ripped off head

TheCabin · Post by **TheCabin** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 2:31 am

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!

ChibiVader · Post by **ChibiVader** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 11:58 pm

Depending on the angle, you might be able to do it using an animated mask in AE.

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 12:35 am

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!

mark_essex_87 · Post by **mark_essex_87** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 6:45 pm

have u seen the beer advert where peoples heads are ripped off? i 4got which beer its for - in the UK

rankz · Post by **rankz** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 9:29 pm

fosters

TommyPollock · Post by **TommyPollock** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 7:44 pm

"New Fosters head tap - Don't Loose Your Head".

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 10:58 pm

did you know that us Aussies generally do not drink Fosters!!! VB is the beer of choice

I3lade203 · Post by **I3lade203** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 12:00 am

when i make heads flying i actually found a new easy way to do it with green screen pm me if u wanna know otherwise ill get a tutorial on my site soon

Carnage7p · Post by **Carnage7p** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 12:57 am

go to http://www.nccinema.ch/etut.html. i think there are a few different tutorials on this page for the head thing.

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 6:09 am

Yeah, I've seen some of those tutorials before. Pretty nifty, but you guys could probably improve upon them!

Carnage7p · Post by **Carnage7p** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:26 am

yeah they aren't perfect. i dont like how much those guys use photoshop. after effects is such a better tool.

filmhobbe6 · Post by **filmhobbe6** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:51 pm

I personally like photoshop more... but I do like AE!

tallman_house_pictures · Fri Jun 25, 2004 5:52 am

I dont even have photoshop or ae lol........I will get them sooner or later.

Catscratch44 · Post by **Catscratch44** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:46 am

tallman_house_pictures wrote:I dont even have photoshop or ae lol........I will get them sooner or later.

Yeah same with me a dont even have premier but i hope i'll get some better programs soon

Radiate · Post by **Radiate** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:21 pm

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.

xander-prd · Post by **xander-prd** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:55 pm

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!

Radiate · Post by **Radiate** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 1:41 am

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.

Almondo99 · Post by **Almondo99** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 4:01 pm

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.

Radiate · Post by **Radiate** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:06 pm

Yep, thats what I meant.

crb · Post by **crb** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:15 pm

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.

Radiate · Post by **Radiate** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:25 pm

It'd be cool if you could see the backbone come out a little bit, and then show it snap and crack....

Almondo99 · Post by **Almondo99** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:12 pm

A really big chicken bone or animal bone would look cool. Leave it in the sun to make it brittle.

windog · Post by **windog** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:11 am

you lot are sick, he want to entertain not make his audiance die of shock!

windog · Post by **windog** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:12 am

on the other hand you could get the ripper to keep plunging an axe in to an upright piece of wood (for resistance) and then key the actors head in!

Radiate · Post by **Radiate** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 6:57 pm