Thread: rear projection head

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in the haunted mansion, madame leota is a rear projection. i would like to do that, but i don't know where to find a head that would be good. if anyone has any idea where to find one, it would really help. Doombuggies said they use a fiber optic head. i wouldn't know where to get one, find one, or make one.

they do not use a fiber optic head. They use(d) fiber optics to transfer the image into the hollow head. Disney World, to the best of my knowledge, is the only park that uses rear projection. Disneyland uses front projection.

I don't know of any place that would sell what you need. The best thing is to make it yourself. Get a solid head form and tweak it to work as perfectly as possible with front projection. Then use clear plastic to vacuum form the front of the head, giving you a clear, hollow shell. Give it a thin, even coat of white spray paint on the outside of the head so the projection will have something to focus on.
If you used white sheet plastic, not enough light would come through.

Anyway, now you have a front half of a head that can be rear projected upon. Place the projector behind it and use Leota's hair to conceal the fact that there is no back of her head while still leaving it open for the projected image.

When I was planning on using this method, I planned to have a witch sitting behind the crystal ball who would have the projector in her chest. Obviously, with rear projecton, the projector is now facing your patrons and must be concealed.

i dont know how to make a vacume form. could you show me or tell me, or know of anyone who knows how to?

I would check with places where you could buy a blow-molded wig stand (like the styrofoam heads). Hopefully you could find a milky white opaque one and then cut it in half, place it on a stand and then project your image from behind. I'm really not sure why a solid bust won't work for you if you have a projector. It's quite simple to mount your projector above the bust and hide it unless you are placing it outdoors somewhere there is no overhead mounting point.????

Originally Posted by Scruffywolf

I would check with places where you could buy a blow-molded wig stand (like the styrofoam heads). Hopefully you could find a milky white opaque one and then cut it in half, place it on a stand and then project your image from behind. I'm really not sure why a solid bust won't work for you if you have a projector. It's quite simple to mount your projector above the bust and hide it unless you are placing it outdoors somewhere there is no overhead mounting point.????

You could do that, but there's no way to get the effect the way you want it with someone else's head. Plus, you'll need a clear plastic head that you can give a coat of white paint on the outside to allow enough light through while maintaining structure and giving a surface on which to project.

The best way to make a vacuum-forming table: www.TK560.com: Vacuform Table IV

I'm using a nightfrights ghost bust outdoors in my graveyard and still trying to figure out where to hide the projector

Originally Posted by davy2

I'm using a nightfrights ghost bust outdoors in my graveyard and still trying to figure out where to hide the projector

You can't do rear projection an a ghost bust without finding some way to vacuum form it. I would think Mike Fox has some good suggestions.

When I did Leota, I made a half coffin-type box with a shelf near the top and vines covering all but the lens of the projector. No one noticed until I pointed it out.

Originally Posted by davy2

I'm using a nightfrights ghost bust outdoors in my graveyard and still trying to figure out where to hide the projector

Mr Chicken is spot on... build some other prop to hide the projector in like a groundbreaker wooden coffin or sheet foam crypt.... then you could have the projector pointing out the back and a lttle protection from the elements.