Drowning in a bottomless bucket

[TacticalNinja]

Alright, Im making a quick movie trailer with a torture scene, and I would Like a scene were the camera is pointing UP towards the sky In a bucket of water....

So Would it be easyer to buy a bucket, cut a whole in it and with some cocking and some skill replace the bottom of the bucket with a peice of plexi glass.

or use a Fish tank and just cut the bottom of a bucket out and put it in the fish tank and not use the bucket to hold any water.

To make it clear on what im asking/requsting, I want a scene with a camera looking at someone as they are being forcfully drowed in a bucket of water because of torturing.

So I need to have water between the lense and thier face so they can be breathing bubbles and things like that. so would it be a good idea to cut a buckets bottom out and get a peice of plexi glass and sub that in for the bottom and secure it with cocking and or tank sealer.

and then put my camera UNDER the becket and supply lighting here and there and then the effect is done.

Maybe this is in the wrong section.

Sorry if it is, I tryed to pick the best spot.

[Vaughn Whynot]

probably to add a peice of glass or Plexiglas on the bottom of the bucket
but wait other people message
Vaughn

[TacticalNinja]

probably to add a peice of glass or Plexiglas on the bottom of the bucket
but wait other people message
Vaughn
Alright thanks

Ya I didnt have cocking so i tryed hot glue. Didnt think it was going to work. Thought right

I was just testing some stuff seing what would work.. I think the bucket with pelxi would work the best. as long as I got a Tight seal with the plexi glass and the bucket.

[Vaughn Whynot]

yeah
but maybe you could put the fishtank in your story
it would be easier

[TacticalNinja]

lol ya but that would look pretty wierd and lame.. Just buy some fish and put them in too... and a little castel for them to swim around

Any other suggestions?

[BlazingProductions]

ya i'd just go with putting the plexi on the bottom of the bucket, and silicone should provide a tight enough seal.

[TacticalNinja]

alright. I just was thinking, Suggestions for cutting this bucket at a good straight line. Since a table saw wouldnt be the best idea. and beating out the bottom with a hammer wont realy work....

Chain saw? I dont want to hold onto a bucket as I cut. and i dont want plastic in the links. Its meant to have wood not plastic. Wouldnt be the safest.

Skill saw? never cut straight

knife.... not sharp enough.

Guess it depends if its a metal bucket, or plastic, and if it has a curved bottom or meets the bottom at 90 degrees.

[BlazingProductions]

i just took a look in my garage... and if it's a plastic bucket, they sell at hardware stores sharply serrated knives that are used for cutting dry wall. And these may be sharp enough to cut a round hole in the bottom of a bucket.

[TacticalNinja]

i just took a look in my garage... and if it's a plastic bucket, they sell at hardware stores sharply serrated knives that are used for cutting dry wall. And these may be sharp enough to cut a round hole in the bottom of a bucket.
That might work.

just starting the cut would be hard. Although on some of those knives I know they have big sharp points. But im trying to stab a round object. Doesnt usally work out so well.....

Im sure me and my dad can figure it out.

Any more suggestions?
Would be great. thanks

[google550]

Hmm. You guys seem to be bend on doing a practical effect...

Do you have AE?

[TacticalNinja]

Hmm. You guys seem to be bend on doing a practical effect...

Do you have AE?
Nope. I probibly have access to Final Cut Pro probibly the second verson but I have NO idea how to do anything

I might be working with a professional editor. We'll see the length of his envolvment tommrow.

[google550]

If you want, send it my way.

I'm pretty proficient in After Effects. I would add additional warp to sell the fact that they're underwater, and maybe some particular matter floating in the fluid...

My main concern about shooting through plexiglass would be that...

a.) It may look like you're not really IN the bucket, just outside of it.
b.) Be careful about plunging your actor's head into the bucket. Water may splash on your camera. No fun!

[TacticalNinja]

If you want, send it my way.

I'm pretty proficient in After Effects. I would add additional warp to sell the fact that they're underwater, and maybe some particular matter floating in the fluid...

