I've seen numerous things in movies and shows that feature bullets that have impacts on people, and objects. For an example, when somebody gets shot, you see their clothes rip when they get shot and blood come out during the shot. Another example is, a couch getting shot at, and the couch rips in areas it gets shot at. I've also wondered how wood breaks all of a sudden when it gets shot at. If anybody can explain this to me that would be great.
Impacts On Actors
- Thread starter Kangabox
- Start date
Both are done with a small explosive called a squib.
The squib is placed beneath the actors clothing on
top of a small steel or leather plate to protect the
actor from the blast. A bag filled with blood is placed
over the squib (still under the clothing). The explosion
is strong enough to rip through both the blood bag
and the costume.
On a couch a slightly larger explosive is placed where
the bullet hits will be. Some are strong enough to be
placed on an actual couch but sometimes a prop couch
will be made of thinner wood to get a specific effect.
The squib is placed beneath the actors clothing on
top of a small steel or leather plate to protect the
actor from the blast. A bag filled with blood is placed
over the squib (still under the clothing). The explosion
is strong enough to rip through both the blood bag
and the costume.
On a couch a slightly larger explosive is placed where
the bullet hits will be. Some are strong enough to be
placed on an actual couch but sometimes a prop couch
will be made of thinner wood to get a specific effect.
anyone know of any SAFE DIY alternatives for a squib.
Maybe something with jello, canned air and rubber hose?
Maybe something with jello, canned air and rubber hose?
A little trick I’ve used:
Thread a length of fishing line through a small button with a
needle. Carefully punch the needle through the inside of a condom
so the button is inside. A drop of latex will seal the tiny hole
the needle made.
Fill the condom with blood and seal it.
Attach the condom to a heavy (but small) piece of cardboard with
super glue or liquid latex. With a bit of twine, tie this
cardboard backing to your actor.
Now score the costume where you want the blood to fly. Thread the
fishing line through the costume and set up your shot. When you
yank hard on the fishing line, the button will pull out of the
condom and the blood will spray.
To make it "explode" use an air compressor. I use a tube made from
a length (about 18 inches long) of PVC pipe and attach it to the
end of the compressor hose. Put a small, red sponge in the bottom
- it acts as a pressure point and keeps the mixture in place. With
a little work and experimentation you can place the tube behind
the actor and "pow"! when you hit the valve the air forces
everything out.
Thread a length of fishing line through a small button with a
needle. Carefully punch the needle through the inside of a condom
so the button is inside. A drop of latex will seal the tiny hole
the needle made.
Fill the condom with blood and seal it.
Attach the condom to a heavy (but small) piece of cardboard with
super glue or liquid latex. With a bit of twine, tie this
cardboard backing to your actor.
Now score the costume where you want the blood to fly. Thread the
fishing line through the costume and set up your shot. When you
yank hard on the fishing line, the button will pull out of the
condom and the blood will spray.
To make it "explode" use an air compressor. I use a tube made from
a length (about 18 inches long) of PVC pipe and attach it to the
end of the compressor hose. Put a small, red sponge in the bottom
- it acts as a pressure point and keeps the mixture in place. With
a little work and experimentation you can place the tube behind
the actor and "pow"! when you hit the valve the air forces
everything out.
iv'e made cheep rigs that run off of canned air and rubber tubbing, it wont rip the cloths but it will defiantly spray blood. and it's real nice to put something behind the actor to hit the back wall like directorik said.
In my next project a ceramic lamp will be git by a bullet. I'm going to use a sling shot and hit it with a ball baring to break it on camera lol. Iv'e also heard of special effects guys using paintball guns with special paintballs filled with a grey dust (or sometimes just frozen paintballs) to make bullet hits on concrete or putting bullet hits on the ground in like sand or dirt.
In my next project a ceramic lamp will be git by a bullet. I'm going to use a sling shot and hit it with a ball baring to break it on camera lol. Iv'e also heard of special effects guys using paintball guns with special paintballs filled with a grey dust (or sometimes just frozen paintballs) to make bullet hits on concrete or putting bullet hits on the ground in like sand or dirt.
Yep. We use modified paintball guns for dust hits, zirc hits
and even marble hits. Your idea of using a ball bearing to
break a lamp is a good one. Be sure to use both ear and
eye protection.
and even marble hits. Your idea of using a ball bearing to
break a lamp is a good one. Be sure to use both ear and
eye protection.
I spent all of this past weekend getting punched in the movie I was starring in. I guess gunshot wounds are next.
Don't discount doing the stuff in post, http://www.detonationfilms.com has tons of squib hits and blood spurts for cheap/free that you can composite in. Some careful tracking and color correction can make them pretty convincing.
Putting guys like me out of business.
Thanks
Hey, thanks for all the replies. Very interesting methods you guys have come up with. Yeah cgi is actually better in some perspectives for things such as budget and no mess. Actually making the effect makes the effects a lot more realistic at some points though.
Hey, thanks for all the replies. Very interesting methods you guys have come up with. Yeah cgi is actually better in some perspectives for things such as budget and no mess. Actually making the effect makes the effects a lot more realistic at some points though.
I've seen firecrackers against the bottoms of tin cans with blood condoms once, although I wouldn't recommend it.
Really, really bad idea.
A squib is designed to explode in a specific direction.
The protection against the actors body is for shock,
not heat. A firecracker is designed to explode in all
directions. Any restriction of that explosion is very
likely to cause a larger explosion than intended. Even
simply placing it against something can create an
unexpected result. Attaching a firecracker with tape -
even just a tiny bit - to a piece of tin can cause it to
explode towards the actors body.
I know you say you wouldn't recommend it. I'm a
licensed pyrotechnician, I'm going to take the further
and say this is a really, really bad idea.
A squib is designed to explode in a specific direction.
The protection against the actors body is for shock,
not heat. A firecracker is designed to explode in all
directions. Any restriction of that explosion is very
likely to cause a larger explosion than intended. Even
simply placing it against something can create an
unexpected result. Attaching a firecracker with tape -
even just a tiny bit - to a piece of tin can cause it to
explode towards the actors body.
I know you say you wouldn't recommend it. I'm a
licensed pyrotechnician, I'm going to take the further
and say this is a really, really bad idea.
and you're absolutely right. I've just seen it done. I would never do that or allow it on my set.