Movie quicksand..

[jagfiles]

This is just a tid bit but ever wonder how much effort is put in filming a quicksand scene for a tv show/movie?
Like this scene from Prey...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlpxfIskjN8

On the DVD during the commentary Amber Midthunder commented in that scene it took like a week just to film this one quicksand scene

[PA Jack]

This is just a tid bit but ever wonder how much effort is put in filming a quicksand scene for a tv show/movie?
Like this scene from Prey...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlpxfIskjN8

On the DVD during the commentary Amber Midthunder commented in that scene it took like a week just to film this one quicksand scene

I read an actress interview about this scene, and you are right - this was an intricate process. She also said the mud smelled awful for the whole crew. But this is a really good scene, up there with Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle, I think, although the cinematography is infinitely better. Add in the self-rescue and there was a lot in the scene that needed to be just right.

All scenes are not this good. For instance, I don’t think anyone took a week to film the scene in Death Curse of Tartu; they just threw some sawdust on a swamp pool in the Everglades. Just watching your post reminded me of how good the Prey scene was.

[ayria]

Yeah, that's an exceptional case, they've obviously got a real mud hole there. From my own sinking experiences, most cleanup isn't too bad but it takes ages for all the mud to get clean from my fingernails! I believe the classic "Hollywood quicksand" was ground cork floating on water, much less trouble.

[dlodoski]

....I read an actress interview about this scene, and you are right - this was an intricate process. She also said the mud smelled awful for the whole crew. But this is a really good scene, up there with Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle, I think, although the cinematography is infinitely better. Add in the self-rescue and there was a lot in the scene that needed to be just right.

All scenes are not this good. For instance, I don’t think anyone took a week to film the scene in Death Curse of Tartu; they just threw some sawdust on a swamp pool in the Everglades. Just watching your post reminded me of how good the Prey scene was.

Exactly this. In fact, it would be a fun exercise to try to determine the extreme ends of the cost/effort continuum.

Death Curse of Tartu would no doubt be a contender for the low end. Krull comes to mind as one of the more elaborate. Apparently, there were multiple pneumatic (possibly hydraulic) rams/cylinders that the actors were lowered on. You can see Ken Marshall wobble a bit as he was balancing himself on one of them. It was also a large set. Guns of Darkness would also be a contender on the high end, as well as the opening sequence of the Brazilian soap opera Deus Nos Acuda (God Help Us).

[PA Jack]

Exactly this. In fact, it would be a fun exercise to try to determine the extreme ends of the cost/effort continuum.

Death Curse of Tartu would no doubt be a contender for the low end. Krull comes to mind as one of the more elaborate. Apparently, there were multiple pneumatic (possibly hydraulic) rams/cylinders that the actors were lowered on. You can see Ken Marshall wobble a bit as he was balancing himself on one of them. It was also a large set. Guns of Darkness would also be a contender on the high end, as well as the opening sequence of the Brazilian soap opera Deus Nos Acuda (God Help Us).

I had never seen the soap opera you mention, but the show intro is on YouTube, and I watched it. Kind of a kinky opening, not sinking per se, but achieves a similar effect. Not sure how they did that in 1992, unless they really filled up the room.

[Fred588]

Exactly this. In fact, it would be a fun exercise to try to determine the extreme ends of the cost/effort continuum.

Death Curse of Tartu would no doubt be a contender for the low end. Krull comes to mind as one of the more elaborate. Apparently, there were multiple pneumatic (possibly hydraulic) rams/cylinders that the actors were lowered on. You can see Ken Marshall wobble a bit as he was balancing himself on one of them. It was also a large set. Guns of Darkness would also be a contender on the high end, as well as the opening sequence of the Brazilian soap opera Deus Nos Acuda (God Help Us).

I had never seen the soap opera you mention, but the show intro is on YouTube, and I watched it. Kind of a kinky opening, not sinking per se, but achieves a similar effect. Not sure how they did that in 1992, unless they really filled up the room.

This was discussed here way back when. As I recall, the room was bult on a floating set and they sunk it.

