rob spence Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 Hi Does anyone know the best way to produce a realistic gunfire flash off camera. I need to do a shot of a soldier firing a gun in the air at night...the gun will be off camera as he raises his hand with the gun many thanks rob spence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Michael Nash Posted April 17, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted April 17, 2007 I'm sure we've discussed this before. Try a search, probably a couple years back. I know there's lots of info burried there somewhere.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Chris Keth Posted April 17, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted April 17, 2007 I'm sure we've discussed this before. Try a search, probably a couple years back. I know there's lots of info burried there somewhere.. I've done it with a photo flash on the highest setting gelled with 2 layers of full straw. We just did it until I, after a take, asked if the flash went off because I couldn't see it (i.e. all of the flash's light went onto film rather than the eyepiece) There's probably a better way but it worked well for us students on a budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Sweetman Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 (edited) You can buy blank-firing weapons that are considered non-guns because the barrels are plugged; you don't need a liscence for them or a pyro on set because they're not considered firearms. With some, the flash is expelled out the top of the gun or a hole on the top of the barrel, with others it comes straight out the barrel. The Kimar pistols are supposed to have a realistic flash. I just bought a pistol for the climactic scene of my next film so I'll let you know how it works out. Just be careful, especially with recent news. -oh, just read the gun will be off-camera. Yeah in that case, any light you can flip on and off rapidly, that should be simple to set up. Edited April 17, 2007 by David Sweetman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Michael Nash Posted April 17, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted April 17, 2007 You can buy blank-firing weapons that are considered non-guns because the barrels are plugged; you don't need a liscence for them or a pyro on set because they're not considered firearms. For clarity -- and safety -- a "non gun" is NOT a "blank-firing" gun with a plugged barrel! A non-gun never was, never will be, and doesn't work the same as, a real firing weapon. http://old.issprops.com/Weapons/nonguns.htm A non-gun is essentially a "cap gun" that looks very convincing on camera. Don't make a potentially deadly mistake between a "blank firing" firearm and a "non-gun." "Blanks" are real charges, and have been deadly on movie sets (John Erik Hexum, Brandon Lee). http://old.issprops.com/Weapons/weaponsfaq.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob spence Posted April 17, 2007 Author Share Posted April 17, 2007 Thanks everyone much appreciated rob spence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Morlan Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Coming late to this thread but I recently added gun flashes (on-screen and off) for a "Grind House" trailer competition entry. (I also did grading to create a '70's reversal stock look from the video footage.) I explain it with sample footage here: http://michael-morlan.net/pages/production...d_hellhoney.htm The production tried to use a photo flash for on-set gun flashes but only managed to capture one for the shotgun blast. Photo flash times are so fast that catching one in-camera is troublesome. I've used double strobes for electrocution effects by setting them at twice the speed I wanted them to appear on film later. I recently used a 1.5W Luxeon LED flashlight for a nighttime gatling gun flash effect. Just positioned the flashlight out of frame and rapidly bumped the back button. Enjoy, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Smith Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Not all blank firing guns produce muzzle flashes. Personally, if the gun is out of the screen, I'd use a camera flash on its lowest power setting. You can always tape things to it if it is the wrong colour or strength. Check the ending scene of 'Jarhead'. Those effects look asthough they were done with a camera flash. (More like strobe) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Henke III Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I do all of my flashes in after effects, my friends do theirs in photoshop (it is a single frame), but with after effects I add flashes, smoke, and a 3D bullet casing that flies out of the chamber where ever I want. It also avoids the police coming to the shoot. Blanks look great, but motion pictures are avoiding using them too, Pay Back, Pan's Labyrinth, etc. It just saves money on permits and means that there is no danger involved. There are also guns that just make a flash, but no sound, or chamber blow-back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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