# LOTR and forced perspective

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-and-forced-perspective/123322>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 10, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-and-forced-perspective/123322 "2002-08-10T21:23:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-and-forced-perspective/123322/1 "2002-08-10T21:23:20Z")

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IMDB’s trivia for Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring has the following to say:

“In order to make “forced perspective” a bit more interesting, the filmmakers devised a totally new system consisting of a pulley and a platform. When the camera moved (which is normally impossible as the forced perspective would become obvious) the actor(s) also moved, and the perspective (7-foot Gandalf - 4-foot hobbits) would always be okay.”

i can’t seem to visualize this. Anybody know exactly how this system worked?

jb

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-and-forced-perspective/123322/2 "2002-08-11T00:49:05Z")

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You mean an actual diagram of the gadget, or just an explanation of how it works? Can’t find a diagram, here are some explanations.

[http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/glossary.asp?cat=1005875&TRM=1006632](http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/glossary.asp?cat=1005875&TRM=1006632)

> [@](#):
>
> Forced Perspective  
> A forced perspective provides the illusion of a great distance by using properties that are physically smaller than the real objects so that, if in the background of a set, they give the impression that they are located some distance away. The viewer is forced into this relationship. Such devices are usually used when given sets with limited space.

[http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/002/306eiito.asp](http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/002/306eiito.asp)

> [@](#):
>
> Forced perspective is the use of objects that are reduced in size to create the illusion of great distance in a very small space. A simple example is to model the scenery and buildings behind a train to a smaller scale than the train itself. When the viewer looks over the train at the buildings, they appear to be far away because of their smaller size, even though only inches may separate the two. Your eye perceives these decreases in size as increased distance.

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> [@](#):
>
> Peter Jackson uses lots of camera tricks to make Gimli and the Hobbits look smaller. One, called “forced perspective,” places a tall character (like Gandalf) at the front of the camera, with a Hobbit standing or sitting farther away, so as to look smaller.

So normally you’d set up your camera shot with Gandalf standing _here_, closer to the camera, and Bilbo standing over _there_ and then you’d roll the camera. But what they did in LOTR (I guess) was also figure out a way to have the actors standing on moveable platforms, so they could move, and the cameras could move with them, so they’d all stay in their “forced perspective” arrangement.

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**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-and-forced-perspective/123322/3 "2002-08-11T05:50:47Z")

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thanks, **Duck**. but i already knew how forced perspective works, though (yeah yeah, _Movie Magic_!). i was wondering the specifics of the pulley-crankshaft-platform-candleburnsthroughtheropeandreleasesthecat system.

jb