My main concern about shooting through plexiglass would be that...

a.) It may look like you're not really IN the bucket, just outside of it.
b.) Be careful about plunging your actor's head into the bucket. Water may splash on your camera. No fun!
Well its for a trailer so it only has to be for a few seconds and Ill Probibly make the weekend extra rain conatiner for my camera and press its lens agains the plexi glass and tell my talent to keep things under controll but still act as best they can

Im sure it'll be fine. Ill private message you if I need some help though, thanks

Any more suggestions?

[google550]

Watch where you're getting that water from.

Seriously. It's not fun to plunge into a dirty bucket of dirty water.

[TacticalNinja]

Watch where you're getting that water from.

Seriously. It's not fun to plunge into a dirty bucket of dirty water.
lol of course it is...
I mean isnt

Ya id keep it clean. Could add some flour in it to suspend some particles. Wonder how that would look in water..

Good idea?
I dont know, sorta want the actors eyes to be open. I personally would open my eyes in a bucket of water with flour in it. Even dirty old pond water.

[sonnyfromda02]

Cut the bottom of a plastic bucket by drilling a hole in the bottom, then use a jigsaw or reciprocating saw to saw out the bottom. Take the bottomless bucket and place it in an aquarium, use marine epoxy to secure the bucket to the bottom of the aquarium. You can then use two chairs, or two saw horses to hold up the aquarium and film from underneath. Put some water in the bucket, and if it leaks, it won't matter because the water will fall into the aquarium, and not on your camera.

[TacticalNinja]

Cut the bottom of a plastic bucket by drilling a hole in the bottom, then use a jigsaw or reciprocating saw to saw out the bottom. Take the bottomless bucket and place it in an aquarium, use marine epoxy to secure the bucket to the bottom of the aquarium. You can then use two chairs, or two saw horses to hold up the aquarium and film from underneath. Put some water in the bucket, and if it leaks, it won't matter because the water will fall into the aquarium, and not on your camera.
Thanks for the suggestion. I was thinking somthing very similar.

OH NO! I forgot to buy the bucket when I was out today! NO! AHH! I have Saturday and Friday too though.

[joey23st]

You could get a plastic bucket, if you don't have the tools to cut a metal one, and use a Rotary Tool, like a dremel, to carve out the bottom of the bucket. You could also try to heat the bucket to help in cutting. A hot knife might work, but, I think the Dremel will work better.

Get a piece of plexiglass/Acrylic Sheet and cut it out in the right dimensions. Get some sealing caulk and seal the plastic with it. Place the camera under it. You might need some sort of support to keep the bucket from toppling over.

Good Luck.

[Hunterr]

Why not drill a hole....then use a dremel (if available) and make the hole just a little bit larger than your lens, then cut out a piece of plexi glass a little bit bigger than the whole you cut and seal it....you dont have to cut out the whole bottom of the bucket....

Just my two cents,
-Hunterr

[DaiMoGui]

I saw the behind the scenes for a flick where a persons head was dunked into a toilet, and they show it from the bottom. They took a large glass mixing bowl, filled it with water and put a new toilet lid over the bowl and filmed from the bottom.

That was it, just a tight shot of a face in water with a toilet lid in the background. Use a nice big Glass Casserole Dish (2 qt. capacity, 11.5" diam, 3" deep). I sure you could paint some cardboard and attach it to the outer rim of the bowl to give it a looking up through bucket look, along with controlling the amount of light you are getting into the bowl.

Hope this helps,

-DaiMoGui

[Skycarl]

Go to Harbor Freight ( where it's cheaper ) or Home Depot and get an adjustable
hole cutter. It attaches to your drill, the cutter comes out at 90 degrees and is
adjustable to the size hole you need.

[TacticalNinja]

Thanks for the suggestions. ya I think drilling a whole with one of those hokcey puck bits (not sure the name but im sure you know what i mean, used for drilling whole to install lights in your celling)

and then put in plexiglass.

