#Movie effects explosion series

While the effect needs to be visually impressive, the less explosive material used to achieve the effect, the better. When we are designing and planning an effect, we try to use the minimum quantity of explosives and pyrotechnics required. While the effect is being prepared, an exclusion zone is established. Safe distances for the cameras, crew and actors, which will have been established through testing, need to be rigorously enforced. The crew needs to be briefed by the 1st Assistant Director/SFX supervisor before the effect takes place. What kind of safety measures are required when creating an explosion?Įveryone on the crew needs to be aware of what is going to happen. Where possible, materials should be biodegradable to minimise the impact on the environment.

Materials: – All of the materials ejected by an explosion need to be soft and lightweight so that they will not injure cast/crew or damage the location.

Tests also enable us to demonstrate the effect to the director prior to the shoot, so that we can modify it, if necessary. We test effects extensively before the day of the shoot, so that we can set safe distances for cast, crew and cameras.

Testing: - The level of testing required depends on the scale of the effect, and the proximity of the effect to cast, crew and sets or buildings.

It’s crucial to have clear communication between all the departments involved right from the start.

Planning: – The brief needs to be clarified as early in the process as possible, so that relevant testing can take place.

What goes into making an explosion for film or television? We’ve also designed and created a range of magical props for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatre productions around the world.

#Movie effects explosion series

TV series include Bodyguard, and Call the Midwife we’ve recently recreated custom prop motorbikes and wind machines for Take That’s Greatest Hits Live Tour 2019. We’ve worked on quite a few films including Paddington 2, T2 Trainspotting, Macbeth and The Foreigner. What kind of projects have you worked on? Toby is a fireworks and event pyrotechnics specialist who previously worked as an explosive safety scientist for several years. He joined the company in 2006 as a physical and pyrotechnic technician and has worked on and supervised dozens of commercials, films and TV shows, notably Bodyguard (BBC 1) which won the TV BAFTA Must-See Moment 2019 for the explosion he masterminded. Toby Stewart has recently been appointed Managing Director of Artem. We also work theatre, visitor attractions and exhibitions. Tell us a little bit about what you guys at Artem do?Īrtem has over 30 years’ experience producing physical special effects, props and sets for film, TV and commercials. We wanted to know more about the art of special effects and explosions so we decided to hit up our friends up in London, Artem.

Special effects are still very much used across the industry and for good reasons too - nothing beats having a real explosion caught on camera. We've all seen movies with huge explosions in them but have you ever wondered how those explosions are done? No, they're not all CGI.