Trade Craft

Trade Craft ~ Bullet Hits

Bullets Hits ~ Squibs

• Explosive
• Non Explosive
• Blanks
• Acting

As much as possible, I try to encourage people to use stunt men because that is really their job.”

~Sam Neill

Gun shots and bullet holes

Colin never uses live ammunition on a film site. Guns are either props or loaded with blanks, ammunition that makes a loud noise but doesn’t shoot a bullet, but also can fire compressed gasses or bits of metal, so they’re still dangerous, especially at close range.

The use of Squibs

The impact of a bullet on a human is produced by using squibs. A squib is a small explosive charge taped to the victim’s body in the appropriate place, with a small bag of theater blood on top of it. The whole rig is backed with a metal plate, protecting the actor from the charge and projecting it outward. The charges are set off remotely, or by the actor himself, via a button hidden in his sleeve, timed to the firing of a gun in the scene. When the charges go off, it rips through clothing and spurts the fake blood in a convincing facsimile of a gunshot wound.

In the North American film industry, the term squib is often used to refer variously to: electric matches and detonators (used as initiators to trigger larger pyrotechnics). Squibs are generally (but not always) the main explosive element in an effect, and as such are regularly used as “bullet hits”.

Trade Craft ~ Fire

Proficient With:

• Retardants
• Fire Hoods
• Fire Gels
• Breathing Apparatus
• Ignition Fuels

An actor would be foolish to do something that might hold up the picture, or more importantly incapacitate him. If an actor does do a stunt he needs to make sure a stunt man stands by to see that it’s done correctly.”

~Glenn Ford

Man On Fire

Any scene where fire is involved is a dangerous one and Colin has the knowledge and manpower to set up and safely perform a full body burn.

Pyrotechnic Scenes

Scenes in which someone is actually set on fire are among the most dangerous ever filmed. Colin wears several layers of protective clothing, including fire-resistant materials like asbestos. Special gloves and a hood cover the hands and head. In most burn scenes, the hood is clearly evident, though its appearance can be minimized by good editing. Inside the hood is a small breathing apparatus connected to a small oxygen tank. The performer is then coated in a specially prepared flammable gel. Before the burn is lit, multiple extinguishers and paramedics must be at the scene and the burn itself is carefully timed.

When you watch a movie that has a stunt performer on fire, you have to remember one thing, as exciting and visually appealing as the full body burn is on film, it is exactly that, a body fully on fire. This type of stunt work is extremely dangerous and must be done with the utmost safety. Colin uses the highest quality fire safety products, keeping in mind nothing is completely fireproof. To perform a fire burn safely, everything must be carefully choreographed, rehearsed, and timed to the second.

Trade Craft ~ Air Rams & Bags

Features:

• Smooth
• Progressive
• No joint stress or shock
• Immediate lift
• No Delay
• No Throw-back

I do have a stunt double because there are certain things that they won’t let me do. Like they won’t set fire to me. They won’t like let me jump off a 20 story building. There are certain big stunts that it’s just impossible to get insurance to let me do.”

~Alex O’Loughlin

Have Your Scene Pop Into Action

This is the equipment that is a mainstay of the stunt industry. The Air Ram is a pneumatic device that catapults a stunt performer through the air. To simulate the effects of an explosion the performer steps on a large “pedal” and using hydraulics and compressed air the “pedal” is released sending the performer hurtling through the air. The distance and height the performer attains is dependent upon the air pressure set.

Air Rams in movies

When you watch a movie that has an explosion and bodies are flying thru the air, it is most likely an air ram that propelled those bodies. Air rams are used for many situations that require the stunt performer to fly further or higher than possible off a mini tramp.

Trade Craft ~ High/Stair Falls

Various Technics

• Advanced Maneuvers
• Headers
• Face-off
• Back fall
• Suicide

I don’t do stunts and I don’t think many actors do. For an actor to say they do their own stunts I don’t think is very respectful of the profession of stunt men and women.”

~Nick Stahl

Over The Edge

The high-fall is an essential block for any stunt performer. Colin is no exception. While some stuntmen are satisfied with simply performing the fall, Colin wants to see how much action can done during the fall making the overall stunt as dramatic or subtle as needed. knowing how to fall is not enough. Being able to be placed in dangerous situations, sometimes on fire and still incorporate acting technique, such as getting shot or having to get punched or perhaps diving thru a window. Colin can also incorporate an air ram into a high fall.

High-Fall Breakdown

Anything over three stories (30ft) would be considered a dangerous high-fall and every precaution should be taken when performing them. Large airbags are the ideal choice since they’re light and easy to transport, then inflated with air on location. An additional air bag is placed inside the first one for added protection. Colin has performing and setting up high jumps for many years and is fully knowledge-able in the backend of the process as well. From the importance of safety spotters, proper use of tarps & ropes to box catchers in areas when an air bag is too bulky or for lower falls as well as when to use stiffeners, when to soften boxes/cut boxes, etc.

Trade Craft ~ Spot Tramp

Features:

• tuck jump
• straddle jump
• dive roll
• front somersault
• Lorem Ipsum

When you’re fighting with a stunt person, your intent is to miss.”

~Victoria Pratt

Mini Tramps

Mini tramps are used in many stunt situations, for when you need to fly farther than you can with just leg power. Knowing what your body is doing and controlling it in the air is called “air sense”. diving over obstacles,,, higher and farther,,,, diving through windows frames and doorways and “bull dogging” (flying thru the air and coming down upon another stunt performer…safely).

Trade Craft ~ Tumbling

Action Tumbling

• Front and back flips
• Various floor exercises.
• Various fall techniques
• Shoulder rolls
• Dive rolls

I remember hitting Sarah Michelle Gellar with a right hook during my first week on the job. It was awful. They usually pair actors with stunt doubles to avoid things like that.”

~Eliza Dushku

Enhance Your Action Scene

Gymnastic skills are an essential trade-craft for any accomplished stunt performer and Colin is no exception. Having a strong Situational Awareness,,, Colin can incorporate acting into the action such as grabbing a gun while in mid-air and shooting the villian before he lands. Having a strong SA has kept Colin safe and has made him a valuable commodity in the stunt business. He has gained the experience in front or behind the camera to utilize these skills on call in the stunt business

Trade Craft ~ Explosions

Pyrotechnics

• Blast
• Pyro
• Air Ram
• Spot Tramp

For me the stunts are so cool, they’re one of my favorite things when we’re doing the film.”

~Rupert Grint

Explosions & Pyrotechnics

Pyrotechnic crews set up explosions, which are built to produce spectacular fireballs that you can use to blast Colin from a burning building while he is on Fire performing a High Jump