Gunshot to the head?

Silent Knight Productions

Silent Knight Productions

New member
Hi, everyone!

Myself, along with Dean from ZFarms Productions, and a few others, are about to begin production on our short for Digital Cinematography, entitled 'Stan.'

Now, I'm not going to give anything away, but one scene in the film (near the climax) involves a man getting a 9mm pressed to his forehead, and shot. The back of his head pops, sending blood and skull matter everywhere.

Anyone here ever done a gunshot effect to the head?

Keep in mind that I'm going for something ALONG THE LINES of Planet Terror-esque gunshots (aka very bloody and explodey, haha).

Any suggestions?
 
Check out the Dawn of the Dead bonus features. There's so much cool stuff on how they did it. Rigs harnessed to peoples backs that ran up to the top of their head and faced opposite their face. When a trigger was pulled, it shot a gooey red substance out the pipe looking like the guys head was blown off. It looked REALLY good. Check it out.
 
Actually, a 9mm against the forehead would not blow the back of the skull out. I know you may want it to do that, but in reality, it just wouldn't.

I would approach this in a practical manner. get an m80 or other ballsy firecracker, cook up some twirly pasta, add food coloring and corn syrup, and film it getting blasted onto a cheap green colored piece of poster board.

If you have ever seen real footage of someone being shot in the head with a .38, 9mm, or .45 at point blank range, the results are suprisingly unimpressive. I have seen them all, and there is no head explosions, just a bang, and the victim drops like a rag doll.
 
Easier than that, get an airsquib. I have one made from a bug spray pump. Look online. Cook up some blood using corn-starch, or flour. And shoot it out. Hide the tube down the shirt. And set it off as he is shot. Done story.

Or if you want what you talked about. Again, air squib. This time add blood, and some cork to simulate body matter. And blast it out. And tada.

Best of luck.
 
I would go with air-squib as well.
I like to use the small garden variety compression sprayers to make em squirt.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/...&cp=2568444.2598679.1260209&parentPage=family


get a good size length of clear plastic tubing.
remove the tip from the sprayer wand and attach the tubing to it.



run the tubing up the actors back and there you have it.

Warning!!! these things make a huge mess and fake blood tends to stain everything.

If you would like to see an example of mine in action check the link below to a little short film I DP'd.

It happens at about 1:30 again at 1:35

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyTSx1CgbnI
 
This is some good learning. Anyone got good tips on the flash? The video benniles posted was amazing, but the muzzle flashes were a bit harsh. Still, excellent job.
 
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