Let's Talk About Your Practical Effects!!!!!! Tips and Tricks!

Doc Bernard

Doc Bernard

Indie Arms Member
Wanted to start a thread that would help all of us out. Ways to achieve that "Hollywood" look, without the "Hollywood" budget.

I'll start:

The Blood Condom: An easy way to create a blood hit, as a result of a gunshot or stabbing or other penetrating injury your actor "suffers".

Get a condom (non-lubricated) (Man.......all kind of jokes can be made here.:grin:) Fill it with your favorite stage blood (Mine is "Bottle of Blood"). Tie it off.

Get some fishing line (10 lb. test--clear) and securely tie a small washer on to the line.

Super glue the washer onto the Blood condom, and let it dry.

Tape the condom onto your actor under his shirt. The shirt will need a small hole in it to align with the washer and allow the washer to pass through.

When you are ready, pay out enough line to put you off screen, roll film...... and yank the washer off the blood condom, tearing it open. If you filled the condom enough, you will get a decent gush of blood. For a slow seep, don't fill it as much and place the washer lower on the condom so it will tear but not squirt out.

This effect can be adapted easily for when another actor pulls the knife out of the first actor. Just attach the string to the prop knife directly.


Okay......who's next?
 
Last edited:
How would you pull off stabbing someone in the chest with a knife, and the knife stays in the chest with blood slowly oozing out?
 
Same procedure as above, but, once the knife is set (you will need a fixed knife mounted to the actor), have a person below the actor and off frame, pull the string. Think of this as a multiple angle shot:

1. Establish the knife in the stabber's hand and that actor's intent
2. Show the action of the stab, with a spring knife ("blade" retracts into handle)
3. Show the knife in the person's chest (mounted) (CU shot) and activate the EFX.

Granted, this is over simplified, but it helps to show the procedure/guideline.

Things to consider:
Multiple wardrobe changes, the blood is a pain to wash out. If you use "Bottle of Blood", you can use white shirts, as the color and consistency of the fake blood is nearly perfect. Not that bright weird red color many have. (and it dries the right reddish brown color, too):
DocDead.jpg


Have multiple "blood condoms" ready
Rehearse the shot with water instead of blood, until you get the shot and the effect you are wanting.

If the blood condom is still too much too fast.......think about a blood tube. It's a IV style tube blocked at one end, and perforated at that same end for a good spread of blood seepage. And you will need an 80 cc syringe.
 
Last edited:
indymogul's BFX has some pretty good tips on how to achieve great effects (on a low budget) as well as making props

Just thought maybe someone could be interested
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top