Old TV programme about special effects

I found this old video on YouTube about how they use head casts and foam to make advanced prosthetics.

I've started to use more black which I think makes it look more gruesome as it looks dirtier or like dried blood.

I tried different ways of applying the tissue in the latex and I experimented in the last pair of photos with using sawdust to give more ridges and lumps. I also mixed using tissue and cotton wool for different parts of the wound(second pair of photos). I used tissue for the areas of skin as when it mixes with latex it goes wrinkly. I ripped open some of the latex and put cotton wool covered with latex inside, this made a different texture compared to the outside.

Using liquid latex to make fake wounds

After acquiring some liquid latex i started making fake, zombie like, wounds. I started small at first and worked up. I used different guides i found on YouTube for different methods of applying the latex and make-up.

I use snazaroo face paints as there pretty cheep. I applied latex to a small part of my hand and layered in some tissue. I had to wait for it to dry before i covered it in foundation so it matched my skin tone. I then built up yellows and purples to look like bruising. i put a little fake blood on to make it look like an open wound.

Zombies in the News

Leicester
A flash mob of zombies amassed in Leicester after someone made a freedom of information request asking how the council would react in the even of a zombie attack.

"The inquiry stated: "Having watched several films it is clear that preparation for such an event is poor and one that councils throughout the kingdom must prepare for."

An event was then organised through Facebook in which a procession of a zombies walked though the city centre to the council offices "There were just a couple of security guards at the building. We didn't try to get inside - just pressed ourselves up against the glass like zombies do."

Mexico City
Mexico hosts the worlds biggest zombie walk with as estimated 10,000 participants. This broke the world record previously set in America.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-15911862

Making Zonbi bottles - Wanga

I wanted to make a zonbi bottle as it thought they looked like really interesting objects. I also liked how each different part represents something. The Scissors are used by the astral Zonbi to 'stab' the enemy, the magnets draw in good people and the pins keep them there. The three colours used red, white and black also represent different gods and have different meaning; red is symbolic of sexual desire and magical power, white is symbolic of truth, clarity of vision and the land of the dead and black is symbolic of evil, social disorder and rebellion.


 It took along time to build up the cotton layer so that you could not see into the bottle. Not being able to see into the Wanga bottle is another important aspect of the item.

I used some hair to weave into the Wanga bottle as I have no access to human skull which is normally used. I think that the object still has a quality of a religious item even though I used new scissors. I usually expect religious items to be made of precious metals.

The Origins of the Zombie

Zombies originate from the Haitian religion which itself is influenced by African religions. It has deep links with the slave trade which in turn is part of the idea of a 'zonbi', slave. I found a paper written by someone who had experienced the Haitan culture and vodou directly. It was quite detailed and abit complicated. A zonbi is not allways a person that has become re-animated. Apparently this is very rare in Haiti and it causes a national sensation if it does happen. More common is to bottle a part of someone's soul and put it to use as a slave. This links back to the slave trade and African religions being intertwined with that of Haiti. The bottles have lots of meaning and significance in the way they are decorated but do contain bits of human skull. They are actually used for good luck as well as for heeling and in ceremonies. Im not sure if the practice is frowned upon by other Haitians. I did think that the bottles looked really interesting, they are usually glass rum bottles wrapped in string with pins, mirrors sissors and coloured cloth all with different significance. They also contain inside perfume and other ritual items.

 

Paper written in 1995 about Haitian Zonbi's

http://wesscholar.wesleyan.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=div2facpubs


University website, images of Vodou object including Wanga
http://www.radford.edu/rbarris/art427%20African%20Diaspora/EIU%20African%20Art%20folder/hvimages.html

2.8. Hours Later

I found out about this before I started the course and the idea is that 2.8 hours later is a live game that is played in the city. Essentially they get people to volunteer to be zombies and people to play the game and the zombies chase you around the city. The people playing have to get to safe points to survive and win the game. They also run a zombie school for the volunteers to learn how to be zombies. 2.8 hours later is a play on the film title 28 hours later which is a modern apocalyptic zombie film. I hope it comes to Manchester =D

http://2.8hourslater.com/

Research Book Making A Monster (Al Taylor and Sue Roy)

I found this book in the library although it was published in 80's it is still quite useful. Its a directory of Hollywood make-up artist working with prosthetics. Not all of them are horror related and explains some of the techniques used to create different affects. It is not a step by step guide and it is all very advanced; full faces and bodies but its still worth looking through.

Materials

Liquid Latex
I have found that liquid latex is very common as a material for making scars and wounds. Once make-up has been applied to it it looks a lot like skin. The most common method is to layer in tissue and rip the latex as it is drying. I would like to experiment with different materials been mixed in with the latex.

Mica Powder

I've been looking how to make make-up and mica powder is the basic coloured mineral that is used. There are eco friendly recipes using natural materials and some which just call for it to be mixed with moisturiser to make a foundation. I also found one video tutorial in which you mix the powder with Vaseline to make it shiny like blood in a wound. 

Jack Pierce

Jack Pierce created my favourite monster Frankenstein. I find the original image very iconic, although it has been repeated a lot and the green man with bolts is quite stale i think the original black and white image is fantastic and very theatrical. I found the original film to be very theatrical as well. The reason that the monster is green is because Pierce wanted "A grey death mask appearance to the monsters flesh"(Making a Monster, Al Taylor and Sue Roy 1980). A grey greasepaint would not film correctly under the lights so he developed a green grease paint that would photograph correctly. I have heard of this affect before when i have looked at black and white cinema, that they had to use lots of colour to be able to photograph lots of shades of grey.

Lon Chaney

I am very much inspired by Lon Chaney and his make-up case. I really like the idea of having a case full of lots of bits and bobs and being able to create many identities. Chaney is also recognised for pioneering techniques and affect, experimenting with materials. I am more so interested in how to make all these different things e.g. making a fake beard/moustache, how to make the make-up and particularly the prosthetics. Starting of small i want to experiment with liquid latex in particular and how it can be used to make wound affects. I also thought that making a make-up box with instructions for lots of different looks would be quite extensive, to start of small i want to make a zombie kit. I can look at different ways of using latex, what can i add to it to get different textures, different colours, styles and application. I can also research the history of zombies which may influence the outcome of the look.