Introvision
Introvision was a variation on a front-projection process that allowed film makers to view a finished composite of live action and plate photography through the camera's viewfinder on set and in real time. During its heyday, starting with the feature film, Outland in 1981, Introvision enjoyed the novelty of visual effect compositing in-camera, thus eliminating the need to wait for photo-chemical compositing to determine if the effect shot was successful.
President of Introvision Systems, Tom Naud, explained it this way: "Introvision utilizes a
Another benefit to the Introvision process was the ability to place an actor 'inside' a plate, meaning an actor could walk vertically or laterally inside a two-dimensional background image and seemingly go behind objects within any given environment. The actual background on the set was black, so the actor would have to pantomime walking through and around certain objects. Done well, the illusion was nearly perfect, particularly with precise lighting and careful miniature set construction (or previously photographed images, which was done in The Fugitive with a train superimposed behind actor Harrison Ford).
The system faded from use around 1994, due to the widespread adoption of
The Introvision system
The front
Actors and set pieces were placed directly in front of the screen, because the projected image was so brilliant, the intensity of light needed to balance 'live' elements to the screen obliterated the projected image from anything in the foreground. Since the projector and camera were in perfect alignment, the foreground elements themselves blocked any unwanted shadows that they may have cast on the screen.
Origins of the Introvision process
Introvision was created by John Eppolito, who was a stage magician and hypnotist. He spent most of his adult life working as a
Notable film titles
- Outland (1981)
- Inside the Third Reich (1982 miniseries)
- Megaforce (1982)
- Two of a Kind (1983)
- Oh, God! You Devil (1984)
- Stand by Me (1986)
- Rambo III (1988)
- Lock Up (1989)
- Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
- Darkman (1990)
- Army of Darkness (1992)
- Under Siege (1992)
- The Fugitive (1993)