Question on Stu's method for wire pull gag blood effects?

Stu said in the book to use zip lock bag fill it with blood and superglue a button to it and attach wire then bam. Does he mean any kind of button and what to use for blood recipe? Also could someone go a little more indepth on how to set it up and attach everything. Also, Stu's book is amazing I've read it all and I continue to look at it!

thanks for any tips

I'm trying to find the time to put together a blood tutorial to post on here. I'm shooting today, but will try to do it tonight. It's easy stuff.

Last edited by Gage on Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:08 am; edited 1 time in total

Oh man that sounds great! Can't wait when do you think it will be up. I'm working on a film this friday..

thanks Gagefx!

Since I dont know when I'll have it up and I dont want you to wait, here is what you will need to go buy.

Karo Light Corn Syrup. If you have a Smart and Final near you, get it there, or another restaurant supply. You can get more and it will be cheaper. Unless you plan on making a bunch of blood - and you may need a lot, I dont know - then you should be fine with a quart of syrup.

Red Food coloring. Again, restaurant supply and get the bigger bottle. Not alot of money and it will last you through a few projects or tests or whatever you are doing.

Hershey's Cocoa Powder. Or any other brand. But make sure it is the unsweetened, cocoa powder, not hot chocolate mix.

Blue Food coloring.

Quart or Half Gal of Whole Milk.

That's your shopping list. I'll post some instructions a little later.

Last edited by Gage on Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:08 am; edited 1 time in total

	GageFX wrote:
	Quart or Half Gal of Whole Milk.

Eww! Like, gross, Gage! Wink

Try these from a Google search. Milk goes bad at room temp pretty quick. Avoid if possible or you're going to end up with stinky blood if you don't use it right away.

-- Bruce

_________________
Bruce Findleton
Land's End Productions

Okay, now that I've given you 3 hours and it's midnight Sunday night, I'm sure you have your ingredients, so I will continue.

Take a bowl. A cereal bowl. Pour in a half cup of Karo. Please dont actually use a measuring cup. It's so not necessary.

Now, pour in a little red food color. Not alot, just some. ROUGHLY 1/4 teaspoon.

This is what will determine the "darkness" of your blood. If you followed my instructions EXACTLY, you will end up with a bright red blood. Double this amount of red for a darker blood. Light colored blood has it's uses, but it is not usually the best choice, so double that red.

This step is so not necessary so please feel free to skip it. (And it is a "very important step" that every other person telling you how to make blood on the internet will tell you that you have to do. I'm not a fan of what most people on the internet say to do. And this step is.... BLUE food color. I hope you bught the smallest bottle possible. You need almost NONE. Open the top. Dip a toothpick in. Shake the drop of color off, into the bottle, then stir the end of the toothpick in the red syrup. You want MUCH LESS than a DROP. Better yet, toss that bottle of blue into that trash heap next to your $15 "steadicam".

Now, grab a teaspoon (the silver kind, not the measuring kind) and dip it in the cocoa and drop about a 1/4 spoon of cocoa into the red syrup. The cocoa does a few things. First and most important, it adds depth. I dont know what that means. Second, it thickens. Third, it darkens. Fourth, it increases opacity. Real blood is not shiny, glossy, clearish syrup. It is runny, yet thick, and very opaque. The cocoa heads in this direction. It also makes it a pleasant cocoaey (err?) flavor that is a delight for talent and MUA alike. Oh.... one last thing. The cocoa has this fantastic side-effect that makes the fake blood dry like read blood. Both on the skin, and more importantly, on clothes, it will dry with this awesome dark ring around the stain. Yes, it sounds stupid, but it's cool.

Now, we have a pretty thick, dark blood substance thing. We need it thinner. Take your MILK. Pour a LITTLE in. A LITTLE. Milk is awesome. It gives it that real blood sorta look. Makes it more opaque and... uh.... more bloodlike and... less.... sugar syrup like. But DONT ADD TOO MUCH. If you put too much the blood will turn PINK and then you start chasing you tail playing catchup with all the other ingredients which will lead you to get the blue out of the trash and then you'll end up with purple-pink blood and you will cry. Go easy with the milk. OH...... If you are making blood with milk, make it the day OF or day before. Day OF if it will be ingested. (Milk goes bad.)

Next.... add water. However much you need. You shouldn't need much. If you are making flowing blood, you will need alot more. If you want your blood to hang around, dont add any. Add more cocoa (dont go crazy) and thicken it up if you want.

FOR YOUR BLOOD PACK.... Add some water. Not enough to create FLOWING blood, but you want a fairly SPRAYING blood. Too thick and you wont get a good spray.

Tie your monofilament to the button - 1/4" clear button - then supaglue it to the baggy. I'd use a "snack-size" baggy. Ziplock is fine, if you bought a latenight infomercial thermal bag sealer, seal the bag with that. No, your pocket-fisherman wont work. Turnb your shirt inside out, put some medical tape where the "hit" will be then cut a star shaped hole in the shirt the size of the button. CUT THE TAPE. The tape will keep the shirt from fraying. Turn shirt right side out, put it on and jab yourself in the chest with a Sharpie through the hole. That's where your bag/button will be. Lift the shirt up and tape the bag to your chest using medical tape. (Cheaper than gaffers, and kinder on skin/hair.) Tape it secure, but make sure you dont pop the ziplock open. Now, strap another piece of tape across the bag to put some pressure on the contents. You want the contents to want to LEAP out. Then, stick the monofilament through the hole and lower the shirt. Now YANK the thread. (Roll camera first, though.)

