Harness Stunt Question

M

Melchior

Member
In the film, one character gets hit forcefully enough to the point where he gets flung back. At another point, he gets hit upwards against a tree about 5 feet off the ground.

I was thinking about getting a climbing/safety harness and some rope. I would have the actor wear it, and at the appropriate time, a couple of grips would pull the rope.

specifically: the bad guy hits the good guy with a gigantic axe (it's a medieval genre film, think lotr) and the good guy goes flying backwards. At another point, the bad guy its the good guy in the chest with the axe, and picks up the good guy off of the ground with it and pins him against a tree.

With such a stunt though safety is an obvious concern, which leads to some questions:

1) is there a better way than the harness to achieve this kind of look?

2) what type of harness is recomended? What kind of brand/type/etc.

3) where can I get it?

Cost is also an obvious issue.
 
Yes, a big buget film propably would use harnesses as you describe.

But by choosing your shots carefully and showing mostly close-ups, you may only need one static shot of the guy pinned to the tree, - that would allow the previous action, including the impact, to be shot firmly on the ground, which avoids mucking around with harnesses in mid-air, your victim actor can just hurl himself back into the tree.

Padding will be an issue regardless - you don't want your actor hurting himself when he hits that tree hard. Again, choose your shots carefully, and he should be able to wear some padding on his back (especially his neck and head) where it won't be seen
 
Ive done training in wire work (US Stunt school in Washington).

First, a rock climbing harness is terrible for such things, you need a jerk vest. Those are around $600 last I checked and can be bought from Amspec in LA.

I wouldn't do this unless you have someone trained in it doing it for you. The stunt you described (guy flying backwards) needs an air rachet.
 
Won't need an air ratchet, and that kinda stunt isn't something you want anyone less than a stuntie doing. A few strong stunt guys can simulate an air ratchet pull flawlessly.

If you are on a tight budget the best way to accomplish what you're talking about is strictly creative framing and cutting. The fundamentals of Impact and Falls aka eating it are all there.

If you storyboard something up and post it I'll offer my help. PM me when/if you do.

You do need to have someone that knows how to rig, though. Please do not try these stunts without someone who knows what they're doing.
 
That vest you linked is a fall arrest vest for construction safety. These are not jerk vests.

It is really not advised to try and hack something together for any kind of stunt. If you don't have the budget to do it right, then find a CREATIVE solution that will keep everyone safe.
Simple things can go wrong. I had an actress blow out her knee just from stepping off a 2 1/2 foot step. She had to have surgery to get it corrected.

Film making is problem solving. Find an artistic solution that tells the story, keeps your crew safe, and doesn't break your budget.

Good Luck
 
I agree with the above posts. If you are just bound and determined that you have to have a real fly, make sure your vest is properly constructed and your fly rig is safe with redundant safeguards. A jerk vest will support the entire upper body as well as the waist and legs, which a rock climbing harness only supports.

When we built our large fly rig sled for Netherborn, we adapted adult and child rock climbing harnesses to fly-use by integrating an upper body component with a center back attachment point to the lower climbing rig on each size. Thus, our harnesses ended up looking like the more expensive jerk vests, and supporting like the jerk vests, but at 1/10 the cost. We flew our actors safely and easily and in relative comfort.

Best to you and your decision.:grin:
 
All

Question - Could I use the $200 harness above to hang a person upside down. Just a simple static no movement shot?

Not trying to hyjack the thread, but I came because I have something similar. In a movie I'm starting in July/Aug I have catlike creatures that can walk on walls, hang upside down, etc. But I definately would rather be safe.

Thanks
 
jls4 said:
All

Question - Could I use the $200 harness above to hang a person upside down. Just a simple static no movement shot?

Not trying to hyjack the thread, but I came because I have something similar. In a movie I'm starting in July/Aug I have catlike creatures that can walk on walls, hang upside down, etc. But I definately would rather be safe.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Yeah, you can easily do it. :Drogar-Happy(DBG):

OK...:shocked: Here is the spider machine: Secure 800lb electric winch on roof with long attractive wall, or greenscreened wall; Two cables are attached to the winch wheel instead of one, for safety in redundancy; two 90 degree sideways welded together 24"x4" 1/4" iron plates on the edge of the roof with two 500lb capable pulley wheels welded up perpendicularly to the plate 'L' and away 4" from the plates, 16" apart. Pressure of the wire hanging device will hold the plate down but secondary cabling on the roof is cabled to holdfasts of some sort, or the angle pulley rig is screwed multiply and firmly into the roof. A hang vest with side attachments (with two redundant clips of some sort on each side at the waist) is worn by the stunt actor who is hung over the side of the roof or raised up from the ground, and then raised and lowered by the winch as needed for the shot... pretending to climb up and down. One cable per side of the waist of the vest. Turn your camera sideways to get the short 'ceiling' shots after attaching a ceiling light sldeways to a wall to sell the shot or greenscreening in a ceiling.

