10 Bizarre Ways Directors Tricked Audiences

Peter Jackson had many ways to fool his audience into believing his hobbit actors were the size of children. One of the most affective methods was by utilising a very simple trick known as the Texas Switch.

The technique is usually used to trick an audience into thinking a character is performing an impressive stunt. By using camera blocking, a stunt performer is switched out with a main actor, without the need to cut the shot.

Peter Jackson used this same technique when it came selling the idea of scale. In The Return of the King, Denethor (John Noble) hurls Pippin (Billy Boyd) from the Houses of the Dead when he intends to burn Faramir. Pippin is shown from behind as Denethor grasps and throws him, he then rolls out of frame to re-emerge facing the camera.

A scale double was used for the first half of the shot and Billy Boyd was given the direction to pop into frame, when his double rolled into his back. If you watch closely, you can see the exact moment this happens.