Ya i think if im going to do it, I will and should have enough stuff to do it

I have the tools for a metal or plastic bucket eather or. My dads a mechanic, so shouldnt be a problem.

[joey23st]

I like the name ...Hokcey puck bits XD

Well, what ever you do, good luck, and, don't put an eye o..err...don't cut a finger off. I say go with the metal bucket if you can, I just think it would look better. Not saying you can't make a plastic bucket look like metal, but, I find that most plastic buckets have some sort of un metal like texture on the sides of them...plus..you don't have to paint it to look like metal, and you can actually dent it and make it look like something you would find in a torture shack thing...

As Said before, good luck!

-Joe

[TacticalNinja]

I like the name ...Hokcey puck bits XD

Well, what ever you do, good luck, and, don't put an eye o..err...don't cut a finger off. I say go with the metal bucket if you can, I just think it would look better. Not saying you can't make a plastic bucket look like metal, but, I find that most plastic buckets have some sort of un metal like texture on the sides of them...plus..you don't have to paint it to look like metal, and you can actually dent it and make it look like something you would find in a torture shack thing...

As Said before, good luck!

-Joe
Lol thanks

Ya im usally pretty safe when it comes to tools. I suggested cutting the bucket in half with a chain saw since thats the only thing i was thinking about

[sonnyfromda02]

Go to Harbor Freight ( where it's cheaper ) or Home Depot and get an adjustable
hole cutter. It attaches to your drill, the cutter comes out at 90 degrees and is
adjustable to the size hole you need.

Harbor Freight all the way!

[TacticalNinja]

I dont think we have a Harbor Freight here in Canada. Never heard of one.

[punkandska66]

I would say use a bucket, but you'd have to get a big bucket. Because it may be hard to fit someone's head in it. Cut the bottom off with a dremel. If you don't have one I bet your neighbors do.

[TacticalNinja]

I would say use a bucket, but you'd have to get a big bucket. Because it may be hard to fit someone's head in it. Cut the bottom off with a dremel. If you don't have one I bet your neighbors do.
I just found out right now what a dremel is. Iv seen them befor but would have called them a hand held bevel tool...

Im not much for wood working, and iv never seen one used for metal...

Thanks for the suggestions guys

[joey23st]

Most Rotary Tool kits come with a small case filled with a few various bits, like a cutting wheel and such. Dremel is just a really popular Rotary Tool brand, one that I stand behind 110%. Best 60 dollars you'll ever invest in...well..maybe not the best, but, I find a lot of uses for it. The 1.5' Reinforced Cutting disk would be a good way to start to cut out the bottom of the bucket. You could use one of the other grinders to finish up the sides, and to smooth it out. Make sure to wear safety goggles.

Again, good luck

-Joe

[sonnyfromda02]

Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/)

[Jier]

How I would do this effect would be pretty complex, but I think it would give the best results.

First I would build a table with a plexiglass top. Then I would take Epoxy and a bucket. Cut the bottom out of the bucket completely and then epoxy it to the table itself. Now this is where it will get tricky. You will need it lit, but you'll have to play with the lighting to keep it from reflecting the camera when you do this.

[TacticalNinja]

Most Rotary Tool kits come with a small case filled with a few various bits, like a cutting wheel and such. Dremel is just a really popular Rotary Tool brand, one that I stand behind 110%. Best 60 dollars you'll ever invest in...well..maybe not the best, but, I find a lot of uses for it. The 1.5' Reinforced Cutting disk would be a good way to start to cut out the bottom of the bucket. You could use one of the other grinders to finish up the sides, and to smooth it out. Make sure to wear safety goggles.

Again, good luck

-Joe
Psh safty. Who needs it?

Is it a problem if my safty glasses broke?

Ya I need a new pair, havnt done anything but played with my knife and used a screw driver since winter where i fixed cars....


remember kid, you think you look funny with safty glasses, just think of how funny you look with no eyes.

Strange but true.
Have a good one

[joey23st]

remember kid, you think you look funny with safty glasses, just think of how funny you look with no eyes.



My Friend, that is the single greatest quote on this forum. :P