Falling Sheetrock Help

jls4

jls4

Veteran
Hey guys,

I have an idea for an extra scene to my current movie I'm finishing up. The next two days will let me know if the new scene will go in or not. Either way I have a question.

without use of CG or After Effects - I would like to make sheetrock or something that looks like worn sheetrock fall on my actors.

Here's the scenario. throughout the movie the couple has been trying to move from their house which is falling apart to a new home. Finally they get into a new house and they are so excited. They shut the door and embrase for a kiss. As the door slams the roof (off screen) caves in on them. We pull out to see the whole floor covered in white crumbles.

I figure I need something around 6 Feet x 4 Feet to fall on them for the close up and I can just buy sheet rock for the wide shot and crumble it up.

But the 6x4 foot needs to fall on their heads without hurting them. Real Sheet Rock can hurt and it probably won't crumble easily. It takes force to break it. So I need a large surface that will break off in a powdery type of feel. Any ideas, suggestions?
 
Could always use plasterboard that has been damaged at key points to make it break in very specific ways? Perhaps even crack it before it falls so when it falls it will just break in on itself?
 
Those both sound pretty good. I found a small tutorial yesterday, if you google "movie smash wall drywall" it comes up pretty good. The guy's suggestions are very much what you guys said.

Because I don't need to "see" the wall, just watch it fall. What I'm thinking is get some real drywall and also some foamboard. Cut The foamboard into distinct pieces and put just enough tape to allow me to move the rig, take the dry wall and cut a huge whole in it and put the foamboard "teepee" in the middle. Then put some heavy type of small weights around the side so it falls evenly. Then cover it with about 50% of a bottle of babypowder for the effect of cracking.

For the wide shot, i'll put more drywall cut into strips on the floor, so it's everywhere and looks like the whole roof just caved in. I also want to get a small hanging lamp and drop it from a C-stand for the effect that it fell down too.

What do you think?
 
Unless you had really crappy Drywallers who didn't screw it in well, a full sheet wouldn't fall. So realistically speaking, it would come down in large pieces, with a lot of smaller chunks, insulation, and dust. Cut the 1/4' art foam into large irregular pieces (Leave one side flat) to form your "sheet" , and cover it with a thin layer of plaster as suggested.
 
Capt Quirk said:
Unless you had really crappy Drywallers who didn't screw it in well, a full sheet wouldn't fall. So realistically speaking, it would come down in large pieces, with a lot of smaller chunks, insulation, and dust. Cut the 1/4' art foam into large irregular pieces (Leave one side flat) to form your "sheet" , and cover it with a thin layer of plaster as suggested.
Click to expand...


Thanks. I think that'll work
 
Large pieces of styro-foam weighed down with something like stucco or patch putty. It will give it the look and feel of weight and wouldnt bounce off your actors, but still light enough not injuring your crew. not to mention once the foam is dropped and hits anything the pieces will break off making more debris.

If you want it to look less clunky - cut into large and medium pieces that are held together with the putty and once anything hits it then it will break at the areas of connection.

Presto!
 
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