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Need water hits? Apart from blood hits in actors, the air squib unit safely recreates water hits too. A few days ago we were out on a shoot where the need for water hits arose. The receiver is not waterproof, so we hid it on dry land and placed the outlet (an improvised “mini-mortar”) in shallow water. We got a convincing effect and water spraying some 2-3 feet up from water level.

The sound effect of a gun is added in post-production.

This is a safe and quick solution for your film production, allowing you to do a multitude of hits. Rig blood hits in actors, dust hits and water hits with the same unit!

I recently found my dad’s military ring. When my father did his military duty, he was a medic, helping “the wounded” to receive medical supervision. He always had a wry sense of humour, so instead of calling himself “Medic”, he made his own title for the battlefield; “Rear Carrier of Stretchers”. I never really gave it a thought, but maybe the idea of developing the bullet hit simulator stems from him! Even if our armed forces have not been to war for hundreds of years, that is still what Medics and our Field Surgeons are training for – saving people’s lives.

Today, the bullet hit simulating unit is already used by NATO forces and armed forces in European countries. And in the US by companies like USPS when training for robbery situations. The air squib safely helps to add realism when training for realistic bullet injuries that must be attended to under high-adrenaline situations.

As a teenager, I began developing my interest in special effects and offered my services to the local TV station. It was incredible that they let me loose as a teenage “consultant” (driving a moped to work as I did not have a driver’s license!) The first show was “True and Stuff” and a very popular educational show.

While rigging my smoke puffs, breakaways and mechanical clocks, I was frequently retold the story of when Bengt Andersson – (image right) was to be filming a humorous clip with a cowboy theme at a western town. The producer’s had contracted the best pyrotechnician (G.O.) in the country that had decades of experience. Apart from pyrotechnics, he had a knack for making dozens of automated dioramas, all featuring a rubber gorilla! He was a fantastic man and was a walking pyrotechnic encyclopedia.

The film clip was to end with Bengt, the hero, being hit by the bad guy, so Bengt was rigged with a “bullet hit” by the master pyrotechnician. A wire was trailing out of the actor’s pant leg, connected to the firing box and cameras were rolling when the button was pushed. I was not there myself, so I do not know what failed, but the concussion from the explosive squib was horribly loud and was so powerful that Bengt, fractured his rib and took him months to heal. Filming was postponed for a long time after the accident.

I heard this some 40 years ago, but it feels like yesterday. If the best pyrotechnician in the country would unintentionally fracture an actor’s rib, there HAD to be a better way of simulating bullet hits in actor’s. I have often thought about this story and how to make safety the primary concern while developing the air squib.

The air squib works in many cases – but we do not recommend them in ALL situations. When we were doing a pyro class at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm,  during 2021, we were asked by the students in what situations the system is LESS good. As a result, we did a video on the subject in a break. This is the result.

A Special Effects company in Poland was asked to create camera tests of bullet hits for a film production. I thought it would be cool to see what a new customer could come up with, so we asked for future clips of their FX experiments with dust hits on actors. Instead of blood hits, they filled the outlet with talcum powder to simulate a bullet striking the uniform during low light conditions. In situations like this, the blood hit against a dark uniform is really difficult to see, so instead, you can rig a plume of dust from the point of impact. if backlit, it shows up really well, giving the impression of a bullet hit on the actor.  These are the preliminary tests of what Paweł Nowaczek and his colleagues at Fireshow have created.

The smoke plumes need to be exaggerated like this when filming at nighttime. If you need more subtle smoke cones, for daytime filming, simply use a little less talcum and increase the air pressure. It is the sound effect with the recoiling actor that will “sell” the effect of a bullet striking the uniform. Another advantage is that you don’t need to clean the wardrobe between takes. Simply brush off excess talcum, and you are ready for resetting!

For pyrotechnics and FX near Poland, see more about Fireshow here: www.fireshow.com.pl

Thank’s Paweł, for sharing your clips!

This entry is for you all special effects inventors. Did you know August is National Inventors Month? It was launched to help guide new inventors, inspire creativity and promote the image of independent inventors. That means most of you FX guys!

If you are in the FX business, you probably invent new gadgets every day! I have spent much glorious time in my shop building propane rings, special weapons, action props, breakaways, and rain rigs. And don’t you love the moment just before flipping the switch, testing your prototype the first time? Will it work…?

