The perfect action scene needs combat, gore, and at least one actor going through a window. Here’s how I shot a scene with all these ingredients, from making the special effects to shooting and editing the footage.
Shoot a fight scene with a blood-spurting knife wound and a head smashing through a window.
The perfect action scene needs combat, gore, and at least one actor going through a window. Here’s how I shot a scene with all these ingredients, from making the special effects to shooting and editing the footage.
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To get the most out of your special effects, make a shooting script that describes exactly what you need to include, shot by shot, and cross them off as you go. A storyboard can also help visualize each shot ahead of time, so that you don’t miss anything important.
For example:
SHOT 1. Wide, establishing shot of kitchen with HERO chopping a carrot.
SFX: CHOPPING
SHOT 2. Close-up of chopping, a shadow falls over the hands.
SFX: CHOPPING
HERO: I’ve been expecting you. I’m making us soup.
ASSASSIN: I’ve already eaten.
SHOT 3. Wide shot from original, establishing perspective. Over-the-shoulder, ASSASSIN moves away from camera, toward HERO. HERO spins wildly, swinging the cleaver.
SHOT 4. Cutaway, extreme close-up of HERO’s eyes.
SFX: THUNK (knife drives into ASSASSIN)
ASSASSIN: Aaagh!
SHOT 5. Medium, reverse shot of original perspective (over-the-shoulder from Hero to Assassin). Knife is embedded in his arm, spurting blood. Assassin grabs the knife.
Hero punches him in the face, knocking him down. He falls out of frame, pulling out the knife.
HERO: That was for Lt. James Mitchell. He was one day from retirement.
ASSASSIN: (Groveling) I just do what they —
SFX: THUD
SFX: CLANK (knife hits the floor)
SHOT 6. Cutaway, close-up of bloody knife.
HERO: And this is ...
SHOT 7. Reverse shot, low perspective behind ASSASSIN toward HERO. HERO grabs the back of ASSASSIN’s neck and hair, twisting out of frame toward the window.
HERO: ... for me.
SHOT 8. Wide shot of HERO driving ASSASSIN’s arms and head through window.
SFX: CRASH
SHOT 9. Wide, reverse shot of HERO pulling bloody ASSASSIN back in, then pushing him stumbling toward the door.
HERO: You tell El Gato that I’m sick of running away. You tell El Gato I’m coming for him.
SHOT 10. Overhead crane shot starts tight, then pulls back. HERO drops to knees. The floor is filled with blood, glass, and the knife.
Cut to black.
HERO: (Yelling) El Gatoooooooooooooooo!
For tips on how to record convincing effects and clear dialogue, visit https://makezine.com/09/diyimaging_effect....
This project first appeared in MAKE, Volume 9, page 140.
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