Car Explosion

[Scott Roberts]

I think you’d have a pretty tough time creating a realistic car explosion in post unless you’re doing some amazing 3-d work with parts flying off, etc. Explosions are pretty dynamic. Besides, wouldn’t it be fun to blow up a car?

[Graham Quince]

I’ve blown up a few cars in post and i’ve seen the BBC Series Spooks do a post blow up in their series opener. Truth be told, you can always tell, but if you keep your edits short.

In the past, I’ve had the guys film the car, then drive it out of shot and film the background. Cutting the car out in photoshop, i prepare a final, blown up version and use an explosion to act a transition between the two shots.

Little tricks like blowing doors out of shot can be achieved if they’re done quickly. I do like Zaxwerks for throwing something towards the camera too.

The trick I’ve found is to have lots going on to distract the viewer and keep the shots short so that the audience doesn’t pick up on it.

Graham

https://www.quinceweb.com – web design
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https://www.shiveringcactus.bravehost.com – Free FX for amateur films

[Joseph W. bourke]

If you view Road Warrior (on a DVD – where you can frame by frame through car explosions) you’ll find that they seem to use a cut just before an explosion, and a clean background plate (with the shot locked off), then they composite the explosion (or just blow up a pile of debris in the same shot location). Given the state of the technology today, it would be pretty easy to composite a Reel Explosions clip (Artbeats), or use Particle Illusion to create your own (wondertouch.com).

I think you’ll achieve much greater control (if you want to learn Particle Illusion, that is) by creating your own explosions. You can customize the look you want (car explosions tend toward a quick combustion when the fuel tank blows up, followed by a dirty, oily flameball as the tires and plastic parts burn – unless of course there’s a bomb planted in it) and even create the debris based on a still of your actual car cut up in Photoshop and put into Illusion. Look at the Illusion website and you’ll find it’s been used in a number of feature films – for the price, it’s the secret weapon of the FX Artist.

I believe I read an account of the filming of Road Warrior that said they had only a few cars available, and were constantly working on the machines, since they got beat during the filming, so they didn’t have the option of actually blowing any cars up. If you view the film explosions, you’ll find them quite convincing. Good luck.

Joe Bourke
Art Director / WMUR-TV

[Michael Zoppo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBxIOHUO9TA

Using detonation films only.

[Nik Blumish]

Thanks for the quick responses! I think I’ll stick to doing it in post and avoid the whole safety hazard/logistical nightmare that a real explosion would be.

Although it would be fun to see a car explode…

Thanks again!

[Frank Hardie]

“I think I’ll stick to doing it in post and avoid the whole safety hazard/logistical nightmare that a real explosion would be.”

Are you sure? I could always offer the use of my ex-wifes car (with her in it).