Pepper's Ghost - Lots of Bang for Your Buck!

It's been a few years since I posted about Paul Lasaine's Pepper's Ghost illusion and his subsequent how-to video. but I felt that with social distancing being the watchword for Hallowe'en 2020, it could use another bump!

Paul Lasaine is a production designer, VFX art director and supervisor, matte painting artist and supervisor, and won an Annie Award (awards are for outstanding animation) for his work on Boxtrolls. 

Though the original video was posted in 2007, it's still a high-impact, low-budget effect for 2020. It's fairly easy to achieve for the rank beginner if you're willing to invest some time and patience. While I do enjoy the more commercially available projection effects we have access to these days, what I like about the Pepper's Ghost illusion is that it looks realistic and has a huge "wow" factor. I feel that we've become so accustomed to the look of CG, the "reality" of Pepper's Ghost is still as viable as it was in 1862, when it was developed.

Take a look at the videos and let me know what you think!

Ghost in the Window

Waaaaay back in 2009, I did a post on the Pepper's ghost illusion. Earlier this year, I made mention of a particular YouTube video, by user 5qu1d, also known as Paul Lasaine, of a ghost in a window, playing piano.

Click on the pic to watch the video.

Paul has experience in the making of illusions, because he does that for a living! Paul's portfolio is quite impressive, and includes some work on the visually gorgeous Lord of the Rings series. I contacted Paul a few months ago to get permission to use his video in a lecture I did over at Scare LA, the big Halloween convention at the L.A. Mart in August. After we emailed back and forth, and after he gave me permission to use his video, he posted a nice how-to of the effect. Pepper's ghost is a relatively simple effect, but you have to get everything set up just right!

Click on the pic for the how-to.

This particular illusion is one which gives you a lot of bang for your buck! People will stand outside your window for hours, watching this! I still haven't done it, but maybe this year? 

Maybe...

So, lots of stuff going on! Throwing a bunch of jacks, cups, bowls, etc., plus doing a little handbuilding, too, to give myself a break.

I fixed the overfiring problem with my old kiln and did another decal firing, which turned out beautifully! It was a very satisfying test run, and now I have a clearer idea of what I need to do to get some decals done properly and speed up my production a bit. I've got too little time left before Scare LA, and I need to focus and maximize it as much as I can!

I've been making some big candy bowls, too. I'm looking forward to underglazing these guys and making them super Hallowe'en-cool. Stay tuned!

Speaking of Scare LA, I'll be speechifying there. My class will be on setting up a home haunt (so very much to cover in an hour!), and I've been sending out emails to various haunters to ask permission to use their pictures and videos in my lecture. I sent one out to a YouTube user who did a great Pepper's ghost illusion in his front window. We emailed back and forth a couple of times, and it turns out "the guy" is Paul Lasaine, of Lord of the Rings visual effects fame! And? He said I could use his video! Woo-hoo! After our conversation, he got around to posting his how-to on getting the illusion up and running properly. See his Pepper's ghost how-to here. The original video is here.

The brewing tanks came in at Oak Park Brewing Company this week, as well. Step by step, things are coming along, and it looks like our opening will be somewhere around mid- to late-August! We're really excited at the progress. (If you're interested in tracking the progress of the brewery, follow them on Facebook or Twitter.) I sat down with them on Saturday to start planning for the Hallowe'en season, and man, am I tickled at some of the ideas we came up with for this year and the thoughts we have on what to do next year!

OK, that's it for now. Back out to make some more Hallowe'en fun!

Pepper Plays Piano

A very clever use of the "Pepper's Ghost" illusion.

I'd like to do something similar in my husband's home office this year, since the window is right next to the front door. A bit of a ghostly Mad Scientist thing, maybe. I don't know that I'll have the time, but we'll see.

Here's a short video tutorial, so you can get the drift of how it's done. Hate the background noise, but, whatever.

And here's a floating head illusion, which is the same idea.