Low-budget filmmaking tip #193
Seriously, respect fire. Fire is a special effect that can burn you and things that you love. Fire effects are often powered by propane, which can burn you and a lot of things that you love in a wide radius. Always know where the fire extinguishers are.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #160
There’s a reason ordinary people don’t do explosive squibs all the time — because it’s so easy to screw up. And there’s a reason there isn’t a lot of practical effects that ivolve plugging into the AC mains — because that’s a lot of power going into one human being. And there’s a really, really, really good reason these two things aren’t ever combined, and that reason is Leave the special effects to Hollywood.
Thank you, Brian Oberquell for the hilarious link!
Picture is not related, but funny nonetheless.
And NEVER put your hand over a squib effect!
Low-budget filmmaking tip #143
If you have a pyrotechnical device, never leave the arming key in the firing system if you have to walk away from it… NO EXCEPTIONS. And yes, you have an arming key, the removal of which will make the effect impossible to trigger. Of course you do.
(thanks to Brian Oberquell!)
And of course, the only person with the arming key is the pyro effects person. Don’t just hand it to someone.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #104
It is okay to call a halt if you don’t feel a pyro or other effect is safe, or you suddenly see something that looks very wrong. It may screw up the shot, but wasting time or money is far preferable to wasting lives. Or fingers. Or worse. (thanks, Brian!)
Low-budget filmmaking tip #93
If an effect demonstration is going to make noise, warn people ahead of time so they don’t freak out and think something’s gone wrong. Freaking out should be avoided. (thank you, Brian!)
Low-budget filmmaking tip #48
When loading shells in a mortar, try to drop them in with your non-dominant hand (if you’re right-handed, drop with the left hand). That way, if you experience Sudden Massive Tissue Loss, you still have your favorite hand. (thank you, Brian, for today’s Pyro Tip!)
Low-budget filmmaking tip #23
If you’re going to trigger a cue with a countdown and decide to trigger it early to get a better reaction of surprise, you should be confident your actor(s) can handle the unexpected so you don’t have to reshoot the scene should they break character.
(thanks for the tip, Brian!)
I think in general, I’d be wary about trying to produce a genuine response by startling your actors. Warren Oates chipped a tooth and nearly kicked Ivan Reitman’s ass in “Stripes” when Reitman decided to go for a “genuine” surprise and have someone knock Oates down during a training exercise scene.
My best “shock” shot so far was in “Cult of the Giant Brain” and we cycled through that motion repeatedly until everyone was in sync, because in reality, people don’t “surprise” so well.
But it is a technique, I guess…