Bare feet running through woods...

stinkpot

Well-known member
I need to send an actor running through the woods in nothing but a hospital gown. Since I will need several shots (mediums & CUs) of his running feet. I want it to be believable and the feet will need to look bare but need to protect them from getting all cut up, etc.

Any solutions would be great!
 
The tape sounds like a good bet... some spray paint or makeup to match his skin, etc. I will need to do some test shots. Thanks!
 
you're taking a huge risk that they might step on broken glass, jagged twigs, sharp rocks etc. Would you run through there in your bare feet?

preprepare the path they'll be running on - rake out the dirt, replace it with nice safe clean dirt mixed with leaves, foam rubber rocks etc, whatever you need to disguise it, do a test walk in bare feet over it.

This only needs to be done for a short length of path required for the feet closeups, and you can shoot it from various angles
 
Consider finding a stunt double who is accustomed to running around outside barefoot. There are such people in the world. Not only are they likely to have a nice, healthy, cushioning layer of callus on the bottom of their feet, they're also accustomed to watching where they step -- even if running. There's just no substitute for the real thing. :)

Good luck!
 
you're taking a huge risk that they might step on broken glass, jagged twigs, sharp rocks etc. Would you run through there in your bare feet?

preprepare the path they'll be running on - rake out the dirt, replace it with nice safe clean dirt mixed with leaves, foam rubber rocks etc, whatever you need to disguise it, do a test walk in bare feet over it.

This only needs to be done for a short length of path required for the feet closeups, and you can shoot it from various angles

Clearing the path goes without question. Disguising foam rubber debris is a great idea.
Thanks.

Consider finding a stunt double who is accustomed to running around outside barefoot. There are such people in the world. Not only are they likely to have a nice, healthy, cushioning layer of callus on the bottom of their feet, they're also accustomed to watching where they step -- even if running. There's just no substitute for the real thing. :)

Good luck!

Truly there is no substitute but I'm shooting SD ;)
 
preprepare the path they'll be running on - rake out the dirt, replace it with nice safe clean dirt mixed with leaves, foam rubber rocks etc, whatever you need to disguise it, do a test walk in bare feet over it.

I was thinking something like this, you could just put down boards then cover it with leaves and non sharp derbies.
 
Planning shots of the feet with excessive duration?

You only need to "clean" a small area for a closeup (or two or three...who's gonna notice if the same leaves appear in multiple shots? Rearrange them a bit if necessary.)

The rest should be long shots, the actor wearing flesh-colored slippers with toes painted on them.
 
So? What does that have to do with whether or not you use a stunt double???

Sorry, I was making a stupid joke. But I do agree that there is no substitute for real feet for the shot. If I find someone that can and will do this I would go with this idea first.
:beer:
 
I was thinking something like this, you could just put down boards then cover it with leaves and non sharp derbies.

I like this.

Planning shots of the feet with excessive duration?

You only need to "clean" a small area for a closeup (or two or three...who's gonna notice if the same leaves appear in multiple shots? Rearrange them a bit if necessary.)

The rest should be long shots, the actor wearing flesh-colored slippers with toes painted on them.

This will probably be what ends up happening. Thanks.
:beer:
 
It occurs to me that unless a board is perfectly flat on the ground the weight of the actor will make it flex to some degree. Then you would have a strip of "ground" that is bouncing elsewhere then under the actor's feet.

Perhaps a strip of carpet over a cleared area which is then covered up per the original idea would work better?

At any rate, best of luck!
 
Good idea, SAS. What about maybe a thin layer of foam rubber? It could be roughed a bit. Edges would need to be fastened down to prevent flexing, I suppose.
 
I'd do it. Blood and acting go hand in hand.
Hehe.. awesome.

Someone always seems to get a minor injury on all of my shoots as well, though that someone tends to be me more often than not. So based on this statement I guess it's a logical thing that I've taken up acting.
 
Get some liquid latex and paint it onto the souls in thin layers. Build it up to 3-4mm and dry it with a hairdryer. It will flex with the feet, and it will peel off easily when your finished.

Anyone that has ever tried to hairpunch into latex will know its very hard to puncture, you could step on broken glass with a latex covering like this, but obviously make sure thers nothing in the way first. maybe go to the garden centre and get some top soil and spread it along the path to provide a soft footing for the actor.
 
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