Average time to suffocate someone.

[Chase]

Ok guys.

Go upstairs guys and ask mommy why the subject is sad.

Preteen kiddies topic replies.

[David W. Richardson]

As has been said already, if you're doing an on-screen killing, then it doesn't matter how long it REALLY takes to suffocate someone -- all that matters is how long it takes in most movies, because that's what the audience is accustomed to seeing.

What worries me is what I'm afraid your real question is, which is -- "How long can I put a plastic bag over my actor's head and suffocate him for this scene without actually KILLING him?" That, my friend, is a scary question to be asking.

[brianluce]

I'm also a former paramedic, as I recall, the brain dies after 3-5 minutes of oxygen deprivation. But there are exceptions, for example people can be revived after submersion in cold water for over thirty minutes. The cold temps slow things way way down obviously.

[Zak Forsman]

Ok guys.

Go upstairs guys and ask mommy why the subject is sad.

Preteen kiddies topic replies.

[Gord.T]

...Go upstairs guys and ask mommy why the subject is sad..

I tried but I couldn't understand what she was saying with that bag over her head.

...Preteen kiddies topic replies.

hehe. Oh, piping in car exhaust will help speed up the suffocation too. A bit of airplane glue under the nose also kinda helps. Also, maybe a coulpe shots from a nail gun would help ease the anxiety. It may also help to duct tape the ends up. Personally, I perfer an axe but hey, I'm old school that way.

Good luck and if I can be of further assistance please contact me at...
www.DeathsRus.org

[ddp]

For me, nothing beats a Louisville slugger upside the noggin- but I'm a Baseball fan anyway......

[SilverWolf]

So the real question is how long does it take to suffer cardiac arrest after respiratory failure. Once the persons heart and lungs no longer function I would consider them dead. Now i'm sure with medical attention they stand a chance at resuming those functions but I don't consider that an option if you're trying to kill someone with a plastic bag or at least I hope you wouldn't try and take them to the hospital after killing them.

[tmnt]

And remember movie time and real time are two very different things.

[Anhar Miah]

Well if you want to be cinematic I'd shoot it like this:

Scene 1: [Wide shot] 2 main characters on screen

guy places bag over victims head

Scene 2: [close up] victims head with bag (see through of course)

Victims expressions of struggle and pain + Sounds of muffled screaming

Scene 3: [Close up] attackers face

Attacker laughs with excitement, as he applies yet more compression on his victoms neck

Scene 4: [medium shot] victims lying on the ground, camera dollies in to victims hand

Victims hand waves helplessly in comic fashion, then slowly the motion stops and limps, the hand then lays restless on the cold floor; dead.

add some suspensive music, maybe desaturate the colour, or even better go Black and white.

Anyways I'm joking

EDIT::

Hey Silverwolf, I just realised your name is one letter away from mine (Anhar /Antar ), heh

[brianluce]

So the real question is how long does it take to suffer cardiac arrest after respiratory failure. Once the persons heart and lungs no longer function I would consider them dead. .

No, not really, that's what CPR is all about, CPR doesn't bring you back from the dead, death is permanent, when you heart stops, it can be restarted. Brain death is a more commonly used standard--that's nebulous too though--I've been accused countless times for example of being brain dead yet here I am posting at DVXUSER.