[PA Jack]

Exactly this. In fact, it would be a fun exercise to try to determine the extreme ends of the cost/effort continuum.

Death Curse of Tartu would no doubt be a contender for the low end. Krull comes to mind as one of the more elaborate. Apparently, there were multiple pneumatic (possibly hydraulic) rams/cylinders that the actors were lowered on. You can see Ken Marshall wobble a bit as he was balancing himself on one of them. It was also a large set. Guns of Darkness would also be a contender on the high end, as well as the opening sequence of the Brazilian soap opera Deus Nos Acuda (God Help Us).

I had never seen the soap opera you mention, but the show intro is on YouTube, and I watched it. Kind of a kinky opening, not sinking per se, but achieves a similar effect. Not sure how they did that in 1992, unless they really filled up the room.

This was discussed here way back when. As I recall, the room was bult on a floating set and they sunk it.

That would make sense -thanks for letting me know. I was here from 2009 until 2014, then stepped away and rejoined in 2022, so I guess I missed the thread. Nowadays, the scene would just use some computer generated effects to “fill” the room, I imagine.

[Fred588]

Exactly this. In fact, it would be a fun exercise to try to determine the extreme ends of the cost/effort continuum.

Death Curse of Tartu would no doubt be a contender for the low end. Krull comes to mind as one of the more elaborate. Apparently, there were multiple pneumatic (possibly hydraulic) rams/cylinders that the actors were lowered on. You can see Ken Marshall wobble a bit as he was balancing himself on one of them. It was also a large set. Guns of Darkness would also be a contender on the high end, as well as the opening sequence of the Brazilian soap opera Deus Nos Acuda (God Help Us).

I had never seen the soap opera you mention, but the show intro is on YouTube, and I watched it. Kind of a kinky opening, not sinking per se, but achieves a similar effect. Not sure how they did that in 1992, unless they really filled up the room.

This was discussed here way back when. As I recall, the room was bult on a floating set and they sunk it.

That would make sense -thanks for letting me know. I was here from 2009 until 2014, then stepped away and rejoined in 2022, so I guess I missed the thread. Nowadays, the scene would just use some computer generated effects to “fill” the room, I imagine.

Sorry if I am incorrect here but someone from here, at the time, reported commnicating with someone on the production side, abot how it was done. If I had to guess, I would say it was probably Duncan Edwards, but I AM getting old.

[PA Jack]

Exactly this. In fact, it would be a fun exercise to try to determine the extreme ends of the cost/effort continuum.

Death Curse of Tartu would no doubt be a contender for the low end. Krull comes to mind as one of the more elaborate. Apparently, there were multiple pneumatic (possibly hydraulic) rams/cylinders that the actors were lowered on. You can see Ken Marshall wobble a bit as he was balancing himself on one of them. It was also a large set. Guns of Darkness would also be a contender on the high end, as well as the opening sequence of the Brazilian soap opera Deus Nos Acuda (God Help Us).

I had never seen the soap opera you mention, but the show intro is on YouTube, and I watched it. Kind of a kinky opening, not sinking per se, but achieves a similar effect. Not sure how they did that in 1992, unless they really filled up the room.

This was discussed here way back when. As I recall, the room was bult on a floating set and they sunk it.

That would make sense -thanks for letting me know. I was here from 2009 until 2014, then stepped away and rejoined in 2022, so I guess I missed the thread. Nowadays, the scene would just use some computer generated effects to “fill” the room, I imagine.

Sorry if I am incorrect here but someone from here, at the time, reported commnicating with someone on the production side, abot how it was done. If I had to guess, I would say it was probably Duncan Edwards, but I AM getting old.

Me, too - will turn 70 day after tomorrow.

[dlodoski]

Duncan was the one who reached out to the director and obtained a 30 minute (or so) documentary on how they filmed it.

Here is an old render of part of that. http://www.mpvstuff.com/misc/god_help_u ... artial.wmv (this will not stream. download it an play it locally)

I need to access the original capture files and render something in a current format.

The room was stationary and was filled btw. This was most likely deemed the safer option, since it's a lot easier to drain a room than lift it, should there be a problem.