Creating Special Effects for TV and Video, 3rd Edition

Bullet Effects In Glass and Mirrors

 

Bullets fired at glass should ideally produce holes surrounded by a number of radiating cracks giving a roughly circular, fist-sized area of destruction. Without this surrounding area of damage, bullet holes appear unconvincing.

Bullet effect by editing

Dramatic effects can be obtained by painting simulated bullet holes on cut-out pieces of self-adhesive clear plastic sheet. When the scene is filmed these cut-outs are applied in sequence to the glass and the resultant film edited to show the holes appearing one after another. With post-dubbed sound-effects this is an economical way of achieving results.

Capsule gun

This device (described on page 122) can produce realistic effects, again, without actual damage ...