All scenes based on existing movies were abbreviated to fit our circumstances. In this scene, two characters climb down one of the faces on Mount Rushmore. There was a hero miniature of the entire mountain, one larger-scale eye for the background of a shot, plus a few full-scale set pieces for the actors to interact with.
One student volunteered for each face. First, they would sculpt their portion in clay.
They mixed water and alginate to pour over the sculpt, creating a flexible negative mold.
After removing the clay, they used a"slush" approach to retain details, with a dilute plaster and water mix.
Then, a thicker plaster was poured in to create the solid bulk.
Finally, the alginate was removed to reveal a positive likeness.
The base construction for the mountain was 1x4 lumber and 3/4" plywood. Random sheets and chunks of Styrofoam were applied with expanding spray foam, and then carved for the rock effect.
When the heads were completed, they were fit into openings in the foam rock, and plaster was used for blending and reinforcement. Scenic washes and some foliage were applied in the final stages.
One set piece represented the top of Washington's head, another a close-up section of cliff, and the largest a 16-ft. vertical section. The first was built on a small platform so they could appear to descend off it.
The second was placed next to a chair so they could better sell the downward climb.
The third was laid flat on the parking lot outside the soundstage, with the camera placed atop a ladder, and the actors crawled backward toward the ladder. Yes, it sounds and looked ridiculous, except through the lens, which is the only view that matters. A camera only reveals its view, not the set's orientation. That footage was scaled down and composited into a low-angle view of the mountain.
During the shoot, a critical mistake (of mine) was realized. We were supposed to have them looking out at the three other presidents, but the camera simply couldn't fit where it needed to. Instead, a mirror was mounted between Washington and Jefferson, and the camera positioned to shoot its reflection.
That image was simply flipped during editing to correct it, and combined with the live-action plate.
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