Theatre help with a special effect

[DrPizza]

Doing the musical Shrek. The effect I'm looking for, back stage, Fiona singing. In the auditorium, her image projected against or alongside the moon (part of the projection). More or less two layers, one a static image, the other live.

Software suggestions? Will photoshop do it?

 

[Gintaras]

Some years ago, Steven Spielberg did wonder about this kinda things...but back then were no forums where he could ask such questions...

 

[Fardringle]

Simplest is almost always best. Back stage, have her stand in front of a picture of the moon. Use a camera to feed that image to a projector that projects both her and the moon onto the backdrop/screen on the stage.

 

[DrPizza]

I had considered that, but it makes it very difficult to fade her in; it's just "blink," there she is.

Edit: solved. Camera rolling from the start of the show, prefocused, in the dark. At the appropriate time, actress stands in the correct spot, and I can control the lighting on her (fade in, out) from the other side of the theatre.

Still trying to find a solution to transition from a moon to her instead though; the old "wow" the crowd type of thing.