Breakaway Chair

Stunts and physical effects not involving computer generation

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JackBauerII
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Breakaway Chair

Post by JackBauerII »

I need a chair that can be smashed over an actor's body. It doesn't have to break, but that may be cool. I was thinking of building one out of cardboard. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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RE: Breakaway Chair

Post by KultFilmsEntertainment »

I've heard good things about balsa wood for this type of thing, but don't know from experience.

Cardboard might be good if it was enforced enough so it didn't bend and crease on impact. If so, then you'd cut the pieces up beforehand and glue them back together in the shape of a chair, probably paint or stain it then to give it the appearance of wood and cover the cracks. Maybe also lodge real wood splinters into the cracks so that when the chair hits and breaks there is a fantastic shower of wood.
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Zac
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RE: Breakaway Chair

Post by Zac »

balsa wood would be the best for this, its basically foam wood and breaks really easy, fairly cheap too. you can get it from model shops.
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RE: Breakaway Chair

Post by DEDFX »

I'm pretty sure balsa wood is pretty expensive. Maybe use it just for the points that you want the chair to break.
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RE: Breakaway Chair

Post by puje »

If it doesn't have to break, why don't you just use a real chair? It's can't hurt that bad unless it's in the head...
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RE: Breakaway Chair

Post by Kentertainment »

Balsa wood is what's used in films so that is the way to go. The only drawback is Balsa wood is very expensive and you can either A. blow $100 making your own chair that you know might not work or look good or you can B. buy one for $200.

http://www.actionprops.com/page/page/2273725.htm

If you used a real chair, I'd suggest padding and loosening almost entirely every joint.
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RE: Breakaway Chair

Post by Grant »

Hmmm how about you go old school, get a real chair, pull it apart, weaken the joints, reassemble, put some pads on the actor and WHAM. Easy to do on any part except the head. Just dont use an old hardwood chair
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RE: Breakaway Chair

Post by Zac »

well here you can get like a meter long, and about 1-2cm thick for 1 dollar-something. i guess it depends if you want a big chair or a reasonably small one. but balsa wood here isnt mega expensive.
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RE: Breakaway Chair

Post by Grant »

I disagree Zac, to build anything substantial and life like it costs a heap.
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RE: Breakaway Chair

Post by rhys »

just get whatever you want (a chair), cut the legs off and replace them with really weak wood like balsa wood or plywood, but only glue them into place, dont use any nails. I dont know what our doors are made out of but if u leaned on them they could break.
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Post by smokeythebear »

make a chair out of insulation foam, the solid stuff not the crappy itchy junk, and then paint it with the paint in a can and make sure it says latex on the side of it, DONT USE SPRAYPAINT IT WILL EAT THE FOAM!
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Post by Grant »

You have to ensure also that the guy swinging it gives the impression of correct weight/momentum
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