Squibs

[goriddle]

about the firecrackers... Thats the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I went to a concert once that took place at a fireman's clubhouse. One of the guys in the band exploded a pack of 16 black cats inside his ass. There were plenty of firemen standing around and the most this guy got from them was a hearty laugh and a finger wagging. I'm not saying the guy shouldn't have been fined, but I don't think firemen are going to hunt you down and jail you for blowing up a firecracker on yourself. By the way, I don't think you would ever get any trouble out of a fireman if you used a FIRE EXTAINGUISHER for such an effect. hahaha just kidding.

[SeanHope]

People detonate all sort of explosive things like Black Cats every day and most of them do not get hurt by it. Then again some do - the most common damage is the eyes, then there are finger-tips. Of course there are people who have earned themselves a Darwin Award from those whimpy firecrakers. I think the idea is that people are suggesting using the Black Cats to make a movie - some people here even intend to sell their movies. Just see how fast those firemen are with the fines when they believe they can get the money.

The first thing that a low budget film company forgets is that they should protect themselves by way of insurance. This is for obvious things like an actor falling down the stairs or the mount of the car doesn't hold and the $8000 camera and it's rig gets smashed in the street - thus ending the dreams of a film maker.

The problem with having insurance is you have to follow their rules. Be very aware of what they allow you to do and what they don't. Murphy's Law has a way of causing problems on those things you do "outside" of the protection of your insurance. If you are not serious about making films and this is all a big laugh riot or something you want to show during a party - it doesn't really matter, getting squibs are not the problem, If you are the film maker and someone gets hurt during your filming you are responsible, even if its something stupid that the person did like sticking a Black Cat up their ass.

[goriddle]

Im sure we will all keep that in mind during the filming of our next million dollar epic.

[AJ]

Hey Goriddle, you shouldn't be too quick to disregard good advice. The whole point of this forum is to promote low-budget genre filmmaking, not to advocate the 'dirty sanchez' style of idiocy.

There are very good reasons why it is best to make safety your first consideration when making a film. Risking your health just to get a shot is not something that anyone should do.

If you are serious about the business of filmmaking, and you'd like to progress towards making a living from it, then you will need to conduct yourself in an appropriate manner.

[dsketch]

I mainly use the weed sprayer because it's safer, but for multiple shots on a person it's inefective. I have, in the past, used the black cat method for this, but I do it a little differently. Instead of just lighting the fuse and running for cover, I use igniters from model rockets. Just pull the fuse from your black cat and stuff the igniter down the opening(make sure the wires don't touch or it won't work). You can use this for multiple shots. Run the wires off screen to, seperate batteries, or a block of wood with nails in it. Wrap your neg. and pos. around each nail. Get a seperate battery and attatch a neg. and pos., then wrap wires around a seperate nail. In sequence touch battery nail to board nails and there ya go.

[goriddle]

well I am not interested in the "business" of filmmaking and I don't like people assuming that I am out to make a living with movies. I am interested in seeing my peronal vision to completion. The people who act in my films are usually good friends of mine and I would never let them get hurt while helping me (not that I feel the need to justify this). I wasn't disregarding good advice either. I was becoming visibly frustrated with someone trying to be a know-it-all.

[SeanHope]

I guess I'm the "Know-it-All" you are refering to. Well let me dispel that right now. The 2 examples that I gave the driving rig falling off the side of the car and the actor falling down the stairs, actually did happen to me. And I wasn't insured.

So maybe I should have talked about cost.
Thank goodness the actor who fell down the stairs only made me pay for the emergency room visit and the follow-up, their insurance wouldn't cover it - because it wasn't a work related injury. total cost $625 and 3 days of reshooting to replace my actor. The accident happened off camera, I was shooting 2 floors down and they decided to go exploring since they weren't needed for another hour or so. It ruined my day of shooting and it was very frustrating to lose them from my movie.

The car rig was a rental, which I lost my deposit on. $2000. The camera belonged to a friend of mine, who fortunatly for me ate the cost - mainly because he felt he was at fault for setting up the rig wrong. In the end I ran out of money and didn't finish filming the movie.

It's no fun when you realize how much things begin to cost. Having insurance is only piece of mind. So I think I can safely say I don't know it all. My advice obviously isn't for you and I think you are blind to the fact that even with the highest possible safety measures in place, there is no way you can possibly protect your actors from getting hurt. Lastly, you don't need a million dollars to make a film and protect youself.

[goriddle]

I know very well that you don't need a million dollars to make a good movie. The fact is that a lot of the people in this forum don't even have a thousand to spend. When you start telling them they have to spend a crapload of money on something like insurance to protect their $8000 camera its a little discouraging and a lot offensive. I have in the past dealt with a quite a few people who talk the same way you do and if I would have taken their advice seriously I wouldn't have accomplished nearly as much as I have so far. I also still think the statement having a firemarshal on hand to ignite a fire cracker is quite a silly exaggeration. I apologize for calling you a know-it-all.

