BEHIND THE SCENES: BLOOD AND DUST

This entry was posted on 12/1/2006 9:27 AM and is filed under production.

Making a movie with action in it, specifically gunshots, requires not only armoring experience but there are also corresponding effects that you need to put in to support the believability of the gunfire.

We needed to have our Actors hit by simulated bullets as well as misses hitting the walls. To accomplish that, we could have used squibs but they're expensive and can be dangerous because of the explosive charges you need to rig to the Actor's body as well as ruining walls by burying the squibs in place. Because we don't have the budget to do that, we went the pneumatic route to achieve these effects.

I used a .68 caliber paintball gun shooting Sweeney Capsules filled with various materials to fit the application. Sweeney Capsules are essentially paint balls that are made up of male and female halves of brittle ploycarbonate plastic that snap together after you've filled them with an effect material. One thing you should keep in mind is that the halves don't seem to snap together as tight as they used to, so you need to seal them with a few drops of airplane model glue so they don't fly open the moment they leave the barrel.

For Blood hits, I use fake blood and cotton ball fibers in the Sweeney Capsules. For Dust hits that look like bullets smacking into plaster walls, I use a mix of talcum powder and fullers earth. For Spark hits that look like bullets smashing into metal surfaces, I use zirconium compound available from Roger George Rentals in Los Angeles, California.

The caveat using Sweeney Capsules is that they hit a ridgid surface. If you hit bare flesh or clothing, it usually bounces off without opening and leaves a welt on your Actor. That's why you need to pad the Actor beneath their costume with something ridgid enough to crack the capsule yet flexible enough to conform to the Actor's body. I found that plastic wastepaper baskets make a good pad material that can be razor cut from a flat side. Then back the plastic with a little impact absorbing foam padding before taping it under their costume.

Another huge caveat is that once the Sweeney Capsule shatters, it shatters with force so you absolutely need to direct the debris (which is both sharp and flying with force) downward and away from the Actor's face and eyes. If the shooter and the Actor being hit can both wear eye protection, all the better. The shooter absolutely needs to be above the Actor, on a ladder, aiming in an obtuse angle downward so the debris flys away from the Actor's face. Everyone must wear eye protection.

 
James Arnett filling a Sweeney Capsule half.
One half holds cotton fiber soaked in fake blood and the other half is filled with fake blood, leaving enough air inside to compress and snap the halves together.
James Arnett making Dust hits by filling the Sweeney Capsules with talc and fullers earth.
Makeup FX Supervisor Frank Guerra watching the spectacle on set.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf is the Director of Photography for this night's filming.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf and Actor Paul Adkins pads up for his blood hits.
Actor Paul Adkins, who is usually an Assistant Director, was Armoring that night, in makeup and padding.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf and James Arnett go over the shot before filming.
Actor Paul Adkins about to be hit by gun shots. Because this is a closeup, he can wear eye protection.
James Arnett aiming the air rifle at Actor Paul Adkins with the Sweeney Capsules. Because the capsule debris must go down, away from the Actor's face, the ladder provides a 45 degree angle trajectory down.
Actor Paul Adkins receives a triple tap of blood hits into the sternum.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf behind the camera.
Makeup FX Supervisor Frank Guerra adding a bleeding effect to the blood capsule hits.
James Arnett aiming a small barrage of dust hits toward the wall to simulate Lionel's machinegun tearing up the plaster.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf filming the effect shots.
Following the dust hits, Lionel pops out and rapid fires toward Actor Paul Adkins.
Actor Paul Adkins.struck by capsule fragment, despite padding and a steep downward trajectory. That's why eye protection is mandatory (and why I had him put that magazine down his pants).
James Arnett with Actor Paul Adkins on set.
Makeup FX Supervisor Frank Guerra and Assistant Director Justin Mashouf padding up Actor Santiago Craig for the shot that hits him in the back.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf padding up Actor Santiago Craig for the shot hitting the back of his body armor.
Actor Paul Adkins.armoring Actor Santiago Craig before their gunfire exchange.
Actor Santiago Craig.slinging his weapon.
James Arnett checking the camera angle with Assistant Director Justin Mashouf before filming.
James Arnett taking aim at the back of Actor Santiago Craig before filming.
Preparing to film the back shot with A.D. Justin Mashouf, Actors Santiago Craig and Paul Adkins.
Preparing to film the back shot with A.D. Justin Mashouf, Actors Santiago Craig and Paul Adkins.
Actor Santiago Craig relaxing between takes.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf waiting to roll camera.
Actor Paul Adkins setting the chinese lantern into the best position to light the dust particles.
Actor Paul Adkins popping out to fire his gun after the dust hits riddled the wall.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf showing James Arnett the framing of the shot.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf waiting to film Actor Santiago Craig.
 

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