I know all you FX fans have minds focused on creativity needed ”on-the-spot” at film sets during fight scenes, jittery actors and forgotten requests from producers and directors that wanted ”something slightly different”? or the long, arduous planning on stage production meetings with countless directors, fire brigades and police authorities showing what you can bring to the stage without setting fire to everything.

This is what makes our job FUN, however! I would not change a thing! If it was easy – someone else would do the job and get paid instead of you! Even if the solution turns out best with a measly mouse trap and rubber bands.

So, congratulations to you all FX inventors. I am rooting for you!

Do you need monsters, babies, rubber knives or mechanized frogs? Then, I have a suggestion for you! This time I would like to introduce another colleague in the SFX world. His name is a bit difficult for the English speaking crowd – Schwerthelm Ziefreund, but he is a man that has worked on many prestigious films. In Schwerthelms company – ”movieSFX” near Munich – the crew sculpts, creates and builds special effects for feature films, TV Productions, stage and industry.

The special effects that the company creates include everything from SFX make-up, animatronics, SFX props, dental FX, mechanised animals, masks, blood SFX and creature design.

Schwerthelms company was founded 25 years ago, and up till today ”movie SFX” has been involved in more than 270 films. The effects range from smaller domestic productions and creations up to full-blown large international productions such as ”Angels and Demons” or ”The Force Awakens” and many, many more.

The crew has a lot to be proud over – actually every single effect. Because every special effect is different and unique in its own way. The crew works with the Air Squib bullet hit system as it allows you to bring things to the screen that would not be possible with pyrotechnics, lately on the German crime series ”Tatort”. The air squib allows for working with simulated blood hits close to the face without danger to the actor.

Naturally, the crew works with a wide range of materials and techniques to create life and death on screen and human anatomy is an important part of the knowledge when recreating prosthetics for injuries and creatures. They work with foam latex, silicone and all types of outer ”skin” – as well as the mechanical interior where remotely controlled movements are needed.

In addition to more classic death and monster creations, Schwerthelm and his colleagues are particularly good at creating animatronic babies for situations where using a real baby may be too dangerous. They also create stunt props, animals, weapons, blood and everything else needed for film production.

We are proud to be a supplier of FX syringes and the air squib to Schwerthelm but we are even more proud to see what Schwerthelm and his people at ”movieSFX” are involved in and what they can create. Why not see what the company has done previously – or how they can help you?

Check out their website at https://moviesfx.de

Here is another bullet hit effect rigged with an air squib by FX technician Dmitry from Belarus. In the last couple of months, Dmitry has rigged several blood hits in actors for various productions. This summer, he is planning for the next production with more clever effects. He will be adding air cannons and a blood knife that will seep out blood when sliding the dull blade over the skin.

When Dmitry is not rigging FX, he is out in his AN-2 for forest patrol or turning out forest fires. But it is in special effects his heart lies. Dmitry has a passion for filmmaking and special effects and has already done a lot of SFX on previous film productions. He has built many gadgets and created typical FX equipment for film work. Dmitry also has specialized in stunt equipment, like air rams and air pulleys, but also has a knack for small, precision-made equipment, like this FX syringe with retractable needle. Our Belarusian FX-technician has worked on many productions during the years and tried everything from the art department to special effects.

Good job, Dmitry! We wish you well and hope you get your air cannons, bullet hits and trick knives ready for your summer production!
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If you like reading about similar FX colleagues, drop me a line. I would love to add more articles of clever colleagues around the world.
Best regards, Olov

If you are a special effects technician, Dimitry is already one of your a cool FX colleagues of the business. He has a job in Belarus flying a small Antonov AN-2 plane for forest patrol and extinguishing forest fires.

When not airborne, he has a passion for filmmaking and special effects and has already done a lot of SFX on previous film productions. He has built many gadgets and typical FX equipment for film work. He also has specialized in stunt equipment, like air rams and air pulleys. He has worked on many productions during the years.

In addition, he has developed a flamethrower for World War II and similar productions. During the last six months, he has rigged a dozen hits with the air squib during the last 6 months and found it very useful. Dmitry will also use air squibs in a summer film with bullet hits rigging multiple hits in actors.

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Do you want to read more about FX colleagues around the globe in a similar way? Let me know!