Conversations with Air
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Any idea how to make something non-flammable that when pouring out of a gas can looks like gas? I have a shot where I douse an actor with gas but everything I tried- food coloring etc. looks fake. Thanks.
Fake Gas
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A couple of thoughts...
I would imagine that emulating the look of gas pouring would have as much to do with how its lit/shot as the actual color of the liquid. Is it a close up? Can you get a hard back light into the scene?
I've heard that people have used a slightly weaker mixture of lemonade crystals to good effect.
Something to keep in mind is what looks best to the eye under normal circumstances isn't enough to "play" on camera. Many times it's more about satisfying how your "minds eye" expects it to look.
Regardless, I would guess that if the liquid is pouring from a red gas can or a gas station pump type thing, most of your audience isn't going to analyze the color of the liquid too much.
Just my two bits.
: )
dmc
I would imagine that emulating the look of gas pouring would have as much to do with how its lit/shot as the actual color of the liquid. Is it a close up? Can you get a hard back light into the scene?
I've heard that people have used a slightly weaker mixture of lemonade crystals to good effect.
Something to keep in mind is what looks best to the eye under normal circumstances isn't enough to "play" on camera. Many times it's more about satisfying how your "minds eye" expects it to look.
Regardless, I would guess that if the liquid is pouring from a red gas can or a gas station pump type thing, most of your audience isn't going to analyze the color of the liquid too much.
Just my two bits.
: )
dmc
Water and petrol are, in reality, extremely similar while pouring. There are some color differences after it settles with water, but you don't see those at the time. The smell is how we tend to identify it, which is one of the strongest senses for identification. I would guess the reason it isn't working on camera is that you can't smell it, and in your mind you want some other cue to identify what it is since that's the one you're used to. So, as with above, sell it in context. And even if it did look totally different from water your audience wouldn't notice when it's in action like that.
Steve Laramie
Veteran
Yeah exactly Gas on film/video is the same thing as water unless you are getting like an extreme close up in slow motion.
Conversations with Air
New member
I agree that most of the reality of gas is the smell and the fact that it is coming out of a "gas" container. Even though it is not an extreme close up or slo mo, the centrality of it in the shot- the actor is bound and covered- makes it pretty obvious it is just water. I will try the lemonade and if that doesn't cut it I'll add a bit of light oil for that "sheen". Thanks all, for your input.
stangtuner
Member
I've used a mixture of coke and apple juice. Looked great.
Hahahaha, flammable and... delicious! Good idea. I'm gonna remember it. Wasn't it a little expensive?
Conversations with Air
New member
and also
and also
Tru dat about petroleum oil & skin. I mixed coke/apple- interesting! BTW I just watched Once Upon a Time in America and Treat Williams is gas-drenched by the mob- totally ludicrous! Looked like 5 gallons o' pee and the way the guy was flicking matches around it surely would have blown! Funny what you notice after trying to make it look real yourself.
and also
Tru dat about petroleum oil & skin. I mixed coke/apple- interesting! BTW I just watched Once Upon a Time in America and Treat Williams is gas-drenched by the mob- totally ludicrous! Looked like 5 gallons o' pee and the way the guy was flicking matches around it surely would have blown! Funny what you notice after trying to make it look real yourself.
pmark23
Veteran
Why get so complicated? Viewers will see water coming out of a gas can as gas -- even though they know it's not really gas. "Suspension of Disbelief" is something everyone falls into it automatically as soon as they start watching a film.
The problem with colouring water is that it will look even worse than plain water. Everyone knows what poured-gas looks like. Gas has a different refractive index and reflects light different. It fumes visibly as it pours. By colouring water you're telegraphic the audience that it's fake. But by using clear water they won't even notice because "Suspension of Disbelief" will kick in and they won't even become aware of it.
The problem with colouring water is that it will look even worse than plain water. Everyone knows what poured-gas looks like. Gas has a different refractive index and reflects light different. It fumes visibly as it pours. By colouring water you're telegraphic the audience that it's fake. But by using clear water they won't even notice because "Suspension of Disbelief" will kick in and they won't even become aware of it.
The problem with H20 as gas/petrol is that the surface tension and specific gravity of each are different(both lower for gas). In other words, gasoline pours and splashes visibly differently than water. Leaded gas was/is dyed a faint color; Chevron Supreme was pale blue before it became unleaded; Aviation gas is still dyed(pink as I recall). One could have the CGI boys fix the fumes, but you can't get that suface tension without resorting to some other toxic hydrocarbon...unless you CGI the liquid and the fumes. It would seem the realistic way to depict gas being poured on someone would be to have the editor cut away from the actual liquid pouring and splashing.