Filmmaking / Directing : The Squib — This Device is Behind Cinema’s Greatest Gore by Ashley Renee Smith

Ashley Renee Smith

The Squib — This Device is Behind Cinema’s Greatest Gore

In real life, violence is never fun. But in movies, violence can be a blast. For over a century, filmmakers have innovated different ways to revel in the gore, and audiences have eaten it up. One of the pillars of this gore is the squib, a small device that has had a massive impact on the way violence appears on screen.

Learn more in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llyOFscMTEs

Maurice Vaughan

This is my first time hearing of a squib, Ashley Renee Smith. CGI can work, but I think a squib looks better.

Sam Sokolow

This was an awesome share, Ashley Renee Smith! Such a cool watch but also super informative. I always thought THE WILD BUNCH was the real ground breaker but BONNIE & CLYDE came first and really interesting to see the earlier uses and development. I've mostly worked with CGI but surgically as it can feel a little cartoonish, like in DEADOPOOL & WOLVERINE (which may have been by design). Thanks for this!

Debbie Croysdale

@Ashley Thanks for the share. In Carlos Gallardo’s film El Mariachi he used condoms filled with animal blood under actor’s clothes. Not sure if when Trilogy reached Hollywood (Desperados & Once Upon A Time In Mexico) the same crude yet effective tools were used. I got this tidbit when he did a masterclass in Goldsmiths London. Different methods fascinate me, my favourite is air bag albeit cumbersome. Not a fan of VFX.

Mike Boas

No need to use animal blood. Thinned out stage blood is less gross. Well, gross, but more sticky really.

By the time Rodriguez did Once Upon a time in Mexico, he was using something he called the guacamole gun. Really a compressed air cannon loaded with blood. They also used some digital trickery. They go into it on the DVD.

True squibs are explosives and should only be used by experts. For a horror film I’m working on, we’ll be using compressed air for some body shots. Also one squib for a gunshot to the head (fake head of course). We’re packing the foam head with some wax in a pre-sculpted hole. Hopefully it will go off well on the first try.

We’re shooting effects shots next week! I’ll try to remember to get some BTS footage.

Mike Boas

I found the OUATIM video on YouTube. Rodriguez talks about the guacamole gun at 4:15.

https://youtu.be/TsPW8-YNDSk?si=vabQZE6P15Hjd_Sl

Dan MaxXx

John Wick movies use all CGI for gun shooting & blood. I think the death of the cinematographer on Baldwin's western movie, more filmmakers & actors dont wanna fire blanks & use squids. But then again, show biz bosses are cheapstakes- whatever saves money & time.

Sherri ZImmerman

Hmm... HI Ashley! I was thinking that the Director's LOUNGE was off limits unless you paid for this one? and the Writer's Lounge? Can you inform me on this? Maybe I paid for it? OR NOW it's open which it wasn't before?

Sherri ZImmerman

... I JUST READ what you posting. NOT sure about it... violence to me, though seems like a winner in movies... I believe we are moving out of THAT MIND FRAME in the near future - AT LEAST for many that I am connecting with... the attraction does seem to be a interesting one... but seems to me, to BE REALLY JUST ANOTHER ONE. Though I guess you could say that about any of the styles of movies?

Just losing the flavor for it, I guess.

Maurice Vaughan

The Filmmaking/Directing Lounge is open to everyone, Sherri ZImmerman, but only Writers' Room members can access the WR Lounge.

Sam Sokolow

I met with a big post-production supervisor today who is working on a new Stage 32 Certification Master track and he told me of the 3 TV series he's working on right now - all of which have gun play - that none use blanks and squibs - it's all digital in post on his shows.

Mike Boas

An update: we did the first of our compressed air blood hits. I wasn’t sure if I could share photos at first, but the director himself posted our behind the scenes video. Enjoy!

https://bsky.app/profile/greglamberson.bsky.social/post/3lfe3cws36s2o

Next will be a similar setup with a werewolf chest.

The only one we’re doing a squib with will be a dummy head.

For those saying to do it all digital, the best way to do that is with filmed elements that you composite in. You can purchase stock video FX elements for that purpose. (For instance, I do all my muzzle flashes that way.) But remember, someone at some point shot those elements.

Maurice Vaughan

That is messy, Mike Boas! Looks great! I'm looking forward to seeing FRENZY MOON!

Bobby G

all digital gunshots? this is so un American. Practical effects need to make a comeback im so sick of this CGI bullshit

Ashley Renee Smith

Wow, that's so neat, Mike Boas! Keep the updates on your project coming!

Sherri ZImmerman

THANKS MAURICE for letting me KNOW!! I was really thinking the Director's Lounge was OFF

LIMITS -- MIGHT have to check that out later!!

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Sherri ZImmerman.

Sherri ZImmerman

Bobby G - AGREED for the most part about digital additions HOWEVER, with guns? Hmm... we hear of those "accidents" on shoots? Not sure.. maybe that ONE ought to be okay... LOL?? American or NOT, I'd rather seen the actors LIVE, not being in the newspaper of these happenings... we see enough ALREADY...

IS there a way to know how MANY of these types of things happen? Meaning in the half century of 1950-2000? How many have died due to guns in films while filming? just wondering...

Richard "RB" Botto

Very cool watch, Ashley Renee Smith. Enjoyed it, and some of the comments in here, immensely.

Mike Boas

Last weekend we did the traditional squib shot I mentioned earlier. I won’t share photos, since it’s not my call when to share BTS images online.

In the story, a mania turning into a werewolf, then gets shot through the head. Our job was to make a dummy head that matched the actor, sculpt an exit wound in the back, and explode the back of his head off.

My partner filled a condom with blood, packed it with the explosive charge inside the head, then put colored wax pieces and liquid latex over the top to make the surface of the scalp. I took over at that point, cutting and gluing hair to the head to cover the area. Our subject had very short hair, so this was a challenge.

This was to be a very close shot, but we framed it with plenty of space behind the head to show the blood spray.

The charge’s wires were fed out the neck. One lead went to a car battery, the other to a nail hammered into a board. The battery’s other terminal was wired to a nail on a pole. We started rolling on the camera 48fps slomo). We stepped into the hallway, touched the two wires together, and BAM!

It worked… but the small metal funnel my partner had used inside the head to direct the explosion came loose and was visible in the shot. We had to do it all again— the blood pack, the wax, latex, and paint, the glued hair and makeup. A couple hours later, we had a usable shot.

Mike Boas

I just noticed that the director has posted a clip of the headshot. Here it is:

https://vimeo.com/1053952119

And if you want to contribute to the film (check out the perks!) visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/frenzy-moon-finishing-funds?#/updates/35

Other topics in Filmmaking / Directing:

register for stage 32 Register / Log In