We are equipped to perform all gunshot effects, from simple blood hits, to bare skin shots, to suicide head shots. Complicated pyrotechnic hits using steel body protectors to blow-gun steric acid shots can be performed. We are equipped to perform all manners of gas gun plastic capsule effects using state of the art and industry standard (Sweeney-Strub) gas powered guns. Spark (Zirk) shots, dust shots, glass gunshot effects using glass shots and trunnion guns as well as gel-capsule blood shots using automatic gas guns.) |
 Point of Reference: One movie effect we often get asked about is creating bullet-hits on an actor’s body. The effect, in case you’ve never seen an action movie, is that part of the actor’s shirt or jacket explodes, spewing blood and making it look for all the world as if he’s just been shot. Even on film, this is a potentially dangerous effect, as it involves attaching an explosive charge to the actor and setting it off. To protect the actor, a plate of body armor is fitted between the charge and the actor’s body. On a movie shoot, of course, there’s time to set all of this before starting the cameras. On stage, however, the body armor would make it hard to move about and act. |
An older and much simpler way of creating the effect of someone being shot is to simply have the actor clap a hand to his chest and drop to the stage. For most stage plays, in fact, this is really all that’s needed as the gunshot itself isn’t a major plot point; who did the shooting, and why, is usually more important. If you need a bit more realism you can make “blood-bags” from water balloons or plastic baggies. (While the blood bags used for movie effects are usually constructed from condoms, they are also intended to be burst by an explosive charge.) Fill the bag with a small amount of stage blood - either bought from a stage makeup supplier or made from scratch - and tape it to the actor under his costume. Now, when he claps his hand to his chest, he should be able to burst the bag, causing some of the blood to seep through his shirt. |
If you are involved in a low-budget / no-budget production and strapping explosive devices to your body scares the hell out of you, try these links for a very effective way around the legal, moral and financial requirements SQUIBS: BLOOD & GUTS ON THE CHEAP. HOLLYWOOD GUNSHOT SPECIAL EFFECTS
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