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action Filming a hanging scene

I did see that a post on this already exists, but it didn't answer my particular dilemma. For my short film, I have a scene where the character attempts to hang herself but the sheet she uses is stretchy enough that her feet land on the ground and she can still breathe, but can't get the noose from around her neck, causing her to have to call for her mom. I am hoping for this scene to have one wide shot of this happening to increase the comedy of it, but I don't know how to do this safely so that it looks realistic, but my actress is never in danger. Any thoughts?
 
Tie the other end of the sheet to something that easily breaks away if she pulls too hard.
Or like.. use tape or something. That clearly cannot support the weight of a human.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by she isn't able to get the noose off her neck.
Whats wrong with her hands ?
 
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Tie the other end of the sheet to something that easily breaks away if she pulls too hard.
Or like.. use tape or something. That clearly cannot support the weight of a human.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by she isn't able to get the noose off her neck.
Whats wrong with her hands

Thank you for the insight!

The noose is still going to be tight enough that she can't undo it, but just loose enough that she can still breathe. So she struggles with getting it off for a few moments but when she can't she resorts to calling her mom to help
 
Reminds me of this video at 1:25 dude gets trapped under the bar and starts calling for his dad

Def a funny video. Good luck!
 
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Laura harness.jpg
sf harness hang.JPG
We had a hanging scene in my feature Surviving Family, and used a harness for safety. Our director was bigger than the actress who'd ultimately be wearing it, so she (director) tested it first. Photos attached for your reference.
 
I'm not sure a "stretchy sheet" would convey well. Firstly, none of my sheets are stretchy. So how would it play out? She goes to hang herself, and it stretches so she hits the floor, and that's fumy? Does she say "Awww man a stretchy sheet!" or look at the label or something, because I don't see how this could work, to be honest. I think you need a better idea than this to be funny.
 
I'm not sure a "stretchy sheet" would convey well. Firstly, none of my sheets are stretchy. So how would it play out? She goes to hang herself, and it stretches so she hits the floor, and that's fumy? Does she say "Awww man a stretchy sheet!" or look at the label or something, because I don't see how this could work, to be honest. I think you need a better idea than this to be funny.

You may be right. I am looking for a better idea than using a sheet but I want to keep my actress safe. The idea I had is just simply to take a topic that is uncomfortable for a lot of people and make light of it. I'm not sure how it will come across to my audience, but when I watch things that are usually uncomfortable for most people made light I find it humourous. My target audience may be so small that it never works out. 'Father Figurine' by Matt Kazman is personally one of my favorite short films so I'm going for a similar feeling. You may be correct though, that the humor is simply in my own head and won't translate well. Thanks for the insight!
 
For it to work a sheet that stretches that much would have to be common knowledge. I don't think it is.
 
For it to work a sheet that stretches that much would have to be common knowledge. I don't think it is.

Do you think something else would work better? The film is following a girl through the day between her two suicide attempts. I start the film with the scene in question and end it with her attempting again. I'm not especially good at explaining things, but the scene we are currently talking about simply needs to convey that she attempted unsuccessfully and kickstart her day (and the film). Is there a way you can think of that would convey this more successfully? Or a stretchier material she could use?
 
Wrong kind of pills. (Could be funny depending on what she took. Perhaps needing to run to the bathroom. Mom's prescription laxative.)
 
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