During the
making of the video trailers for Bad Blood and Mall Maze, I got
to make fake blood again.
Something I always loved to do during many Halloweens past.
Great fun.
Something I always loved to do during many Halloweens past.
Great fun.
Through trial and error … a lot of trial and error … I eventually settled on clear liquid hand soap and food dye.
It’s easier and faster.
The soap already has a thick consistency, with an effect that mimics the slow flow, ooze and drip of real blood.
Apply the green dye one drop at a time as you continue to mix.
If you add too much green, the solution turns brown and you have to dump it out and start over.
It’s that simple.
If you’re going to use my method – remember that it's soap.
Be cautious how you use it.
One advantage is that soap and food dye doesn’t permanently stain clothes.
I patch-tested a white washcloth and it cleaned no problem.
The disadvantage is that it’s SOAP.
Patch-test to make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin.
Get any in your eyes – it’ll sting.
Swallow any – it’ll make you sick.
Be mindful and careful.
One advantage is that soap and food dye doesn’t permanently stain clothes.
I patch-tested a white washcloth and it cleaned no problem.
The disadvantage is that it’s SOAP.
Patch-test to make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin.
Get any in your eyes – it’ll sting.
Swallow any – it’ll make you sick.
Be mindful and careful.
Remember the pros and cons.
Pros ... it's soap.
Cons ... it's SOAP!
For the Bad Blood trailer, in
reference to one of the key chapters in that novel, I repurposed the machete
from my collection of gardening tools and two precision craft knives from my
art tools I use for miniature
model making.
In the future, I will be making videos using miniature models.
To make the fake blood flow down
the blade, I used an applicator bottle with the narrow funnel.
In the future, I will be making videos using miniature models.
You can control the flow better,
with less mess and waste.
I draped one of my plain black T-shirts over the front of the sink.
The black fabric absorbs light and prevents reflection when filming metal surfaces.
My wife
exclaimed: “What the …?!” when she walked into the bathroom and saw I’d used
the fake blood to make a bloody handprint and put some nice smears around the
inside of the tub.
Another advantage of using soap …
it rinses away no problem.
I'll be using the same blanketing method when filming and photographing a glass tank, for mixing inks and paints in water.
Below are the trailers for Bad Blood and Mall Maze:
Finally, here’s my assistant,
Bodhi, our crazy Ragdoll cat:
