A couple of ways. (1) Hire an expert and let him tell you how to do it safely. (2) Use a computer generated character and animated flames. (3) Do it with cuts and audio.

Personally I'd do option (3). The audience doesn't need to see the burning man. A cut of the flying cigarette, the mechanic's eyes in terror as he sees the cig, the audio of a flame and flame-like lighting reflected on the throwers face as they look on in terror and then try to find some way to put it out.

Think, how would I have a character cut anothers ear off, then watch Reservoir Dogs and marvel how he doesn't even show it. It's all in our mind and it's very powerful. Far more than showing a burning man in safety suit that sort of prevents recognition.

Don't try to do this yourself. If you really need to show a living man on fire get an expert who knows what he's doing.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Im not a pyrotechnition but the way that thee sort of stunts get performed by big production companies is to hire a stuntman, make him wear protective clothing and cover him in fire retardant gel. The obviously have professionally trained firemen on site to control the situation and douse the fire.

How ever if I was you then I would definitely hire a pyrotechnition and inform your local fire department of what you intend to do. As well as seek permission to do it.

All in all my over all opinion is that unless you have a big budget top work to? This stunt may not be practical?

In any case there may be other ways around the issue through use of camera angles, editing and CGI? Which some one else may be able to assist you with?

Cleary.

www.myspace.com/b31_film_productions

I would use RJSchwarz's idea of doing it with cuts and audio. Unless you have access to an expert DO NOT do it as it will be very dangerous. I think you should have a close up of a cigerette fallig (possibly slow motion) and seeing it land in the gas (use water though!) then a close up of the mechanic turning to see the fire starting. then if you have someone who is a expert have a tracking shot of the fire moving along the gas quickly towards the legs of the mechanic - here you could use a dummy of some sort as you will only see his shoes and bottom of his trousers. Then cut to the guy who dropped the cig panicking trying to help - if you cleverly use lighting here (orange glow) it will look like the light of the fire is shining on the other guy. If you can combine this with good sound effects i think it could come off very well and look better then showing an actual guy on fire.

hope some of that helped

Rob - UK

I AM a pyrotechnition.

Wearing a jumpsuit, gloves, and hat provides no protection at all from fire. Even the fire
gel you ask about doesn't provide enough protection. And it's a product you cannot buy
without a license - for obvious reasons.

If you need to set a stunt performer on fire - it there is no other way to finish your film
without this very dangerous stunt - then you need to hire professionals. People with not
only the skill and experience, but with the proper permits and license.

The state of California is EXTREMELY hard and diligent on the matter of setting people on
fire for movie stunts. Even if you manage to pull something like this off without any injury
you can face fines and even jail time.

I know you fell no movie is worth it.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

quote:

---

Originally posted by certified instigator

I AM a pyrotechnition.

Wearing a jumpsuit, gloves, and hat provides no protection at all from fire. Even the fire
gel you ask about doesn't provide enough protection. And it's a product you cannot buy
without a license - for obvious reasons.

If you need to set a stunt performer on fire - it there is no other way to finish your film
without this very dangerous stunt - then you need to hire professionals. People with not
only the skill and experience, but with the proper permits and license.

The state of California is EXTREMELY hard and diligent on the matter of setting people on
fire for movie stunts. Even if you manage to pull something like this off without any injury
you can face fines and even jail time.

I know you fell no movie is worth it.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but
progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

---

Well, thanks for the info but I'm going to do it anyways! j/k..I figured it would be best to cut the scenes so that we still get the same effect without having to set someone on fire. Since there is a fire academy close by I was going to contact them to see if we can perform a controlled fire at their facility. If not, then I'm going to have to think of a different scene to replace that one. I don't want anyone to get hurt and you are right in saying that no film is worth it. THanks again for the info.?:D?

If you knew some very skilled puppeteers you could set a puppet on fire, put audio in, and you'd have your fire scene.

i think one of the best things about film making is pushing the boundaries so i say go for it, if you wanna do bad enough you CAN do it. but i imagine the best way is to make a dummy (with a rigid inner skeleton so he will sit on the bike film it, then see what youve got, then consider setting somone on fire. when you do set someone on fire it will not be for long so just using footage of the person on fire will not be enough because within seconds he will need to dive in paddling pool.

pond-weed, your suggestion that setting someone on fire is something to consider because
they will not be on fore for long is extremely dangerous and irresponsible. Before you mention
this as something for movie makers to consider I suggest you learn a little about the effects
of fire for even a few seconds on clothing and skin.

I like you idea of a dummy with a rigid inner skeleton. But as a licensed pyrotechnician I will,
once again, warn that attempting to set someone on fire even with what you think of as enough
protection or for a very short period of time can cause a lot of pain and injury.

Is any movie really that important? Would you do it to yourself?

Hell yea!

lol.
Clearly- Well i'm no pyrotechnition but...
Certified- I AM a Pyrotechinition
😛

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But a film? Well, thats worth a thousand pictures."
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