What do they use for broken glass pieces in movies?

What do they use for broken glass pieces in movies? - Broken Glass Bottle On The Sidewalk

Most of action movies involve tremendous amounts of explosions and shattered glass. I remember watching Die Hard (1988) and the amount of broken glass made me wonder, what was it made of to keep actors safe?



Best Answer

It's not actually glass...

Originally, they used a product called "Sugar glass" or "candy glass".

Sugar glass (also called candy glass, edible glass, and breakaway glass) is a brittle transparent form of sugar used to simulate glass in movies, photographs and plays. It is much less likely to cause injuries than real glass, and it easily breaks convincingly, making it an excellent choice for stunts. Sugar glass is also used to make sugar sculptures. Because sugar glass is hygroscopic, it must be used soon after preparation, or it will soften and lose its brittle quality.

It's incredibly easy to make, taking no special skill (Practice for clarity and equipment to make large pieces aside).

However, the sugar absorbs moisture, it isn't very stable, so they have modern substitutes made from brittle plastics. They are still very easy to break but they don't suffer from deterioration over time the way that sugar does.

Q: Is it made of sugar?
A: Breakaway Glass is made of a mixture of plastics, not sugar.

Also, because it's not sugar, it can be used for vessels and jars, so it can hold liquids, at room temperature.

Note that there is still some risk. You're not as likely to be injured by breakaway glass as real glass but you can still get hurt, so stunts people are still very cautious around these products.




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What do they use for broken glass pieces in movies? - Broken Clear Glass Pieces on Black Surface
What do they use for broken glass pieces in movies? - Close-Up Shot of Broken Glass Pieces on a Black Surface
What do they use for broken glass pieces in movies? - Broken Glass Bottle



How do they make breakable glass for movies?

Smooth-On \u2013 Breakaway Glass Plastic For this reason, Breakaway glass in film, is more commonly made from a type of thermoplastic resin, which is poured into silicone moulds to harden. Once created, the liquid plastic can be shattered or can crumble like glass on impact.

What is movie prop glass made of?

Sugar glass, which is also known as candy glass or breakaway glass, is made up of corn syrup, water, and of course, sugar. It is used in stunt scenes instead of glass to prevent harming the actors. Though it is not as dangerous as real glass, it still has the potential for injury.

What is breakaway glass made of?

Traditionally, breakaway glass is made from sugar glass, a transparent form of sugar that looks just like real glass but is brittle enough to easily be cracked or shattered.

Do they use rubber glass in movies?

Any time you see an actor in proximity to glass, it is in fact Rubber Glass that is being used to create the effect. Rubber Glass was first used in the \u201cStar Trek: The Next Generation\u201d series and has been used in films like \u201cGodzilla\u201d, \u201cThe Matrix\u201d, \u201cSpider Man\u201d and in commercials for Coke and Budweiser Beer.



How Breakable Props Are Made For Movies And TV Shows | Movies Insider




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