On set effects for "Killer Hoo Ha."

This past week we worked on the set of "Killer Hoo Ha," a low budget horror film that Fangoria is involved with. The shoot took place at The Carriage House at Glen Cove Mansion, on Long Island. This is the same place that "Ghost Hunters" went to one season and investigated because it's allegedly haunted. The place was extremely creepy and we all had to sleep there. Supposedly, people would see billiard balls moving across the pool table in the rec room--the same rec room down the hall from my room. Shudder.

Anyway, Fangoria had a crew on set shooting a documentary that focused on "how to make low budget horror films." Basically, we were trying to shoot a feature length genre flick in 7 days. Do not attempt to do this if you wish to keep your sanity. In addition, do not drink to excess each night of the shoot with the rest of the cast and crew.

The pictures featured here were makeups done very quickly on set and were inexpensive to create. Later, I'll post some pics of the more involved makeups that were done.
Here, you'll see some pics of a slashed throat that were done with derma wax, or mortician's wax. Now the key is to lay down a layer of spirit gum first so that the wax will adhere to it and remain in place. Then you sculpt the piece on the actor, seal it with rigid collodion, paint it and seal it with a neutral set powder. Not baby powder, because it will make it lighter. Then you add fake blood. Looks good, is fast to do and very cheap.

Next, we have some pics of body wounds done on two actresses. Basically the bruises were created with yellows and purples. Best to use a stipple sponge. Create mottling effects with the colors and blend them in lightly with a finger or sponge. I also added some cigarette burns. These were made by applying a layer of latex, then tissue paper and the latex again. I tear the top layers, creating a nice little hole. Then I color them in with reds and blacks, add some coffee grounds for texture too.

Lastly, here's a picture of a scar done on film star/pro wrestler Brimstone, who is basically the film's leatherface, except for the mask made of human flesh and the fact that he scowls a lot. The scar was made with rigid collodion, straight out of the bottle. Easy! Note: never tell a pro wrestler that you know for a matter of fact that wrestling is fake...

Cheapo Gore Effects for Killer Hoo Ha.

Well, everybody else in the frakin' universe is blogging, so here I go. (This brings visions of lemmings plunging off of cliffs into the surging waters below, but nevermind that for now.)

I'm calling this blog "Cheap Thrills," not because I have a little black book filled with the contact info of affordable escorts (if anyone has that info, please email me later...), but because most of the postings will revolve around creating low budget genre films and stuff.

Anyway, here are some pieces I am creating for a low budget horror film that Gerr Winters is doing called "Killer Hoo Ha." I think Fangoria is somehow involved. The whole goal is to spend as little money as possible to create the effects. Fangoria is doing a documentary on the project, sort of a: "here's how to do ultra low budget horror filmmaking." 

Well, they came to the right guy. I never have any money! The pictures show a "flayed" face appliance I created. I sculpted it on a face cast I had of an actress, cast that in some plaster I found. Then I slush casted it from some liquid latex I had laying around. Paint it, trim it, cut out the eyes so the actress can stare out from it with big ol' dead eyes, slap some gore on it and I think it will be a great shock effect. No I swear I did not study pictures of skinless Julia from Hellraiser II for the design. I promise! ;)

The next few pics are of a hanging eyeball appliance I'm working on. I sculpted a "blind eye" appliance on my on life mask, did the slush casting method for that. Then I took a plastic ball from one of those deodorant roll on sticks and painted it. Chris the artist painted the cornea on it. I rolled up old liquid latex for the optic nerves and attached to the "eye." We'll paint, I'll coat it in shiny stuff like epoxy, gore it up, and it will make a great "shock" cut onscreen. 

I'll update with more pics later. 

Do you think the machine gods store all this blog stuff somewhere up in machine heaven? I better use spellcheck!