Wire rig
The pneumatic-pull rig that yanks a performer backwards or sideways at high speed to sell an explosion, gunshot, or vehicle impact.
Mechanism
A ratchet is a high-pressure pneumatic cylinder anchored to set with a steel cable terminating in a quick-release shackle on the performer's harness or jerk-vest. On firing, the cylinder rapidly retracts the cable — typically 12 to 20 feet of travel in under a second — yanking the performer in the direction of the anchor. The harness distributes the load across the chest and back so the impulse doesn't concentrate at any single attachment point. Cable speed and pull length are tuned to the desired trajectory: a short, explosive pull simulates a gunshot impact; a longer, smoother pull sells a blast wave. The cable is usually 1/8" or 3/16" aircraft-grade, with the shackle release point landing on a foam pad or airbag rather than a hard surface.
Safety
The pull must be calibrated to the performer's mass — over-rated pulls produce whiplash and rib injuries; under-rated pulls dump the performer short of the catch. The harness is fitted before each take and checked for cable kink or fray. The performer's exit trajectory cone is cleared of camera assists, set elements, and crew; the pull operator confirms a clear cone before initiating. A backup quick-release on the vest lets the performer abort if disorientation occurs after the pull.
Variants
Two ratchets fired in rapid sequence to simulate a body tumbling through an arc, used for blast-wave gags.
Low-pressure variant used to pop a performer into the air rather than pull them horizontally.
References
Every URL is stored once in the archive and attached to as many entities as cite it. Entries marked +N also cited appear on other detail pages too — click to see every entity that depends on the same source.