Breaking Windows
Many effects rely more upon the manner in which they are staged than on the devices or materials themselves. Breaking windows fall very definitely into this category. Seldom can artificial glass be produced perfectly clear and yet be safe enough not to harm an actor or stunt man who has to come into contact with it. ‘Soft glass’ is usually thick, yellow and subject to warping while ‘brittle glass’ can break into dangerously sharp splinters. It is, therefore, often necessary to shoot scenes from a position where the glass cannot be seen in close detail.
Windows for jumping through
If the window is multi-paned, the framework should be constructed of ordinary lumber (it is not necessary to use balsa wood), designed in a fashion where the components lightly slot together and remain self supporting. Break-away plastic glass panes should be held in position with small blobs of putty or modelling-clay. Nails should never be used anywhere in the construction. Small wedges suffice to stiffen the framework where required.
The glass panes in the above construction smash on impact, but it is feasible to use panes of ordinary clear plastic which have been pre-broken. Providing that the window is viewed from one side or is first seen only at the moment of impact, it is not apparent that the panes are already broken. The advantage of this arrangement is that all the pieces can be reassembled and re-used.
Simulated broken windows
Unbroken windows may be dressed to look as if they are broken by applying various dressing materials. Broken plastic sheets, black paper and tin foil give the appearance of holes and jagged glass, while cracks and bullet holes can be drawn with black and white wax pencils. This strategem is used when real buildings are meant to appear derelict and enables battle and riot scenes to be filmed in street locations.
Shock wave
Where a window has to appear to break by shock or blast, it can be arranged by fitting sheets of breakaway glass into special window frames. These are provided with slotted rods which grip the bottoms of the panes of glass. When rotated by hidden levers the rods distort the glass to breaking point.
BREAKING WINDOWS
1. Windows to be broken (or for stunt men to leap through) can be constructed in a way that allows them to be reassembled for re-takes, a, Glazing bar fitted very loosely.
2. Detail of window construction, a, Breaking glass, b, Direction of impact, c, Modelling clay.
3. Clear plastic resin sheet in the form of pre-broken panes can be assembled as shown. If the action is filmed and edited so that the ‘glass’ is seen only from the moment of impact it appears to be breaking.