That's pretty much it. Dont forget to act like you're in pain and/or shocked.

Have fun.

Sadly.... more to follow.

Last edited by Gage on Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:09 am; edited 2 times in total

	Quote:
	Eww! Like, gross, Gage! Wink Try these from a Google search. Milk goes bad at room temp pretty quick. Avoid if possible or you're going to end up with stinky blood if you don't use it right away.

It's okay Bill. This stuff isnt for everyone.

(BTW, I have some 9 month old blood made with milk still in jugs waiting to be used. Actually used some today. Minimal mold. Ewwww.. gross... mold.... And ZERO smell. Except for the pleasant cocoaey (er?) scent. (I even licked up a slight spill off my palm. I'll post to let you know when I drop over dead.)

Use milk, just dont eat it after a day old. Subtract 2 hours for each 10 degrees location temperature over 80 degrees. If you are really worried, only ingest it within 10 minutes of making it.

Last edited by Gage on Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:09 am; edited 1 time in total

To continue... (sorry about the cel pics. 1DsII, 30D, 20D, and S70, and I'm taking pics with my phone. I'm lazy.)

Here is my little blood lab. I haven't eaten at home in over 6 years, so who needs a kitchen. I have a blood lab.
...

Who put a beer in my blood lab?

I guess I didnt mention HONEY in my other post. It's thicker than Karo and a different feel. Use what works. And it comes in a bear. How cute.

What you see here are 4 different bloods thickening. There is another plastic cup just off camera right. Thickening? Eh? When I have my consistencies nailed, I put them in airtight containers where they remain wonderful. When I need super thick stuff (and who doesnt?), I let it sit out in the open and let it thicken. Ewwww. milk.... in the open. It's fine. Remember: it's not alot of milk.

It gets REALLY Fing thick.

In the bowls, are three colors.

LIGHT:
...

STANDARD:
...

and DARK:
...

Yes, that last one is as dark as it looks (MUCHO cocoa). Actually it's probably DARKER than that photo looks, but it is AMAZING in person, when applied.

...

...

Yes, that did come from that last bowl with the dark brown looking shmootz.

A couple more photos cuz I have them....

My hand after running water over it (no staining from "you use too much food color!!!!!" whiners).

...

And a couple glass pics. (I didnt take the time to glue it down so it isnt perfect, but you get the idea. Glass is silicone.)
...

...

...

Finally, (for the next ten minutes) here is how thick the blood in those bowls are. Is. Whatever.

...

That spoon is standing on it's own. And the top is a pretty thick, unusable crust. Underneath, however, is the gold.

None of this came from internet recipes; it all came from playing with ingedients. What you see there are the ingredients I've settled on. Try other stuff. You never know what will work.

Last edited by Gage on Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:10 am; edited 1 time in total

This thread is ruling. Thanks GageFX!

-Stu

_________________
The DV Rebel's Guide

FINALLY.... (for now) is a gimmick we used today.
...
...

...

I took a vintage, 1960s era razor blade (super sharp. how fun!) and super glued 1/8" surgical tubing to the back. ("Super glue" is actually industry standard "Zap Gap" quick dried with "Zip Kicker".) The tubing is then run to a syringe of some sort. It looks like the one in the picture. (Or IS the one in the picture.)

Finally, the blood is the aforementioned 9 month old blood (with milk!!)....

...

I added a bit more cocoa (I likem the cocoa), then watered it down a bit to floooowww.

Oh.... the chunks visible in the photo are either mold, cocoa chunks, or both. I'm not sure and dont so much care to find out. And while I DO NOT SUGGEST YOU EAT 9 MONTH OLD MILK-BLOOD.... I ate some and it was tasty. Cocoaey. (er?)

Eventually the clip and scene with the gimmick will be seen. Turned out nice.

Have fun!

Last edited by Gage on Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:11 am; edited 1 time in total

IKES!!! I forgot to mention the Cabosil.

Use it to thicken blood to make blood paste and blood goop and blood slop. DO NOT EAT. Not in the same way as "dont eat 9 month old milk-blood". I mean DO NOT EAT. Like.... You'll get cancer so do not eat.

Get 1lb. That is a HUGE amount. Will last you forever.

Really peruse Burman. This is the place.

Last edited by Gage on Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:11 am; edited 1 time in total

	GageFX wrote:
	FINALLY.... (for now) is a gimmick we used today.

Nice. And don't call me Bill.

-- Bruce

_________________
Bruce Findleton
Land's End Productions

Wow thanks Gage for all the tips! I'm looking forward to putting these tips into use. Your blood looks awesome and this thread is ruling!

Ditto! Thanks for taking the time to post this info. Fascinating!
And thanks for the link to the Burman site. I mean, who knew there was actually a difference between "Blood Jellies" and "Blood Jam?" Shocked

_________________
DrewTV.com
Drew Stephens

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Last edited by Gage on Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:12 am; edited 1 time in total