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Hey guys it been a while since I posted. Recently me and a couple of my karate friends have decided to make a kung-fu zombie movie.We got the script almost done but we need to find out how to do all the exploding heads and limbs ripping off fx. We don't got alot of money to spend on this so I'm wondering if anyone knows about some websites or books that tell you how to do this stuff.

I suggest researching some of the stuff Peter Jackson did when he made Bad Taste.
Those guys had next to nothing for a budget but were still able to pull off very convincing special effects through great ingenuity.



Post Edited (10-10-04 01:16)

Hey in Bruce Campbell biograpy he gave a recipe on how to make fake blood I'll type it all in for ya:

So you're making a low-budget horror film,and you need gallons and gallons of fake blood? Then, this is the recipe for you!

Ingredients (coats two thespians)

6 pints clear Karo Syrup

3 pints red food coloring

1 pint non-dairy creamer

1 drop blue food coloring



Equipment:

Large ceramic bowl

Medium Sized Bowl

Spoon

Cleaning Products


1. The Karo Syrup is your foundation, the base of you blood. Pour syrup into large ceramic bowl

2. In the medium bowl,stir the non-dairy creamer until it turns into a nice paste.This will provide opacity.

3. Gradually fold the non-dairy paste into the syrup.

4. Stir in red food coloring. Add drop of blue food coloring for density.

5.Test  on white surface.

6. Coat in aspiring actor from top down.

7. To remove, place actor into hot shower, fully clothed, and let sit for 30 minutes or until clean.


Caution: Do not attempt to scare members of your family who have heart conditions--this blood looks real!


I don't think you could have asked for a better horror actor to get a receipe for blood from.

Note: All text is from "If Chins Could Kill. Confessions of a B Movies Actor" Copyright 2002 by Bruce Campbell.(Please don't sue me)

Also read Lloyd Kaufman's two books, "All I Learned About Filmmaking I Learning From the Toxic Avenger," and "Make Your Own Damn Movie."


If you want to crush somebody's head, simply put a wig on a cantalope, fill it with meat and simply crush it!

Also read Lloyd Kaufman's two books, "All I Learned About Filmmaking I Learning From the Toxic Avenger," and "Make Your Own Damn Movie."


If you want to crush somebody's head, simply put a wig on a cantalope, fill it with meat and simply crush it!

Great topic!
We did the Karo blood thing for a slasher/horror thing called GEEKS!, which got a review in Psychotronic Review & then promptly disappeared.  I need to tell you, that stuff tastes terrible, if you need to do a blood-spitting scene.  Good lawd, try to flavor it with something, especially if you need a lot of takes.
Hamburger, the Karo blood, & dead leaves stuffed into panty-hose & then put into de-stitched or stitch-weakened shirts or trousers can serve for severed limbs.  Be sure to cut the stitching before shooting, though, if you plan to have the limbs ripped from a body on-camera,  as clothing is stronger than hamburger.
Old dept. store mannequins, which aren't all that hard to find, are a great thing to have around.  Very useful for crowd-massacre scenes, etc.
This is key:
WHATEVER YOU PLAN TO DO, SHOOT TEST-FOOTAGE FIRST!!  This will save you soooo much heartache later.  See footage of whatever you plan to do BEFORE you shoot it for real for the film.
peter johnson/denny crane

I used to have a book called "Bizarro!"  The entire book consisted of Tom Savini explaining make-up and gore effects techniques.  It had a lot of photographs and illustrations.  I sold it to a used book store about 3 or 4 years ago.  I wish I had it back!  You can probably pick up a copy for a few bucks on Ebay.