I'm directing a music video that will go up in February of next year. We're in pre-pro right now but one of the scenes requires a mirror to shatter outward into a lot of pieces, so I'm trying to figure out as soon as I can if this can be done within a limited budget. Basically, we'll be using a special type of glass called breakaway glass, in mirror form, so it doesn't injure anyone and breaks easily. However, what I want to know is how can I get the mirror to shatter so that the shards fly outward? I've been told a hammer will break the glass, but wouldn't that just make the shards fall straight down? Any help on how I can get this effect would be really appreciated. Thanks.
The traditional method of doing explosions in space before CGI (where debris expands in all directions, not downwards under gravity) was to hang the thing you were going to explode in the air and shoot from underneath. I don't know whether you could do the same with a mirror: obviously you'd need something to protect the camera lens and would need to start it and then get out of the way before breaking the mirror.
Breakaway glass can be just as dangerous as regular glass. It WILL break easier, but it will also injure - don't get a false sense of security when using it.
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I've been told a hammer will break the glass, but wouldn't that just make the shards fall straight down?
You were told right - a hammer will break the glass. And the glass will adhere strictly to the laws of gravity and fall straight down.
As Mark suggested - place the camera under the glass so the shards fall towards the camera.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
