask the actor by using the animatte.

Make sure that the lighting is the same with both shots....also, keep the actor as far away from green as possible (cloths etc), as you will likely get some spill and do not want to start keying out parts of him.

Regards

Mark

Yeah, I've been thinking alot about this series of effects shots and I'm slowly coming to realise there is a very easy way to do this. Someone else earlier in this thread already suggested this approach.  This effect can be accomplished by simply making sure the camera is locked down at an angle of between 30 to 45 degrees to the RIGHT side of the actor looking in the mirror. You can normally see his reflection completely and not see the camera or crew, yet now you have enough space to create a simple split-screen line. As long as the actor does not get too physically close to the mirror (thus crossing the split-screen line and ruining the illusion), then you just make a simple split screen line at the edge or just before the edge of the mirror and that split screen is the other locked down shot without anyone in the room. Et Viola !

Laptopeditor:

jwrl:

You could also do the effect in camera by rigging your mirror at 45 degrees and reflecting a duplicate, similarly dressed, background set.  No post production required.

 

 ....Huh ?

It's the basis of a series of old-time stage illusions.  By angling the mirror you can reflect an area of the room that is clear.  That way you can do the classic over-the-shoulder shot apparently front on to the mirror but not reflecting the actor (or crew for that matter).  As long as the image that you see in the mirror is consistent with your master shot it will work.

jwrl:

It's the basis of a series of old-time stage illusions.  By angling the mirror you can reflect an area of the room that is clear.  That way you can do the classic over-the-shoulder shot apparently front on to the mirror but not reflecting the actor (or crew for that matter).  As long as the image that you see in the mirror is consistent with your master shot it will work.

 ...That's cool man ! Very cool !