The Secrets Behind Looking Glass’ Reflective Mask in ‘Watchmen’

In a show full of masked vigilantes, none is more memorable than Looking Glass (Tim Blake Nelson), and his mirrored chrome mask. Recently costume designer Meghan Kasperlik spoke to Polygon about how she created that outstanding reflective effect.

Kasperlik is behind all the costumes in the series, but for Looking Glass’ reflective shroud, she needed some help from the VFX department to get that mirror-glass effect.

Kasperlik and the VFX crew had five different masks. The mask Nelson wore at any one time depended on the requirements of a scene.

Motion tracking was used for some masks, using a special print to help with the tracking of Nelson’s features.

Other masks were made from green screen or spandex, so CG could be added later to create the reflective effect.

A final mask was made from lamé, a fabric with metallic fiber woven throughout. This was the only mask that had that distinctive silver color already and therefore, required no CG.

The CG effects had three main purposes. First, to add color to the reflections. Second, to make sure, via motion capture,  that an impression of the actors features could be seen through the shroud “without giving away his eyes and his actual mouth.”

In addition, CG was used to erase the see-through mesh fabric over the eye sockets of a mask that allowed Nelson to  see in scenes which required interaction with other actors.

The final effect looked mesmerizing. And even though it made the man behind the mask faceless, it served to reveal a lot about his character.

“[Looking Glass] uses the mask more as his shield,” Kasperlik said. “And he uses it to disguise himself, but it’s also kind of this barrier against everyone else. It was important for him, for the integrity of the character, to always have the mask on.”

And this is the biggest take away. No matter how good an effect looks, it’s primary purpose is to progress the story or reveal character. Behind bizarre and fantastic characters like Doctor Manhattan, Adrian Veidt, Hooded Justice, and Looking Glass there is always a human story.