Glass Brings the Drama to the Movies

Bruce Willis flies into a window and glass shards spray everywhere. Miraculously he is unhurt. It’s a scene played out a hundred times in the Die Hard series of movies. It’s hard to think of an action movie that doesn’t feature glass shattering. Jurassic Park, Blade Runner, Harry Potter and the Matrix all feature extensive glass shattering scenes.  Glass and its dramatic shattering- plays a crucial role in filmmaking, serving both practical and artistic purposes. Various types of glass are employed to create specific effects, enhance safety, and contribute to the overall visual aesthetics of a movie.

One of the most common types of movie glass is sugar glass, also known as candy glass. This breakaway glass is made from sugar, corn syrup, water and synthetic plastics, creating a material that shatters easily and safely. It’s widely used in action scenes where characters crash through windows or get hit with glass objects, like the old glass bottle over the head act. Sugar glass breaks realistically but poses minimal risk to actors and stunt performers. It needs to be used quickly after it is created though as it loses its breakability quickly.

Another popular option is tempered glass. While stronger than regular glass, it’s designed to break into small, relatively harmless pieces when shattered. This makes it suitable for scenes requiring more durability than sugar glass but still needing to break on impact. Tempered glass is strong and can bear weight, giving film makers more flexibility in their scenes.

For movies involving bullets fired into glass, filmmakers often use specially designed breakaway glass. This type of glass is scored or pre-stressed to create a specific breaking pattern when struck by blank rounds, enhancing the realism of gunfire effects without endangering the cast and crew.

Laminated glass, consisting of layers bonded together with a plastic interlayer, is used in car windshields for driving scenes. It provides safety and realism, as it cracks but doesn’t shatter when broken.

CGI and visual effects have also revolutionized the portrayal of glass in movies. Digital glass effects can simulate complex shattering patterns, refractions, and reflections that would be difficult or impossible to achieve practically

The choice of glass in filmmaking involves balancing safety, realism, and artistic vision. From the practical considerations of breakaway glass to the aesthetic qualities of specialty glass types, these materials play a vital role in bringing movie scenes to life while ensuring the well-being of all involved in the production. Who knew glass could be so dramatic?

About Wakefield Equipment

Wakefield Equipment has been supplying the fenestration industry with glass shipping racks, glass dollies, and custom-built assembly line equipment for over 30 years. We partner with our customers to ensure that every piece of equipment purchased helps move their business forward. We combine unmatched service with specialized glass handling equipment to help our customers reduce labor costs, reduce waste, and increase productivity and profits.

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