Post by nigel on May 6, 2005 9:27:03 GMT -5
Blood Packs
You ever wanna shoot someone...on film?
If you've looked into buying squibs for your low-budget film, you've probably figured out you don't just go to the local convenience store and buy a 12-pack of movie blood packs. We've found that they're a little pricey and they require a certified special effects professional to purchase them, and rightfully so. They are dangerous and require professional attention.
But years ago, we found a way around the expenses and rules. We created our own blood packs that were a fraction of the cost of real ones.
DISCLAIMER:
SAFETY FIRST!!! When we first experimented with these, we made a lot painful mistakes (Viet still has a scar on his chest). Luckily, we were young enough to recover. Please don't be jackasses like us. Be responsible and keep in mind that this is just a crazy, stupid way to make blood packs. If you do decide to try it this way, don't say we didn't warn you.
Materials:
Fake Blood
Condom
Cardboard
Duct tape
Black cat (firecracker)
OPTIONAL:
• Bottle rocket igniter, battery
Getting the materials:
Fake blood is everywhere. You can experiment on your own (no, ketchup doesn't look good), buy it at special effect shops, or try Foreign Image's specially made fake blood (this is probably your best option).
Condoms. They can be EXPENSIVE at the store, but as desperate, poor filmmakers, we again found a way around the costs. Just do this. Walk into the Planned Parenthood center of your town and confidently ask for 100 condoms. They literally cost pennies if you buy them there. After paying about 10 bucks for the 100 condoms, wink to the receptionist and say, "Thanks. I'll be back tomorrow for more."
Cardboard. Go to any store and ask for their old boxes. Our local Blockbuster knows us by name now.
Steps:
1. After making several hundred stupid condom jokes, wash off all the lubricant. If you keep it oily, it can keep the black cat from igniting.
2. Fill the condom about 1/4 full. One note, too much blood is always better than too little.
3. Tie knots on both sides of the condom. This will allow the blood to be compressed for a better explosion.
4. Tie the condom around at least THREE LAYERS of cardboard. For obvious reasons, more cardboard is better than less. We've found that three layers is plenty.
5. Duct tape down the condom to the cardboard. Since the lubricant is off the condom, the duct tape should stick pretty well.
6. Insert the black cat between the bloodfilled condom and the cardboard.
The shot:
We usually tape the blood pack onto the actor's body, light the black cat, and run out of the shot. In the several dozen times we've used this method over the last 7 years, we've never had the lighter in the shot by the time the black cat went off.
We've also connected the black cat to a bottle rocket igniter. Through wiring from the igniter to a battery, the black cat will explode with an electric charge. We personally think it's time consuming, not very reliable, and a bit expensive (three igniters cost a few dollars).
Notes:
Aside from our initial experimenting, we're proud to say no one has ever been hurt with our homemade blood packs in the last 7 years.
Be sure to have earplugs for the actors.
There may be a little smoke from the fuse of the firecracker, but it's never really effected our shots.
Pros:
You have pretty good looking blood hits for very cheap.
Cons:
You can't control exactly when the blood pack will explode.
