Breaking wood

rulzrule · Post by **rulzrule** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 5:41 am

For a scene im trying to make in a movie, the actor is supposed to have his head banged through 2 shelves, what type of material can break really easy but still looks like realistic wood.

foxwood · Post by **foxwood** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 5:59 am

Well you could prescore balsa wood, thats rather weak, or you could paint up some styophome.

Syras · Post by **Syras** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 8:10 am

just use balsa wood - someone's head can go through about 3cm thick of it with no damage (make sure he closes his eyes)

styrofoam wouldnt work coz it would break like styrofoam not like wood (it defeats the purpose of a wood shelf)

Austin · Post by **Austin** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 5:27 pm

Im not really sure what its called but i have some really easy to break wood out im my garage, ill have to ask my dad later, so ill come back and tell you what it is.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 10:53 pm

you could pre-score even pine and slam thorugh it.
just aim your force through the board not at the surface of the board

rulzrule · Post by **rulzrule** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 3:36 am

Thnx alot, Ill look in to all the ideas

CORPSE GRINDER · Post by **CORPSE GRINDER** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 5:21 am

Yeah, I'd go with balsa wood. Shelves are usually pretty thin so it'd look pretty good using some real wood, and balsa breaks so easily that it won't even matter which one you use. but try to stray from using styrofoam unless you need long planks of wood. It's got a realistic sort of snap to it when you need to crack a 2X4 over someone's skull.

2nd_Recon · Post by **2nd_Recon** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 2:02 pm

Plus, Styrofoam is white inside, which would become the outside when it is broken

padawanNick · Post by **padawanNick** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:36 pm

Here's how to break pine boards with you're palm.

21 Meg / Windows Media 9
Have fun.

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:23 am

Balsa wood would work great for that effect.

You should choreograph a fake outtake for the credits where you pretend to knock out the actor by slamming his head with a board of real shelving.