[AJ]

Don't assume that everyone on this board is a teen with a handycam Goriddle.

There are plenty of us here who do have expensive equipment and insurance, and it certainly helps to know that your investment is covered when you are out shooting something.

As SeanHope says, Murphys Law is pretty much doubled in effect when making a film, if it can go wrong... it probably will!

There is nothing offensive about suggesting that you should use common sense and cover the legal bases when making a film.

Obviously, as you've repeatedly stated, you have little interest in making a commercially viable film at the moment, but wouldn't you like to think that one day you might be able to create something with real potential?

Its all very well making a backyard 'movie' with your mates and your mums camcorder, but if I were you I'd be aiming a bit higher... thats how guys like Raimi and Spielberg got started ;D

[goriddle]

I said I wasn't interested in the business of filmmaking. I didn't say my project wasn't marketable. Maybe since you know my situation so well you can point me in the right direction to become the next Raimi or Speilberg. Actually, don't bother. I am more interested in doing something original. I am comfortable with your false assumption that I am a teenager with my mums camcorder. I would rather associate with people like that than hollywood ego-trippers.

[Mommy's Little Monster]

ok i think this all getting just a little infantile. First off the black cat bullet hit is a pretty dumb idea, we've all stated so...

Secondly, insurance is a great idea, you don't have to take said advice and i don't think it was particularly aimed at any one person. You have to know your cast and crew, if they are your friends or people you know will be cool with small accidents then you can get by without it. But it wouuld really suck if some dumb ass gaffer tripped over the tripod and broke your camera ($100 or $8000 it doesn't matter). This means you have to replace the camera and deal with the possiblity of the gaffer being able to sue because of unsafe working environments. I know it sounds extreme but if a woman can sue mcdonalds for hot coffee and another woman can sue a microwave company for not putting a warning on their product telling you not to dry your cat in there, anything can happen!!

One of my teachers friends was on set one time and left her make-up kit in a place where she probably shouldn't have. As a result it was run over by a truck. She had no insurence and had to spend $10,000 to replace everything. It happens and I for one would rather be protected against it.

[Multiplex Manner]

Yeah, we're not all teens with handycams....*hides handycam under school uniform*.

Seriously though, just because some people on this board don't make professionally made films, it doesn't mean they're not committed to being a professional film maker. Personally, I am full of ambition to be a film maker and I can't see myself doing anything else in the future. However, because I am very young I have no money - so all my films are made on my camcorder (not my mums ). So I do read about film making and how to do it properly, but for now this is all I can do.

I respect that there ARE a lot of people on this forum who are serious film makers at the present and don't just plan to be in the future. I might just have missed or trodden on the point, but I just wanted to get that off my chest.

And insurance is definately a better idea than.....well, just crossing your fingers. I think the best thing to do is not do anything too dangerous until you can afford it.

Well, I'm off to McDonalds to get some extra hot coffee and find a wet stray cat....

[hollowhead]

if you have fire crackers and don't want to put them on anyone just make a dummy wearing the same t-shirt as the victim and put the firecracker with condom filled with blood in the dummy and light it, that way nobody gets hurt plus if u do a close up it works great.

[brain_eater]

Blood Packet
First, you'll need the glove. Any generic disposable glove will do, but latex generally breaks easiest (which is what is wanted in a blood packet). Just cut off a finger (off the glove, not your hand, retard). Now take your blood solution and fill the finger about half way. Next you'll want to twist the open end until you get a spherical object so to speak. Put a paperclip around the twisted part. Let go. Now you've got your all-purpose blood packet. Next, you'll want to take a washer and super glue part of it onto the blood packet. Once it dries (or not... I don't care), tie a piece of fishing line to the side you didn't glue down. Run this line as long as you'll need it (off camera obviously). Attach the blood packet to the victim by taping the two ends of the paper clip to the person. Now, put the article of clothing on the person. Find out where the blood packet sits. Cut a + shaped hole/slit where the blood packet is. Run the fishing line through the hole and off camera. pop. yank. kaplooeeee!

[gordo]

Wow, im late on this one....

First off, if you want a massive gunshot with spray, gorriddle is right. I just spent 50 bucks on a fire extinguisher. 50 Bucks! you say? Too much? Na. It was worth every penny.

Fireworks: I have done these before, but I will NEVER say leave an open fire cracker on anyone. Get the DVD to a flick called Ravage...they tell you how to do it with flash cotton...but here goes mine with a black cat.

First off, get some nylon end caps. Small. Tape them to cardboard, VERY securly(i can't spell for sh*t)... dunp a couple black cats in that(the powder)...take a felt or cork disc real small, cut a small hole and place your rocket ignitor in it. Put the end of the ignitor into the powder, and drop hot wax on the cork disc (this seals it tight). Take your condom, after you hook and tape your wires, and place over, touch a battery, and boom bam. The key here is that these endcaps at any hardware store, project the powder, explosive foward, not all over! It works fine, and if done right looks d**n good and bloody. My 2 cents