Knife in the boot/foot

[kydrus]

Anyone have any random thoughts on how to "stab someone in the foot" during a show? We're doing a melodrama, and part of the stage combat would include this move if we can find a reasonable way to do it. Thanks!

 

[sk8rsdad]

Actor does a stabbing motion near the foot. Other actor reacts by grabbing their foot and hopping around.
No contact, no feet harmed, no real knife/sword/spear/stick or whatever it is that is supposed to be doing the stabbing. If the acting is good enough you can mime the whole thing.

 

[kydrus]

Thanks, but our director is hoping for the knife to stick upright in the floor/shoe for visual impact.

 

[sk8rsdad]

The usual technique involves building a prop boot, or a preset device under the stage or platform with a spring-loaded fake knife. At the appropriate moment, somebody (might be the actor, might be a stagehand) activates a release mechanism that causes a fake knife handle to pop out of the target location while the actor who allegedly threw or stabbed with the knife hides the one they are holding.

 

[erichart]

One method is useful if the action is blocked to allow it. Right before the stabbing moment, the actor switches the knife with one that is just a handle. He can then stick this on the boot; if blocked correctly, the audience will not notice that he is "stabbing" the boot with a bladeless knife. In this case, the best way to make the knife stick would probably be magnets.


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[patrickh]

If it helps, I've actually been stabbed in the foot in the same manner. It sucked!!! And we did a melodrama and we had a similar stabbing and used a knife with retracting blade. A finger mounted prick and blood on the shin so that when the blade went fully in. The attackers outside edge of his index finger used a small pin to open a blood packet. Worked well but blood had to be thin! I didn't have anything to do with it or i would had found a better solution


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[porkchop]

One method is useful if the action is blocked to allow it. Right before the stabbing moment, the actor switches the knife with one that is just a handle. He can then stick this on the boot; if blocked correctly, the audience will not notice that he is "stabbing" the boot with a bladeless knife. In this case, the best way to make the knife stick would probably be magnets

Or Velcro if you're doing it on the cheap.

 

[kydrus]

Thanks everyone! Your suggestions were great, but our director ultimately decided to swap it for another combat move due to our funds and costume pieces -- THANKS SO MUCH!