Bullet hit squib

Demonstration of bullet hit squibs on a jacket showing the right squib detonating first, then the left. The squibs explode, followed by a puff of smoke and fake blood, and a laminar stream ensues. The jacket's bullet holes are pre-cut rather than weakened to allow for reuse in additional takes.

A bullet hit squib or a blood squib is a practical, pyrotechnic special effect device mainly used to simulate the appearance of a person being shot and wounded in the film industry, TV shows and stage performances[1] and even in first responder moulage training.[2][3][4] This is achieved by remotely detonating a small explosive, blowing open a pre-scored hole on the actor's clothing and bursting a fake blood packet, creating an aesthetic that filmmakers and audiences alike have become accustomed to associating with a gunshot wound.[5]

The effect is usually carried out with clothing instead of on bare skin in order to conceal the device. While the portrayal is not necessarily accurate or is exaggerated compared to real-life[6] (in the main figure, bullet holes are blown outwards and blood projects through the fabric), it is nevertheless a useful tool to create a dramatic scene.

The device comprises a squib (a small, tablet-shaped, firecracker-like explosive) with an integrated igniter or glow wire,[7] a pack of simulant (often fake blood), a protective shield and padding attached to the actor's costume. It is connected to a battery and a remote, allowing the squib to be triggered by the actor or a crew member.[5]

  1. ^ "FCFX". www.fantasycreationsfx.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  2. ^ Baily, Lance (17 June 2014). "Theatrical Blood Effects Part 4 – From MilitaryMoulage.com | HealthySimulation.com". Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  3. ^ Robinson, Barry M. "Casualty Simulation Techniques" (PDF). www.vdh.virginia.gov. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Active-Shooter and Active-Harmer Simulations | Emergency Safety Training". Monster Makeup FX. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b Rickitt, Richard (2007). Special Effects: The History and Technique. Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0-8230-8408-1.
  6. ^ Hafertepen, Stephen C.; Davis, James W.; Townsend, Ricard N.; Sue, Lawrence P.; Kaups, Krista L.; Cagle, Kathleen M. (July 2015). "Myths and Misinformation About Gunshot Wounds may Adversely Affect Proper Treatment" (PDF). World Journal of Surgery. 39 (7): 1840–1847. doi:10.1007/s00268-015-3004-x. ISSN 0364-2313. PMID 25665679. S2CID 206947932.
  7. ^ US11359894B2, Nefzer, Gerd; Nefzer, Ulrich & Preußing, Marcus, "Bullet hit squib and method for manufacturing", issued 2022-06-14