DV Info Net

DV Info Net (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/)
-   Techniques for Independent Production (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/techniques-independent-production/)
-   -   Gunshot FX- Where to get/make squibs? (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/techniques-independent-production/22752-gunshot-fx-where-get-make-squibs.html)

Jeff Patnaude March 11th, 2004 10:21 AM

Gunshot FX- Where to get/make squibs?
 
After doing some reading, and always having been curious, where do you get squibs from for gunshot effects? Is there an online place to order? Are they protected- and require a permit? Has anyone made them?

I have my own ideas of construction- usually with igniters from model rocketry and such, but I'd like to a. be as safe as possible, and b. go right to the source.

I'm also aware of the "pull string' effect, but I'm also interested in smoke and buying blanks.

Info greatly appreciated!

Jeff Patnaude

Aaron Rosen March 11th, 2004 12:37 PM

Check out this link - A good detailed article on squibs and fake blood.

LINK: www.dvfreelancer.com/articles/squibs.html

Joe Gioielli March 11th, 2004 12:48 PM

Jeff, my real thought here is to hire a pro. Gun powder, esp black powder, is touchy stuff. I am a shooter and ammo reloader and I have a healthy respect for this stuff.
Ask you local mayor who does your Fourth of July fireworks and contact them. They may know somebody.

If you make something yourself and someone gets hurt, you're going to get in a lot of trouble. You could even get hurt just creating this stuff.

Depending on what you need, remember you don't need fire to make smoke. You can use a gardening product called "diatomatious[sp] earth". If you hit a small pile of that with a burst of air, you get smoke. That's safe, just don't inhale.

Rick Bravo March 11th, 2004 01:43 PM

Hire a pro.
 
Joe's right on. Dealing with squibs and blanks is a very dangerous business. We always have a special effects technician handle all of the squibs and / or an armorer to handle all of the blank firing weapons.

Besides, when you deal with squibs, you are dealing with explosive charges, ignition charges, incendiary devices and other things that go boom!

Probably not a good idea to get stopped in this day and age with a trunkfull of "bomb making" equipment unless you are a licensed technician.

Diatomaceous Earth, also known as Fuller's Earth is used to simulate bullet hits. These are plastic capsules, filled with Fuller's and fired from a specially modified paintball gun. The same is done with Zirconium, these are called "Zirc Hits", and the difference is that they spark on impact.

Gunfire, in real life is very anticlimactic. It is nothing like what you hear in the movies.

The best sound effects that we have ever gotten were from full-load theatrical stage blanks fired from specially modified firearms. Always remember that a "blank" will kill you just as fast as a real bullet if you are not careful. This is why we have an armorer on set to handle the guns, EXCLUSIVELY! He does nothing else except that.

I have a good link for smoke effects on my other computer. I'll post it tonight.

RB

James Emory March 11th, 2004 02:59 PM

Bob Shelley's SFX - Atlanta
 
Try these guys. They are located in Atlanta and provide what you're needing. They work on feature projects all the time.

Bob Shelley's Special Effects: 404.622.9245

John Heskett March 11th, 2004 03:09 PM

Try reading these links.

non-explosive bullet hits

http://www.exposure.co.uk/eejit/blood/index.html
http://www.exposure.co.uk/eejit/blood/blood.html

Rick Bravo March 11th, 2004 04:49 PM

Here it is.
 
http://www.tri-esssciences.com/specialeffects.htm

Some pretty cool smoke / fire / blood effects.

RB

Keith Loh March 11th, 2004 09:00 PM

I guess everyone knows about that Masonic ritual gone bad? True story, happened this week. They made this inductee sit in a chair and set up bottles and targets around him. They then brought out a gun to scare him that supposedly was loaded with blanks. Only, they brought out the wrong gun ...

Jeff Patnaude March 12th, 2004 09:17 AM

I heard about that.
Brandon Lee- killed on the set of "The Crow" the same way.

Rick Bravo March 12th, 2004 02:34 PM

Jeff,
 
Brandon Lee actually got killed in another type of incident.

Apparently the barrel of the gun was fouled, by a round that was "fired" inadvertently using only the cap. The firing cap produced enough energy to force the projectile into the barrel and lodged it there.

Fast forward to when the gun was supposed to be fired using a blank, which they did...the blank caused the projectile to leave the barrel and strike Lee. Killing him.

I don't remember what the outcome of the case was, whether it was negligence on the part of the Prop Department for not having checked the barrel, or what.

There was a case many years back where a soap opera star was joking around and put a gun loaded with blanks against his temple and pulled the trigger thinking that it would be a great joke. I don't think I have to go into detail about what happened next.

At long distances the bullet kills you. Up close, as in a contact wound, all you need is the explosion of gases to scrammble your innards, much like a powerhead or bang stick kills a shark.

Sometimes dealing with blanks is more dangerous than live rounds as it may lead people to believe that, since no bullets are fired, no one can get hurt.

RB

Heath McKnight February 23rd, 2005 11:28 PM

Be creative and use cool editing. Gun fires, cut to guy bleeding. It works!

I think you need a license to use firearms and stuff.

heath

Deniz Turkmen May 5th, 2005 06:43 PM

I asked the same question on this board last summer. Someone gave me this link:

http://www.creative-effects.com/Spec...Guns/guns.html

They're really cool, but just to warn you -- you'll need insurance to rent one.

Heath McKnight May 5th, 2005 08:35 PM

Please BE CAREFUL. Brandon Lee and THE CROW come to mind in these discussions...

heath

Deniz Turkmen May 5th, 2005 11:08 PM

The link I posted is for a non firing gun. It's pretty cool. It uses an electric charge to ignite flash powder. I haven't actually used one, but from the video clip on the site, it looks realistic. Plus they have everything from handguns to an M-16.

As far as safety goes, sure... I'd think twice before firing at someone's head, you never know what can happen, right? But if you read through the description they provide, it seems safe. It's just that the safety it provides is gonna cost you.

Rob Gregory-Browne May 6th, 2005 12:17 PM

Just fake it in post. Hell, Rodriguez did a lot of that in Once Upon a Time in Mexico and you can't tell the difference. Watch his behind the scenes video.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:34 PM.

DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network