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A bullet hit squib or a blood squib is a pyrotechnic special effect device used in the film industry and theatre productions to simulate a bullet impacting an object or on actors. The bullet squib device comprises a squib (a small, firecracker-like explosive), an electric match, a small pack of simulant (most commonly fake blood) and a protective plate attached to the costume of an actor. The blood squib device is then connected to a battery, a wired/wireless remote, which can be triggered by the actor or a crew member, creating the visual effect of a gunshot wound.

Bullet hit squib preparation

To achieve the practical special effect, a special effects technician builds "blood squib" or "blood pack" devices for the required scene and its dress rehearsal, while a costumer prepares several identical costumes in advance, typically at least three depending on the budget. These clothing with bullet holes worn by such actors are called "dead character" costumes. The time taken, personnel costs and materials for resets can therefore be costly for independent/low budget filmmakers.

Blood squib device

To build the blood squib device, a small balloon, packet or condom is filled with a desired simulant, which is coupled to the squib and a metal protective plate and padding. Simulants such as fake blood, dust, down feathers (for the desired stylistic gunshot effect on a down jacket as the costume worn by the actor), water (for rehearsals), glycerine (for night time shoots) are employed.

The squib itself is typically 0.5–1.0 grain of a flat disc-shaped encapsulated explosives (by comparison, a party popper is ~0.25 grain), suitable for approximately 10–30 ml (0.3–1.0 fl. oz.) of fake blood, simulating an entry or an exit wound respectively. The bottom half of the blood packet is aligned to the squib so that ideally, a puff of red mist bursts out, followed by a stream of fake blood flowing out completely upon activation.

Dead character costumes

The number, sequence and locations of bullet holes (~50 mm large) on an actor to be shot are first determined. The bullet holes on the fabric are weakened by carefully scoring, grating or plunging a scoring tool from the inside. From a distance, the fabric appears intact. The blast from the squib will rip through the weakened area, creating a frayed look at the same time.

Several identical sets (at least three, mentioned above) of clothing are used for the stunt. One is used in prior scenes and also serves as a backup, while the remainders are used once per take as the fabric gets torn and stained. The colour/contrast of the costume should also be light enough and/or sufficient lighting to show the bloodstain effect. Some types of costumes can however be reused more than one take by wiping off the fake blood on a waterproof jacket or parka, using dry simulants like dust, or down feathers on a down jacket, and/or using non-staining simulants like a water-filled "rehearsal pack" instead of the blood mixture for dress rehearsals. For these jackets, the fabric can be clean cut in a star shape (*) and loosely taped back together on the inside, so no fraying/ripping is caused by the squib. The downproof taffeta lining of a down jacket beneath the outer fabric is kept intact to prevent the filling from leaking out. If no taffeta lining is present, then the filling should be repacked in a custom-made downproof "pocket" to maintain the quilted puffer appearance. Inner lining and filling other than down are removed to access the site and to make the area as thin as possible to minimise bulging.

Because of the size and weight of the entire bullet hit squib setup (~75–100 mm/3-4" in diameter, ~25 mm/1" thick, weighing ~30-50g), depending on the weight and thickness of the costume fabric, it is either taped directly to the inside of the costume (e.g. jacket) or to the actor (e.g. shirt). The costumer should ensure outerwear such as jackets should be zipped up so that it does not recoil during the sequence revealing the blood pack, as well as no gunshot wound on the clothing beneath.

Activation of squibs on stage

Finally on set, the blood packs are connected to a power source (e.g. battery) and sometimes also via a programmable controller to sync with multiple squibs. This can be placed in the costume or off camera. A well-made, low profile bullet hit squib device should not be visible beneath the costume, neither should the pre-scoring of the fabric if it is properly scored. So in practice, the actor can wear the prepared costume throughout a scene (especially for stage productions) or even the entire day, including lunch breaks, although the power source should only be connected prior to the sequence to avoid accidental triggering. The actor can also change into the prepared costume just before the take, and only show the detonation sequence if duplicates are available. In any case, bullet holes that are visible on the fabric immediately before the squibs explode can also be erased during post-production.

Blood packs can be triggered with a wired or wireless remote by a crew member off camera or by the actor him/herself. When the trigger button is pressed, the squib propels the fake blood or other simulants away from the actor and rips open the weakened area of the costume fabric, creating the effect. The actor then jolts his/her body to portray the character being hit by bullets. The impact is enhanced with post-production sound effects. The actor should also avoid looking directly at the squibs and keep their arms away. Only a properly manufactured, securely attached and adequately padded blood pack is safe for the actor. After the take, bullet holes may be enhanced or touched up for the subsequent scene. The actor should remain still until the special effects technician confirms all squibs have been set off and declared safe (and for the costumers to photograph the 'aftermath' for continuity). Technicians may fire the sequence again to set off any untriggered squibs in multiple bullet sequences. Once safe, blood packs and/or the costume may be removed by the wardrobe department for retake, redressing or cleaning up. Spent and unspent costumes are kept until post-production is completed, as the director may elect to refilm extra footage. Afterwards, spent costumes can be auctioned as memorabilia, repaired and/or donated, especially with winter coats.

Alternative blood squib devices

Low- or no-budget filmmakers also achieve the practical effect using the same setup, but without squibs. A fishing line is tied to a washer that is superglued onto the blood pack. The fishing line is then fed through the pre-cut hole on the costume fabric. The effect is triggered by a crew member off camera pulling on the fishing line. A rocket igniter or an electric match could also be used instead. These methods largely reproduces the same effect of a stream of blood flowing out, but without the initial puff propelled by the squib.

Alternate, more advanced methods have also been developed in recent years, primarily by means of pneumatics (compressed gas). These devices are safer for the actor and do not require specialised pyrotechnicians, which also reduce cost. While they are reusable, they are bulkier and heavier, and is not preferred for multiple bullet hits, as well as being more difficult to control, less consistent and less reliable. Pneumatic alternates may still be referred to as "squibs", even though they do not use explosive substances.

The pneumatic-based devices were originally developed from garden sprayers and then further refined. The resulting look is less convincing as a jet of blood sprays out instead of a 'burst'. Tubing was also difficult to conceal, as it is generally quite rigid.

Miscellaneous

The record for the most squibs ever set off on a person is held by Mike Daugherty in 2005, on whom 157 out of 160 squibs successfully detonated.

References

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• Pyrotechnics
• Special effects