With the vest, winch, plate stock, and pulleys you should be able to weld this up in around an hour or so. It could be set up in around 1/2 hour and struck faster.

Just a thought as to how we would do it here. :smile:
 
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I think for anything that can put a person at risk of serious injury, you should hire a stunt team. Your insurance isn't going to like you hanging people upside down. Improv stunts hardly ever end well. When its life you are dealing with spend the money and hire a team. You can never replace the cost of a person. You can make up the money spent on a stunt team though.
 
Mattykins said:
I think for anything that can put a person at risk of serious injury, you should hire a stunt team. Your insurance isn't going to like you hanging people upside down. Improv stunts hardly ever end well. When its life you are dealing with spend the money and hire a team. You can never replace the cost of a person. You can make up the money spent on a stunt team though.
Click to expand...

This is wisdom speaking... So true. "...worn by the stunt actor..." :happy: You have to take care of your folks.
 
Gary Sconce said:
Yeah, you can easily do it. :Drogar-Happy(DBG):

OK...:shocked: Here is the spider machine: Secure 800lb electric winch on roof with long attractive wall, or greenscreened wall; Two cables are attached to the winch wheel instead of one, for safety in redundancy; two 90 degree sideways welded together 24"x4" 1/4" iron plates on the edge of the roof with two 500lb capable pulley wheels welded up perpendicularly to the plate 'L' and away 4" from the plates, 16" apart. Pressure of the wire hanging device will hold the plate down but secondary cabling on the roof is cabled to holdfasts of some sort, or the angle pulley rig is screwed multiply and firmly into the roof. A hang vest with side attachments (with two redundant clips of some sort on each side at the waist) is worn by the stunt actor who is hung over the side of the roof or raised up from the ground, and then raised and lowered by the winch as needed for the shot... pretending to climb up and down. One cable per side of the waist of the vest. Turn your camera sideways to get the short 'ceiling' shots after attaching a ceiling light sldeways to a wall to sell the shot or greenscreening in a ceiling.

With the vest, winch, plate stock, and pulleys you should be able to weld this up in around an hour or so. It could be set up in around 1/2 hour and struck faster.

Just a thought as to how we would do it here. :smile:
Click to expand...

Thanks, but this is kinda hefty for what I'm trying to do. I'm big on safety! Last thing I need is for a paralized actor to be suing me for the rest of my life - Did i mention I don't have enough cash for Stunt folks. Shoot, I was thinking of hanging upside down myself that way I wouldn't have to think about anybody else but myself. :grin:

I decided that if the creatures moved, I would use greenscreen which I'm starting to get pretty good at. But wanted to do a closeup of maybe a girl screaming then gaining her composure. As soon as she relaxes, we see this "creature" hanging above her about to attack.

Using the whole - fast motion CG, close up live action - I think can work better and keep everyone safe.
 
Having been hit by one of the best stunt performers (motorcycle) in the industry, I would agree that any fall / pull / wire work be left in the hands of qualified coordinators / performers.

If not safe, better to accomplish it with camera moves and suggestive framing.

e
 
I need to suspend an actor to "swoop" from tree

I need to suspend an actor to "swoop" from tree

Hello all. Newbie here so be gentle. OK, I am doing a shot in my film where an actor playing a creature leaps out of a tree and swoops as though he is taking flight. I planned on using a rope climbing harness and 3 to 4 strong guys to counter balance my weight. I weigh 175# soaking wet in costume. Anyone have any knowledge they would care to share with me in order to pull this off safely and efficiently? Thank you!

Horrorman1:dankk2:
 
Climbing harnesses and llearning to rig from a forum?!

Climbing harnesses and llearning to rig from a forum?!

You don't learn how to execute safe stunt rigging or performing from reading a forum. Climbing harnesses are not designed to fly you thru the air for film. If you need to ask how to "rig" a stunt or how to do a stunt on a "forum".....you are not in a safe postion to do it. Period. But if you want to hurt yourself.....
 
I know this is old, but Why not forget about all the special effects stuff and look at he basic tools of cinema?

I know you might not be able to replicate or simulate a vertically flipped room, film it with the camera flipped and then flip it again in post? That way you would achieve what you are after (or at least part) without risking the life of your actors or you.
 
Whew........this is before my time as a mod here. This is NOT for untrained people. Period. Jerk harnesses, wire rigs, untrained "stunt" techs, elevating an untrained actor off the ground 5' into a tree in a quick motion: recipe for serious injury and disaster.
 
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