Interactive pepper's ghost effect system and method

One or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media storing instructions thereon that, when executed by processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:

• determine, based on sensor feedback from a sensor, a location toward which a handheld device is pointed;
• determine, based on microphone feedback from a microphone, a command uttered by an operator of the handheld device;
• activate, based on the sensor feedback and the microphone feedback, a light source to emit a light onto a transparent or translucent screen to simulate a Pepper's Ghost visual effect at the location toward which the handheld device is pointed and corresponding to the command uttered by the operator of the handheld device;
• and
• control a movement of a show element disposed in a stage space separated from the handheld device by the transparent or translucent screen such that the movement of the show element aesthetically interacts with the Pepper's Ghost visual effect from a perspective at or adjacent to the handheld device.

A method of generating an interactive visual effect, the method comprising:

• determining, via a controller, a location toward which a handheld device is pointed;
• determining, via the controller, a command uttered by an operator of the handheld device;
• selecting, via the controller, a visual effect from a plurality of visual effects based on the command uttered by the operator of the handheld device;
• activating, via the controller, a light source to direct light onto a transparent or translucent screen to simulate the visual effect at the location;
• and
• controlling, via the controller, a movement of a show object to aesthetically interact with the visual effect from a perspective at or adjacent to the handheld device, wherein the show object is disposed in a stage space, and wherein the transparent or translucent screen is disposed between the handheld device and the stage space.