Simulating Gunshot sound + Flash

[Libermann]

Hi I'm looking for help with creating a device to simulate a gunshot sound (handgun no caliber specifications) and the flash. The scene goes like this *a fight breaks out between two groups of soldiers done with tableaus and a recording of the gunfires. The winning group goes over to the other side to find a civillian wounded but not killed in the gun fight. Narriation ends there lights fade out then the shot rings out*I want the real gunshot and flash because it would break the dark of the scene and the silence that preceded it. the device doesn't need to be seen just the flash and sound. I can't use blanks, or anything that looks like a gun. I'm gonna try reworking a capgun in order to get the sound but I'm unsure of the flash.

[Neil Hampson]

I would suggest a sound effect of the shot and if you can play, it through a speaker in the offstage side that the effect is coming from (but look for a decent one, many of the downloadable ones are not particularly realistic) for the flash, a camera flash may work for you as the stage is dark at the time, a light amber gel over it would simulate the fire rather than the harsh white of the actual flash. Older flash units that fit onto SLR cameras usually have a 'test' button to allow you to manually fire the flash, how you synchronise the effect and the flash will require a bit of practice.

[Ynot]

Experiment with the age-old trick of two long flat pieces of wood hinged at one end - simply slap them together to create the bang - different widths/thicknesses create different tones of bang, so see what suits you. You'd be surprised at how effective that can be.

 

For the flash, if it's just representational, find/hire a strobe with a sound to light option that can fire on a single beat. That way the bang coincides perfectly with the flash.

Position the strobe off stage perhaps, or behind some scenery on stage so it doesn't just look like a strobe effect.

Again, play with what position looks good.

[Libermann]

Thanks so much, I know what I'm doing now. Going to take apart a one time use camera with a flash and remake it in a case with just the flash button. I'm going to put a lense that's tinted amber infront of the flash in order to add some colour to the flash. I know I'm gonna end up playing with differnt colours for differnt effects. Also I'm going to put two side by side in order to get my two flashes in quick succession because the capacitor require a short recharge time to get the same power as the previous flash. Going to try and find a way for my actor to hit the peices of wood together so the sound comes right from him, but I'm certain their isn't a way to do it without the audience seeing.

 

Once again thank you so much for your help, I'll post pictures and maybe a GIF of the flash going off and what I used to do it incase anyone else wants to make it. it's going to be small enough to palm so may be useful for other things :D

[adam2]

If you are going to make the bang by slapping together two pieces of wood, then it be should simple to improvise a simple electrical contact on the two pieces of wood, that fires a basic camera flash when they are brought together.

[dbuckley]

Going to take apart a one time use camera with a flash

Just to make sure - be a bit careful doing this as the cap can have 300V on it, and will give you a surprise if you touch it :)

 

Even months after being switched off.

 

So discharge with a screwdriver.

 

Apologies if I'm teaching my granny to suck eggs.

 

I've got a boxful of these cameras, they are a handy resource.

[Libermann]

The peices of wood can't been seen as the flash is large enough to reveal the bottem half of the actor and the ground around him. The wood clap has to be done off stage.

 

Sadly I already know about the charge the cap. holds, found out the first time I broke a one time use camera a couple years ago. I'm currently working on making an enclosure for the flash so I can direct it better and make sure my actor isn't shocking himself(as funny as it would be it would really ruin the scene) and I have to put two flashes together in this box in order to get the two flashes in quick sucession.

[andy_s]

you could use the slapstick as Tony describes, or you could try a different version. Take your timber batten (about a metre long), drill a hole through one end big enough to pass a bit of sashcord through, take a larger drill bit, ( I'd suggest using 6mm sash and 6mm and 10mm drill bits) and drill halfway through using the same hole as centre so you get a hole with a smaller diameter on one side than the other.. pass the sashcord (about a metre long) through the hole, tie a thumb or stopper knot in the end on the side with the larger diameter hole, so that when the sash is pulled, the knot is recessed in the hole. Put wood on floor. stand on the end without the sash. use the sashcord to pull the other end up off the floor, release the sash cord to allow the end to slap back onto the floor, simulating the gunshot. Works best on wooden floors, but would be OK on concrete or lino. Not on carpet.

[erroneousblack]

3ft length of 3'x1, put your foot on one end, lift the other end up with hand, place other foot behind hand, and release on cue.

 

Arthur Askey's former prop man taught me that!