Bullet hits in terrain.

TimurCivan

TimurCivan

Director of Photography
Staff member
If youre making a piece where you need bullet hits in a dirt/forrest/ sandy area, and you have access to a paintballgun, look up a brand of paintballs called Diablo. They make these paintballs called "midnight" they are all black, and dont really show up on camera. shoot em into loose sand/dirt, and they pop dust.
 
Re: Bullet hits in terrain.

Hey
I have been searching the internet for over an hour looking for dust balls with no success. All the Diablo midnight balls have paint in them. Anyone with a link to these things? I dont want the site that sells the empty ones. Im not looking to fill these things myself. I want already filled dust balls. Any help?
Thanks
Brian
 
Re: Bullet hits in terrain.

I think what he implied was that the dark color of the paintballs would make them less visible on camera. I think the paintballs have paint in them and not dust. When you fire them into loose dirt, it will look like bullets hitting the ground. Just dont nail your actor.
 
Re: Bullet hits in terrain.

Hey
Oh I see. I have been looking for these dust balls for quite a while because I was on the set of a civil war movie last year that used them. They would shoot them at rocks and trees and it would do a puff of smoke when they would hit. No paint at all in the capsule. Just dust.
Any help from others??
Brian
 
Re: Bullet hits in terrain.

I think they sell shells which you can load with dust. I also have seen and know what you are talking about. How to get your hands on them beats me though.. I'd love to know myself. It's a much better solution than dark paint.
 
Re: Bullet hits in terrain.

There must be a guy or gal on here who knows where to get them.. I'll wait for someone to post something.. :)
 
Re: Bullet hits in terrain.

Do a Google search for Fullers Earth+paintballs.
Here's one:
http://www.frickell.com/od/pyro/fstraining/

I used to play with "mechanical" effects awhile ago. I remember about 20 years ago I got a pack of firecrackers, a model rocket igniter and replaced the fuse in the firecracker with a model rocket engine igniter (it's pretty much and electric match). If you can dig a whole about 2" x 2", bury the firecracker with the igniter wires attached and put [NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT] dry, sifted, dusty dirt in the whole over the firecracker. When you set it off the dusty dirt will fly.
There is a technique to this. I experimented for weeks to cover the fire of the firecracker and minimize the smoke. You can also put a container in the whole, like a lid to a hairspray can or the lid to a can of Pam. You will want to wrap the lid in duct tape to keep if from blowing up from the firecracker. Make sure to pack dirt tightly around the lid. The lid also make the blast more directional.
Course the paintballs will be mush easier but the firecracker (if done right) looks awesome.
 
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