cuts, bruises and gashes

[PoEun1]

just wondering how to make bruises look real, cuts gush with blood and ripp nails off of the fingers with blood oozing out under them and still all look real. i have the latex pieces that look like cuts already i just don't know how to make them bleed without stopping to put the blood in the cut after i apply the latex to the body. does anyone have any advise for me?

[sgranlund]

Hi there, i am a special makeup fx artist, and i would be glad to help.
first, i need to know how tight the shot is going to be, and the lighting.
if you want to email me specifics to the shot, i will walk you through it....
that said... generally speaking, use use a bruise wheel from a makeup shop (www.monstermakers.com (http://www.monstermakers.com) or www.fxwarehouse.com (http://www.fxwarehouse.com) or a halloween shop)

depending on the age of the bruise, and the location, use a slight yellowish base feathering out from the center of the bruise, blending the edges outward into the skin. then use a deep maroon, or dark red (just a dot) in the center of the bruise (on top of the yellow) and blend (with your finger) out from center, then dab a little deep purple slightly outside of the center, and near center, slightly unevenly, and blend lightly outward. always start with very little makeup and add (or build up) to darker deepers colors) and take your time and lightly spread outward...blending naturally. ALWAYS look at a reference photo, (from the web) and occasionally stand back to see it from a distance. for the finishing touch..use a LITTLE white on or near the center lightly blending in(but not too much) the white will create the illusion of a highlight, or raised swollen area. experiment and use unevenly (yet sparingly) to simulate the bump. the more yellow on the outter edge, the older the bruise will look, and the more deep purple, and red (maroon) the fresher. you can always put a small, thin black line or dot near center, then add a drop of blood. the darker colors will recess into the flesh tone, and the lighter will seem to raise the flesh. Take a good look at how light creates shadows and highlights on the skin, the great thing is because film/video is 2d it will look like a 3d bump, just by using the light and dark colors...dark on botton, light on top. you can create the effect with eyeshaows, or cheap halloween colrs, or even small dabs of washable magic marker on wet (moist) skin (but it dries fast so blend fast).
I will post more to answer you other questions of cuts, blood ect.
hope this helps some
sgranlund@cinelineproductions.com
www.cinelineproductions.com (http://www.cinelineproductions.com)

[sgranlund]

normally we would show an angled medium close up of a rigged knife, or blade (with a hidden blood tube) slash across the flesh(squeezing a bulb filled with blood as it passed across the skin) after the slash scene, apply latex cut, apply blood (balancing it in the cut upright) when action is called, tilt the hand or arm, and actor reacts, the blood spills out of the channel in the cut, and all is well.
OR you can rig a blood tube under the latex cut (which, if not built up properly to make it seem level will look bad) this takes planning and proper materials to look good in closeup.
ALWAYS make sure you use a DULL knife (seems obvious). If the slash is on a neck, that is a whole different story... afix the prostheic, have actor look downto hide the wound, if the prostheic is made correctly, it will close and hid the wound. when the actor jerks his head back the wound opens. cut...hold positions exactly, put blood into wound...action. there are endless variations of pulling off this effect, but pre-planning the shot, and what the camera will see..with the edited sequence in mind, makes the efeect work. plan, plan, plan...paln the camera angles to pull off the illusion, and the whole thing wont come together (realisticaly) until the editing..so PLAN the shot.
email me for more specifics on the effects you need..it is very shot, lighting specific.
hope this helped some, it i such a large area to discuss, and there are sooo many different ways to get the effect.

oh yea, i almost forgot...the off the shelf latex cut will never look good in close or medium close shots, Unless you have a filler material to blend the seams of the appliance. you could use pro-aide adhesive (to attach the appliance) mixed with a fumed silica called cabosil. mix until smooth and slightly thinner than toothpaste, and use just Like BONDO (PLEASE DO NOT USE BONDO). use sparringly to blend paste from the appliance to the skin (covering the seam) using a small metal spatula. then color lightly to blend in (an airbrush with some arcylic paint works) or mix some of the pros-aide with acrylic paint, and lightly sponge on working outward until the small amount of paint starts to dry and blend in with the surrounding skin. you dont need alot of paint, or makeup...try to make it look natural
SAFETY FIRST
see ya
sgranlund@cinelineproductions.com
www.cinelineproductions.com (http://www.cinelineproductions.com)

[sgranlund]

you can also use liquid latex, to build up over the edges of the appliance, and hide the seam, but it has to be done in layers(usally takes awile, use a hair dryer to speed up drying), and be carful of the amonia smell from the liquid latex, try not to use nears eyes, nose or mouth.

[sgranlund]

For a quick and dirty way to make a cut, or slash..
.use nose putty, morticians wax, or even scar skin from a halloween store. coat the clean skin with pros-aide, or spirit gum (let get tacky) put on putty...build up shape of cut, gently blend edges ( a little vasoline on finger tips will keep it from sticking to you), blend, blend, blend....color lightly(paint or cremes) powder (translucent, or very small amount of baby powder) coat entire cut (covering some of the skin on the edge) with liquid latex. this will look good for a close up in the right light, but only last an hour or so (depending on how much the actor moves, and the heat). apply blood in sequence, or use blood squirting knife, or use a cut-away shot, come back to blood on cut.
camera angle, lighting, editing and actor reaction sell the shot.

[Ogrus]

Damn scranlund!
thanks for sharing all of that!!!!
very very useful

[PoEun1]

I appreciate all the great advice and the lengthy step by step instructions. You have been a huge help. Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to post. I will post again soon after I try some of this stuff out and try to put up some grabs or something.

[sgranlund]

i am glad you find the info useful....i was afraid it would be too vague. if you have any questions, or need to know where to get supplies, or how to use them, just let me know
sgranlund

[sgranlund]

i noticed there wasnt a lot posted under SFX, i thought i would take up some space and try to get the ball rolling

[Angrius]

I remember having this book in school..it was a forensic reference book..I know it cost big bucks so freaks and psychos just couldn't go out and purchase a copy. Great reference tool if you can find it for this kind of stuff. Also if you ever want to see what it looks like when somebody gets shot with a rifle and ran over by a train at the same time. Not good.

[sgranlund]

Forensic Reference books are great, the key to great makeup effects is to take your time, plan out how the effect should look, and use LOTS of reference photos, and or drawings.
Start the applicaion lightly, and build up to a thicker, more opaque application.
The ONLY downside to medical and forensic books, (they are an essential tool), but often a real wound, or injury isnt impressive looking on film. The public has grown to expect a large gaping blood hit when someone gets shot (example) Often we have to over sensationalize an effect to give the people what they want and expect.
You are right about the price, most are textbooks for the forensic field, and everything school related is WAY expensive, and the price keeps the freaks at bay.
I do not reccomend buying any of these books just out of curiosity, they are severly graphic, and the images may haunt you. It is also sad to think of the REAL people involved.
sometimes I feel guilty using their plight to further my learning for the sake of art and entertainment. Always be able to separate the reality from the make-belive, and practice, practice, practice.
Granlund.....Out

[sgranlund]

PS: Angrius,
your end tagline is GREAT, I wish i would have thought of it.
__________________________________________________
"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Unless you have three eyes. Then you'll probably be alright."
- Angrius
____________________
I love it

[Angrius]

Thanks.:)