I am writing the script for a new movie but i have a dilema. How can i have a head being ripped off without having it look completaly and entirely fake and cheesy? I mean it doesnt have to be hollywood quality but i want people to at least be groosed out!
I'd suggest using camera cuts - First on the actors showing the ripper aboput to rip the head off.
Second cut the head maving to it's extreme natural position.
Third cut, sub the dummy in, and rip that head off for real.
Fourth cut, reaction of head ripper.
Fifth cut, ripped off head bouncing on the floor.
You get the idea. Gives you an opportunity to swap the real actor over for a prop!
Have you ever seen Braveheart? They have a good scene in there. They just have a fake body, with a bunch of blood on the spot where the head would be, and then they just have a little head setting on the top. If you show it from the back,you dont have to make the front, and it will still look pretty real. The blood will also spray out.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom."
-Isaiah 40:28
If your in the UK, Hobbycraft have polystyrene heads that you could paint and attatch a wig to, set it on a dummy body, or even a person with their head inside their shirt then have chopped up plum tomatoes ready to pour out when you yank the head off!
If your going to have their head inside their shirt make sure the camera doesnt show the whole body, just the very top. And make sure you cover it up good with the head.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom."
-Isaiah 40:28
Try to do it physically, digital use tends to look fake. You could shoot a head on a greenscreen and impose it over a dummy with no head. Then animate it.
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"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom."
-Isaiah 40:28
If you're going to do a head ripping off thing, remember the kneck has bones, etc. Films where someone can just "yank" off a head look fake. Make sure the actor who is the ripper shows some struggle and resistance to him trying to rip of the head.
It'd be cool if you could see the backbone come out a little bit, and then show it snap and crack....
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom."
-Isaiah 40:28
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom."
-Isaiah 40:28