BLANKS GUN SHOT SPECIALIST

[RickBakewell]

I am doing a scene which involves an actor getting shot in the chest from about a six foot difference. She will be wearing a bullet proof vest, and the actor will be pointing the gun far from her but with the angle it will look like he's hitting her in the chest.

Anyone know of a good gun pyro specialist, someone we can trust to make sure everything goes all right, etc.

 

[Scoopicman]

There are numerous safe ways to do this. One of the forum members - Indie-Arms, is from S. California and may be able to help you. His thread here:

http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=29788&highlight=safety


As for my advice on that scene:

1) The safest way is to use a prop, non-firing gun (Airsoft brand or other). You could use a compressed air squib on the actress and have your actor recoil his gun when the squib blows. You dub in the gun shot, add some gun smoke in After Effects, Motion, etc.

2) You might not be able to order these in the socialist state of California, but I use several Blank firing guns from Collector's Armoury. These are stage guns and they can't fire a real bullet. The barrels are also plugged, so even debris/sparks is a non-issue. They use smaller 8mm blank rounds, which eject out of the gun when fired. Looks and sounds great:

http://www.collectorsarmoury.com/Shop-Blank-Guns/departments/3/

The blanks are loud and can be mistaken for a real gun, so be careful if you go that route. I've been using CGI gunfire for the last few movies, because it's quiet and doesn't attract attention. See 2:40 mark of this video for examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi2wLA175WQ


If you don't have programs like After Effects, you can export a frame from your movie and paint/clone tool the gun blast with Photoshop. I did that in my flick THREE STRIPE and because of editing, the gunshot looks convincing. See 6:30 mark:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWLtdhqZ-3w


Her reaction was enough, so no squib needed; just one Photoshopped frame.



Just in case you want the option. Compressed air squib:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDgKhci3fBk

 

[directorik]

Anyone know of a good gun pyro specialist, someone we can trust to make sure everything goes all right, etc.

I have a pyro license. But you don't need someone with
a pyro license for what you want to do. Rent what is called
a non-gun from iss right here in Los Angles.

But if you want someone with a license on the set I'll do it.
Not for free, but I'll do it.