Pyro

is there any book out there that discusses how to shoot pyro shots... Question

secondly, how do you shoot pyro footage...it's normal to shoot against a black bbackground for such elements but for a big explosion...how can this be done...

Use a really big black background? Smile

I think the detonation films guys do all their big explosions in the desert on a cloudless day so the sky can be used for keying...

I know it goes without saying, but I just don't want to see pics of your burned fingers on monday, so:

GET SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING, that stuff is dangerous.

There, somebody had to say it. Smile

- Jonas

Jonas is 1,000% right.

Use compressed air to make dirt and stuff fly into the air. Toss digitally animated or model cars -- over-crank those. Add digital flames, and have fun with the sound.

There's no reason to risk serious injury to get explosions on the screen. Fake is good. Have he actors act. Remember Harrison Ford's acting theory: "Let's pretend."

-- Paul

If you shoot it on black, you can just use the 'screen' composite mode to get a quick (and dirty) composite of the effect. That's the advantage to shoot on black. Presuming you're shooting video, I'd be most concerned with getting a proper exposure. If the plate is repeatable, I'd review previous takes to make sure exposure is good. However, pyro is one of those things that the audience gets fooled on all the time. They don't know what it looks like when you shot it, so you can tweak levels, do crazy keying or compositing, and most likely they'll buy it.

Best luck

I think you guyz are right...it's best looking for a pythecnician who can handle the job...but isnt there a first for everything...that was why I asked for a book...and besides I dont intend carrying out project the pros do..I intend to start really small...

I think it should be fun...only when you know what you are doing and that is what I want to know...

The first is typically under a supervised setting, if you want it to be legal.

I hope to do this legally... Laughing

On that simulated D Day film that's linked around here, they showed how they scaled some explosions. They used super fine sand/dust to have it rise up and expand with minimal firecracker power to do it. I think it's called 'Omaha.' Worked very well.

What sort of explosion shot is called for in the script?

Yeah, the type of explosion will dictate a lot of how it would be done.

Layers of different smoke, dust, puffs...whatever...can really enhance an effect. Also, remember that the explosion needs to be scaled...this was covered in a recent discussion about flipping a car...

I saw online that someone had built some sort of handheld mortar that appears to fire a blast of gasoline. Looked really dangerous...something to definitely NOT mess with. Take it from someone who spent a week in the hospital with burns due to a gasoline explosion.

You might try using some florescent paint, a black light and an air mortar and see what you can get. Any kind of dynamic effect like this leaves a lot of room for creativity.

There might be commercially available fireworks that you could try.

This is the said mortar, although the manufacturer has sold his business for legal reasons.
New owners (if any) may reopen for business soon: http://www.spudtech.com/

You might look at Particle Illusion at [/url]www.wondertouch.com[url]. You can create several different effects and layer them. The Pro version also includes debris simulation (rocks flying and hitting a deflector). The SE version is $99 ($49 student) or $379 ($185 student). This might also be cheaper than building air mortars and experimenting with powder charges until you get the look you want.

It's safe and flexible.

	Brandt wrote:
	You might try using some florescent paint, a black light and an air mortar.

Wow, what an interesting idea. I could see that working in a world a la Sin City.

I thought the OP was asking advice about capturing pyro effects on film/video, not actually performing them. I'm not really sure the internet is a great place to discuss rebel style pyro effects, but I certainly think using compressed gas (air) mortars/cannons will always be somewhat safer than the equivalent in exothermic explosions. And it's very economical: You could build a reusable, electronic triggered air mortar for $40/piece at the hardware store.

	Quote:
	You could build a reusable, electronic triggered air mortar for $40/piece at the hardware store.

To create bullet hits with gore blasting from the victim's back:

First, made up some clear plastic tubes with short right angles glued up at the business end. Tube loaded with fake blood, bits of foam core, other very light-weight gunk.
Second, constume back modified with a new back panel and a sheet of foam rubber under it, carved to accommodate the plastic tubes.
Third, each plastic tube (three total) connected to normally-closed solenoid air switches. These were 115vac. Those were connected to a free-standing tank of compressed air. Controlled by el cheapo wall switches mounted to a wood frame.

Each bullet hit produced quite a spray of gore. Totally safe for the actor, who could easily feel the bullet hit and act it.

The free-standing air tank was borrowed; I'm sure it wouldn't have cost much used.

With a whole bunch of these valves, you could have machine gun hits on the ground as an actor is running past.

Get it on the first take!!!

-- Paul