Similar to the question posted about gunwounds... what about richochets? so many movies out there have richochet effects off of metal (you know, the shower of sparks...) is there anyway we can duplicate that? How do they do it in the first place?

Well, in "real films" hits like sparks, and smoke, are often done using a modified paint ball gun, that fires Dust pellets for smoke, and these magnesium filled balls for sparks. If you could find an FX guy, you might be able to score some, as they arent to dangerous (compared to squibs, and blanks.)
The dust hits you might be able to pull off on your own. I havent got to test it yet, but I have been toying with the idea of taking paintballs, slicing them enough to remove the paint, and then filling them with Quickcrette. Its a type of concrete mix, that creates a ton of dust. Then glue them back up, and firing them out of a paint gun. You gan also stick firecrackers in spots, with dust around them. When they pop, smoke, but its hard to control the timing.
For sparks, you might try drawing them in photoshop, much like a muzzle flash. Several of the BMW films (www.bmwfilms.com) feature bullet hits drawn in post (the opening scene in "Ticker" where they are hitting the road) They, much like muzzle flashes, really shouldtn last more than a frame, or two. You could shoot a scene, and use a camera flash to signify the light caused by bullets sparking, then draw them in post at those spots.
My two cents, for what its worth.
R. Michael

And you shall know us by the trail of dead.

I decided to throw these out there. I drew a muzzle flash, in photoshop fo a scene in "Intersection" It lasts only one frame, but I wanted it to look as real as possible, so I drew not only the flash, but how the light from that flash might affect the room. The first pic is the original frame, the second is after my doctoring.


Note the flash from the barrel ( I tred to blur it to equal the gun, since they are both in motion.) I then tried to design where the light from that source would affect its environment. Look at the guy kickings inner leg. The gun would have light that, so I drew it as such. I also had to draw his shadow on the blinds behind him. There are other subtle changes you might notice if you could shuffle between the two, like light on the other guys jeans, light on the edge of the desk, and on the ceiling, ect.
Now, in the end product, how many do you think noticed those details? None, and thats the point. It looks like I shot off a gun, not like I sat down, and drew everything. Mission accomplished. I learned the basics of how to do this from this Advanced CG gunfire Tutorial and simply went from there. Anything is possible, if you have the patience, and some creativity.
R. Michael

"Luck, is when opportunity, meets preperation." "There are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth, and none of us are lying" -Robert Evans

Tizzy man, u taunt us with these lovely stills but that's all I have to go from? Do you think a little splurge about what your movie is about could appear on the board so we have some idea?
THat would be awesome if you did that, it would really help me know where your coming from when u show those awesome pictures.
Thanks

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

Aight. I can throw the synpsis your way (although i think I might have posted it here a while back.)

Jack Fawn is a man without a past. Four years ago, a car accident left him with amnesia. With no identification, and no way of knowing who he was, Jack was forced to pick up the pieces, and start over. A new town, a new name, a new life, but he always felt haunted by the life he left behind.

Now, on the eve of his fourth year as his “new self”, a stranger comes knocking on his door. Is he from his past? What are his intentions? Jack soon finds himself in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the sadistic stranger. The night progresses, and a terrible secret is revealed.

Circumstance, and perception. Sometimes that is all that determines whether two people, upon meeting for the first time, are to be mortal enemies, or the best of friends.


That should give you a taste. Hope upon hope, I will have an acceptable cut up soon.
R. Michael

"Luck, is when opportunity, meets preperation." "There are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth, and none of us are lying" -Robert Evans

That sounds awesome, especially visualizing what is going on with those stills u show us.

I know your plot has nothing to do with Mr. Murder by Dean Koonz ( really weird book , not to great just weird) , but for some reason those stills remind me of certain scenes from the book?
Weird.. I don't know.. probally a chemical imbalance in my brain.
Anyways thanks Tizzy!

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

You might consider elaborating on his mental illness. i took a psychology class (not to say i'm a all knowing or a genius or anything [ and not to say that i'm not ;-) ] but i think what you mean by amnesia is actually a mental dissociative illness called Dissociative Fugue. Here are the symptoms:

Dissociative Fugue
Symptoms

The predominant disturbance is sudden, unexpected travel away from home or one's customary place of work, with inability to recall one's past.

Confusion about personal identity or assumption of a new identity (partial or complete).

The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of Dissociative Identity Disorder and is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., temporal lobe epilepsy).


HERE is what is meant by amnesia:


Dissociative Amnesia
Symptoms

The predominant disturbance is one or more episodes of inability to recall important personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature, that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness.

The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dissociative Fugue, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, or Somatization Disorder and is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a neurological or other general medical condition (e.g., Amnestic Disorder Due to Head Trauma).

The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.


The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.


I don't mean to nitpick, just trying to help you out. Seeing as the predominant point of your story is built on the fact that this guy has a mental illness, you should really consider looking into what it is.

Whatever take it or leave it - your still a better filmmaker than i am. bye

-Ben