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Blowing out a door SFX - a little OTT


paulears

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There's been some activity today about a visual effect going wrong on the video forums today, including the Guild of TV Camerman's site - not known for excitement.

 

The production company wasted no time in taking down the video clips from internet sites as people saw the effect go wrong, but one site still has the video.

 

To save too much searching/reading for those not that interested, the video is from a GoPro mounted on top of the Red camera on a steadicam.

video clip here

 

Forum comments here

 

The door appears to have blown across the road nearly hitting the actress, and leaving a nice imprint on the floor.

 

EDIT ten minutes later, it's gone from this site too.

 

The story seems to be developing and talks about not paying people for the day as many people walked off, and people with damaged equipment not getting paid. Considering it's late at night, somebody is working overtime getting these clips removed.

 

If anyone who is a long term member wants to see it, drop me a PM and I'll let you know how you can see it. Basically - two actors walk along a UK street (looks like London), swat team are gathering around a house door, rather like 10 downing street - which blows out straight towards the camera, with huge amounts of debris and smoke - leaving the road covered in what might be plaster, or sand.

 

Looks amazingly dangerous on the video - hence why I suspect they're working hard to not let people see it.

 

EDIT

New link here

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Aww! Someone must have mirrored the video somewhere. :unsure:

 

Pyro incidents are not really that uncommon on film productions, since there's a very fine line between a damp squib and a good visual explosion. That said, it is just a visual effect, so the door should be designed to blow out in a safe and controlled manner.

 

If you look at the extra footage with the original Pirates of the Caribbean it's clear they had some "incidents" on that film production too.

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two actors walk along a UK street (looks like London), swat team are gathering around a house door, rather like 10 downing street

 

John Adam Street, WC2. Number 6 by my reckoning, next door to the RSA and opposite the Adelphi Building

 

Aww! Someone must have mirrored the video somewhere. :unsure:

 

Pyro incidents are not really that uncommon on film productions, since there's a very fine line between a damp squib and a good visual explosion. That said, it is just a visual effect, so the door should be designed to blow out in a safe and controlled manner.

 

If you look at the extra footage with the original Pirates of the Caribbean it's clear they had some "incidents" on that film production too.

 

WARNING. The following is largely speculation based on a viewing of the footage and the comments on various forums.

 

The stunt does look like it didn't go as planned. The door flys towards the camera barely missing an actress. Depending on whome you believe the effect when tested was a bit pathetic and maybe someone got a bit too keen when resetting it. The cloud of dust that is ejected is a bizarre brick red colour and there seems to be far too much of it. The cameraman legs it rapidly, supposedly in a vain attempt to protect his very expensive camera.

 

Reports variously state that not all of the crew were at the rehearsals, that this shot was meant to be another camera rehearsal and a break down in communication meant that they fired the effect when it was not expected, or some other combination of mistakes.

 

The main arguments seem to be around the production company not paying the crew, not paying for repairs or clean down of equipment, ignoring the ADs warnings on poor health and safety etc.

 

Clip is here as of 1.30am

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I tend to agree with Kit - clearly something in the start to finish process went wrong, but the time lag between incident and now suggests events continued to happen, which no doubt colours people's views. However, a video being removed pretty quickly from a site not know for removal compliance suggests there's a lot more to it.

 

That said, whatever happened, the basics about proper communication to everyone involved seem to be missing. Pretty clear that the two actors were not expecting quite what happened.

 

The odd bit seems to be that at the time it was shot, nobody seems to have reported it.

 

It's an interesting one, though.

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Some of the crew walked off set after this happened and one person had to go to hospital with dust inhalation. I think the on going issue is that many people from both this production and past productions have yet to receive payment some months later - film crews tend to bite back if you don't treat them right.

 

Incidentally the lead man in the clip is also the produce.

 

I'd also think that this was a rehearsal as you'd either slate the shot at the beginning or call out 'end board'; directors like to record rehearsals if there's stunts so I's speculate that no one was expecting the stunt to occur.

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I watched this all last night and it seems the main beef as most of you have pointed out was the lack of payment to the crews and the apparent lack of safety to all concerned. If you saw the clip it was interesting that immediately after the explosion the camera man and A N Other who I assume was the director legged it up the street way from the scene and this person then asked the cameraman to hide him from the crowd. I also assume the footage which was taken on the Gopro and put up on youtube was not the production footage.

 

Lot of assumption in my post

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Yes the camera operator was trying to protect his kit - the new generation of digital camera's cost more than a house and are VERY susceptible to dust damage. You absolutely CANNOT do guerilla filming in london that involves explosions, people with guns and shutting off streets so there can be no question that (at least in terms of permissions) it was a legit film shoot.
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[snip]

I'd also think that this was a rehearsal as you'd either slate the shot at the beginning or call out 'end board'; directors like to record rehearsals if there's stunts so I's speculate that no one was expecting the stunt to occur.

 

God, I hope that was merely a walkthrough, not even a rehearsal, otherwise those two actors need firing... ;)

 

Can someone link the Reddit thread, please? The Reddit Search is almost as bad as the Blue Room one. :P

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