Weekly Mythbusters Discussion Thread

[James Kenobi 1138]

I really enjoy the weekly Thread we have for the Clone Wars, so I thought it would be neat to have one for Mythbusters since a new series starts tomorrow night (Wednesday April 6th).

If you watch on Wednesday, post your comments or questions here after the show.

 

[Boomer]

Will someone please think of the children!

 

[robn1]

Kari Byron approves.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

New episode tonight, just a few hours away !

 

[Kerr Avon]

Why would they think that the making the gun dance trick wouldn't be possible? A gun isn't that heavy, and they seemed to not even consider the fact that the gun was being destroyed by the bullets.

 

[ChaseKiefer]

Though the gun did get destroyed it was still cool to see it actually slide and hop like in westerns.

For the masks, I wish they took a mold of Jamie and Adams' heads so they could sculpt the mask over those so they could look as close as possible.

Overall, I loved the episode.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

The masks were great but I agree it would have been cool to see masks made from life casts molded directly from Adam and Jamie. Those were some amazing masks though, amazing detail and quality.

On the gun myths, I kept waiting for them to try shooting the green base of the merry-go-round with a glancing shot. I don't think it would have made a difference but I was surprised they only tried shooting at the bars.

It looked like Adam and Jamie really had a lot of fun switching up their identities. It was a fun show.

 

[robn1]

...For the masks, I wish they took a mold of Jamie and Adams' heads so they could sculpt the mask over those so they could look as close as possible...

The "Mission: Impossible" masks weren't made that way, but it would be cool to see what difference it would make. But the fit problems they had show why something like "Faceoff" wouldn't work. The shape of the structures under the skin play a big part, you can't just swap skins and look like the other person.

Those masks were cool, and a little creepy. Interesting painting techniques.

 

[CB2001]

But the fit problems they had show why something like "Faceoff" wouldn't work. The shape of the structures under the skin play a big part, you can't just swap skins and look like the other person.

Dude, I don't know if you paid attention to the movie, but they explained that they had to insert some sort of "skeletal mask" that would retain one person's face while on the other person's. So, it wasn't just taking one person's face and slapping it onto another's body. It was taking a person, placing a sort of "skeletal adaptor" which allows for the other person's face to have the exact shape on the new user's face, and then slapping on the skin.

So, basically, in the film, they didn't just "swap skins." A replica of the skeletal facial structure was applied first, muscle on top of that, THEN the skin.

Seriously... How many people didn't get that?

 

[robn1]

Dude, I'm sorry. I forgot, been a long time since I saw it :$
Dude, thanks :thumbsup
Dudes, sorry for the off topic tangent.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

If they ever did a revisit, I'd love to see them take the mask idea to the next level.

First, masks made over exact lifecast for a better fit.

Second, I know the myth was about 'pull-over' style but I'd love to see the concept of the 'disguise' done with partial FX appliances. Could Adam use his own eyes, ears, mouth but with a new chin, new nose, bald cap and facial hair with correct clothes and actually be a convincing Jamie. Something that would work at 5 feet because it wouldn't be a mask but partial facial appliances.

 

[ChaseKiefer]

I agree a partial face appliance would probably be the best way to get realistic movement in the face.

I also thought if they could have a microphone system so that they could sound exactly the other person.

 

[Kerr Avon]

On the gun myths, I kept waiting for them to try shooting the green base of the merry-go-round with a glancing shot. I don't think it would have made a difference but I was surprised they only tried shooting at the bars.

Wouldn't have made a difference. The force needed to overcome inertia doesn't change. Shooting at a glancing blow would mean less energy would have been imparted to the merry go round. That's why they put those flat metal plates on the bars. A large flat surface allowed the bullet to impact a surface with at a 90 degree angle and impart the absolute maximum force on the merry go round possible. Anything other than 90 degrees, less force imparted so it couldn't have possibly had a different outcome. The only thing that might have made a slightly different change is how far from the axis of rotation of the merry go round is. A longer moment arm gives more force generated or something, I forget the exact terms.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Yeah, but the further out you shoot the better the 'lever'. If they moved a plate to the outside it might have moved more. I agree that it didn't stand a chance, I was just surprised they didn't try it.

 

[Kerr Avon]

Yeah, but the further out you shoot the better the 'lever'. If they moved a plate to the outside it might have moved more. I agree that it didn't stand a chance, I was just surprised they didn't try it.

The plate was essentially at the edge of the round surface of the merry go round, any further out and it's essentially changing the design so significantly that it can't even begin to exist in reality. They might have done that on the step where they do everything necessary to move it, but really, at that point they might as well attach rockets to the bars.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

The 'scary-go-round' was pretty slick. Massive firepower.

 

[the_batdemon]

Fake Adam reminded me of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. It must have been the "big ole head".

 

[clonesix]

In the mask part, everyone noticed that fakes. Whether they realized what was going on, or not, they detected something was wrong. The human face has so many subtleties, and the senses pick up on them all. Kari said she thought is was a wax mannequin. Human skin is just a hard thing to replicate. And the voice, even through the television, it sounded like they were talking through a mask. Your voice is generated by forcing air through the voice box. Add a layer of rubber over the throat, and the vibrations change. Very cool episode.

What I want to know, are any of the SPFX guys members here?

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Aftershow here, and talk of a re-do on the masks:

MythBusters: Mission Impossible Mask Aftershow : Video : Discovery Channel

After the first video plays, let it sit for about 10-20 seconds and the next few videos are aftershow on the merry-go-round and gun myths also.

 

[Dave Ward]

Great episode. Major attack of the Uncanny Valley on the masks, but I'm not surprised that they're considering a re-do, as this seems like a process rather than a definitive test. It would be fun to see them upgrade the masks from time to time, seeing if they can finally get to the day when they fool Kari or the production staff.