How to make a squib or find source

H

HunterG

Well-known member
I've been asked by two friends with local police to film a training/recruiting video. We would like to simulate a gun shot and before I experiment with ideas I would like to hear from others. I've looking on the web and not found much, but I like the air bladder type the best. Any ideas?

Thanks
Hunter

Thanks for all the replys, as a side note my friends had been using firecrackers before they asked me to help ... LOL
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

Lots of techniques. I suggest doing a google or yahoo search. I did so and found several descriptions on using and making squibs.
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

Just be sure to avoid pyro or if you insist on pyro get an expert at it (with a card)

Muzzle flashes and some other effects can be done fairly simple in prost production.
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

I believe using actual squibs requires the assistance of someone with a federal explosives permit. If you were to make your own and something went wrong, you could be in a world of hurt.
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

I'll have to see if I can find it. There was some English site about using a bug sprayer, putting fake blood inside, using a cut off garden hose, and then cutting a hole in the actors shirt, then pumping up the tank and then releasing the air.

I think I found it by doing a search with "Cheap Film Effects" or something along that line.
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

Take off the .eejit at the end of that URL.
 
DON'T SQUIB UNLESS FULLY TRAINED!

DON'T SQUIB UNLESS FULLY TRAINED!

An air bladder would be a good way to go...

Just in case anyone is *even* thinking about trying explosive squibs...

DO NOT PUT EXPLOSIVE SQUIBS ON A PERSON UNLESS YOU ARE FULLY TRAINED!!!

Squibs on a person are nothing to f**k around with. You need a pro if you are going to simulate gunshots with a real person. If you have never squibbed before have not been trained by a pro, there is a good chance you could SEVERELY WOUND or EVEN KILL the person involved.

Either hire a pro or find a different low tech way of simulating a gun shot.

--Jud
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

I tend to think squibs aren't quite as dangerous as a lot of people indicate here, but that being said, they should still be respected and carefully handled.

I've used squibs a couple of times personally, and I've never had issues due to two things:

A. I've never made my own squibs because I can't think of dumber things a person could do. I've always bought my squibs from professional efx houses. You're probably not skilled enough to measure out the correct amount of powder, and there's a good chance that you'll damage someone or something in the process. Not to mention that you're probably comitting a federal crime.

B. I've always used a backing behind the squib.

I saw a short that was filmed at my old school where they prepared several squibs for the actor's death scene. The first squib was a "test" squib and had no backing...but oops, that's the one that was placed on the actor. When it exploded, I saw one of the most realistic expressions of shock and pain on the face of that actor.

Always use a backing, always place the squib on the back or chest, facing out where it doesn't have a chance of throwing debris at the actors face, and allow the actor to ingnite his own squib so he knows when it's coming. Place the squib under clothing with a flap already cut for the blowout, slit at the bottom so it blows open like a doggy door. Sandwich the squib between your sturdy backing an a tightly attached blood source, condoms are the easiest to use because they're so thin.

Between the backing protecting the actor's skin, the liquid to cool the ignition, and the flap to direct the exit, you should be pretty well covered. That being said, if you're not comfortable enough with the process, then find someone who is.

You're dealing with some serious liability if you screw up, and if you really want an actors faith, prepare two and use one on yourself to show them it is safe.

***DISCLAIMER: Also, consider that in many states it will be illegal if you don't hire someone licensed. Even if it goes smoothly, you're going to have admissable videotape footage of you comitting a crime. ***
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

..he was shot by real bullets which were in a gun that was supposed to be firing blanks when standing up on the tabel being shot by about 15 people for oe of the final scenes in "the crow".
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

I heard it was "debris" in the barrel of a gun that was firing blanks. Effectively turning the debris into a bullet...and killing him.

Whichever it was, it definatly wasn't squibs.
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

lol..yes.. ive heard many differnt things too. I just finally stuck with what his biography said. but even that seems shady.. who knows.. its just like his dads death.. all wrapped up in controversy. personally i think they are both chilling on a private island somewhere with elvis.. and have gone all plasticized to hide their identities.
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

hey, elvis is a member here...can you confirm? :P

[quote author=iamloser link=board=news;num=1092446434;start=0#12 date=08/16/04 at 12:03:27]lol..yes.. ive heard many differnt things too. I just finally stuck with what his biography said. but even that seems shady..  who knows.. its just like  his dads death.. all wrapped up in controversy.     personally i think they are both chilling on a private island somewhere with elvis.. and have gone all plasticized to hide their identities. [/quote]
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

Brandon Lee die from a mistake, prop man took the powder from live rounds then replaced the bullets but left primers in. The scene was shot (real bullet used for gun facing camera), as the actor holding the gun fired every one heard a little pop but thought nothing about it. The primer had just enough power to move the bullet from the cyclinder to the barrel where is stayed till the scene with blanks place in the pistol.
Blanks are loaded to same the powder charge of live rounds. So to "imaloser", being the gun nut I am I tried a similar test (smaller caliber) same results.
Another death simlar to Brandons occurred back in the eighty's, remember the tv show Voyagers!
http://www.tvtome.com/Voyagers/
Except no bullets just blanks. He held the gun to his head knowing it was loaded with blanks.
Again thanks for the replies. Wish I could show you guys the short.
Hunter
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

Squibs are available from De La Mare Engineering, or M.P. Associates in L.A....If you have a federal pyro license. Look in your local film directory for someone who does special effects. They probably need the work.
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

[quote author=HunterG link=board=news;num=1092446434;start=0#0 date=08/13/04 at 18:20:34]I've looking on the web and not found much, but I like the air bladder type the best. Any ideas?
[/quote]

Depending on the shots needed, maybe you could go the other way and "shoot" wax blood capsules at the (hopefully, padded a bit) actor. Not good for close-ups, of course.

But nobody gets accidentally set on fire.
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source


I've done this a couple ways (like, not using squibs, I mean).

I tried the bug sprayer thing. Useless. Looked really poor, I thought.

Then I tried "Black Cat" "squibs". Like, those grouped up fireworks you get, that have tons of charges and go off over a long period of time. We took one of those, disassembled it to get each individual charge, hooked up the fuse to a model rocket engine ignitor (electrical), wired it up, and put it behind a blood pack. It took WAY too long to rig, but the effect was ok. Used it with lots of duct tape backing against the actor's skin. He was fine, but we tested it a lot first.

The best thing I've tried, and most recent, a blood pack with a small sharp object taped in behind it. We tied fishing wire around the object (a nail in our case), and put the whole assembly behind a pre-scored costume, routing the fishing wire through the score, and out to the crew. Pulling it gets a really nice gush of blood that looked great. A little wire removal on the shot in post, and we were done.
 
Re: How to make a squib or find source

Yeah, I think hunter is right about the brendan lee thing. It had something to do with a bullet being left in the chamber rather than the clip. They changed the clip but didn't realize a live round was still left in the chamber. They fired the blanks off but the first bullet from one gun turned out to be real and killed him.

Cherry bombs might be a low end explosive that could work. Be careful of course as they are still explosives.

Condom in a condom is another way. stick one condom in another one that is filled with fake blood. Then blow up the inside condom a bit. This will increase the pressure placed on the blood. Now all you need is something to pop it. This gives you a little extra boost without using more firepower.
 
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