ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 2 months ago - Jon (Jack) Gritton

I think the snoot is unlikely to produce the effect you're looking for. Something like a straw is going to severely restrict the amount of light hitting the target and the scatter will be huge. For it to get even close to producing a laser-like "dot" you'd probably have to have the end of the straw virtually touching the forehead and a big lamp behind it and that'll make the shot difficult, to say the least. The other problem with using a lamp is that it won't have that peculiar "look" of a laser dot and won't have a visible track in the air (if you wanted that) as there won't be enough coherence and power.

The goggle's may be an option, but to me that sounds a lot like firing a live bullet at an actor wearing a bullet-proof vest - you've still got the risk of an accident.

I'd go with Lee's suggestion and do it in oat - sorry, post (Lee - you now have to make a post tool called "Oat", I was about to search for it!). Though how good the effect will be will depend upon your budget...

The ideal solution is really not to point it at the head full stop. Unless there's a specific reason to use the forehead as a target (that's where the alien is, that's the only way to kill the zombie, etc.) I'd just use the chest.

10 years, 2 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

That should have been 'in post'... doh!

10 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

How to make one? I'd start with a torch, a drinking straw, some low light and some gaffer tape and you'll know within 10 minutes if it's going to work - from there it's just more creative bodge work!

10 years, 2 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

Yes, use the oat plugging... no only kidding. I'd be happy to take a look and do a test for you as a post FX. IM me the details if you like.

Wozy

10 years, 2 months ago - Ewan Bailey

Thanks for all answers so far. Yes, post is looking the likely route, but would prefer to do it on the day - time & money. Can cove the eyes on closer shots, but there'll need to be a wider shot of the action featuring the eyes.

The snoot sounds interesting - need to look up how to make one. Does anyone have a link?

No mad scientists, sadly...

10 years, 2 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

Why not do it in oat? That would be fairly straight forward and you'd have more control and no H&S issues...

10 years, 2 months ago - Marlom Tander

They can be pointed at people's heads.

They shouldn't be pointed at people's eyes.

So if it's a close up you need, cover the eyes with an opaque mask, then turn the pointer on, and get the forehead close up. Then turn it off.

More info - and suggests that you should also check that your pointer is a Class 2 laser, no stronger. (All you need to ruin your day is an accident with a Class 3 and an actor proud of their ability to control their reflexes!).

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laser-radiation-safety-advice/laser-radiation-safety-advice

Though really, I prefer Paddy's snoot. Thinks --- by making a multicoloured gel and pulling it through you'll change the colour of the dot. Does your scene include an evil scientist "Dial it up to BLUE, Igor". And watch it ratchet through the rainbow. You can't do that with normal laser pen, even a red/green colour switch one :-)

10 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Could you make a snoot (you can home-make one with straws and gaffer tape I'd have thought) on a normal small domestic torch with some red gel? The snoot will effectively parralelise the beam enough to give you a small dot. Otherwise post-production needn't look bad, depends how long you need it in the shot :-)