How do they film the mirror scenes in movies?

It always makes me wonder how do they place the cameras and crew members while filming a scene which is opposite to a reflecting object, such as mirror. Because, when filming the reflected objects we should see the camera and cameraman because of their reflection. But this does not happen in the movies.

How do they film the scenes with an actor facing a mirror? Why don't we see the cameras and crew?

What is the technique they use to film the scenes with reflecting objects?

Answer

If you look closely, you'll almost always note that the mirror is angled so the camera is out of its view. This is sometimes masked by the actor looking directly into [the reflection of] the camera, which gives the impression that he is looking at himself in the mirror.

However, there are at least two other options for getting a shot in which the camera should, by rights, be visible but isn't:

• one is using visual effects (optical or CGI) for the reflection.



• The other was used by James Cameron in Terminator 2: Cameron wanted a tracking
  shot (camera moving sideways) behind Linda Hamilton removing a chip
  from Arnold's head in front of a mirror. If done with a mirror, the
  camera would have been visible as it moved around behind the actors.

  
  

  Rather than do this with effects, the set was built so that the mirror was actually a window, and on the other side was a complete mirror-image version of the set on the camera side. Schwarzenegger and Linda sat on the far side facing the camera, and a fancy Arnold puppet and Linda's twin sister sat with their backs to the camera, mimicking all of the moves of their counterparts.

Other examples of this are:

• In the case of Being John Malkovich, where the shot was from his POV
  the camera man just stood in front of an empty frame in the wall with
  Malkovich standing 'inside' the wall on a reverse set of the scene...




• In the bad attempt of Sucker Punch scene in the dressing room when Sweet Pea, Rocket and Blondie talk about not helping Baby Doll, their movements not matching their mirror images (especially Sweet Pea's). Doubles are being used. This is done so the camera can move behind them without being reflected. You can watch it at this link