Screenhead

You never think there’s so much science involved in setting people on fire, but after watching the third installment of the Watchmen video journal series, man, it’s a wonder.  Today was all about stunts on the set, most particularly, a prison inmate being set on fire.

For those of you who don’t already know, then this is going to be a real education for you.  First a protective gel barrier is applied to a stuntman’s bare skin, and then fuel is laid over the gel.  The fuel is then set on fire, and the stunt is completed.  It’s not the person’s flesh that’s burning, but rather the fuel on top of a protective gel underlay.  This is a fairly important distinction and is the difference between a well-choreographed stunt and an extended hospital stay.

Even with all this choreography in advance, it still takes a few tries to get it right, and gives me even more hope that the Watchmen movie will wind up turning out nicely.

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