We have all seen some movies with some sick effects. Sick, gross, whatever you call it, it’s impressive. But did you know that many of these effects you everyday house hold items? It’s true take a look at your effects artist’s kit. You’ll find all kinds of thing depending on what they come prepared for. One that always gets me a look is KY Jelly. Yep, good ol’ lube, and it’s number one on my list of 12 gross makeup effects!
LUBE - Thats right KY jelly is pretty much a staple in any effects makeup artists kit. Its pretty versatile and can be used for many effects. My favorite is on a fresh wound, it gives a great oozy look! Almost any monster you see covered in that nasty gooey gunk is covered in this water-soluble substance. Most infamously demonstrated on the movie ALIEN, which was used to create the thick saliva look that became a signature. Add a little food coloring and you’ve got a whole other effect! Dabble it on the forehead and you’ve got sweat! You can also see this done in other classic movies like THE THING, JURASSIC PARK, and PREDATOR.
CORN SYRUP - Most movie blood is actually a mixture of corn syrup food coloring, a thickening agent, and some preservatives. This recipe was made by the godfather of makeup effects Dick Smith - seriously this guy is a freaking legend his work can be fawned over in THE GODFATHER and THE EXORCIST. With all that corn syrup fake blood can get sticky. Also, ants love that shit, so keep it closed up tight.
Borax, Glue and water - This neat little mix is great for creating a snotty effect, you may need a little or a lot this is another super stick substance, probably not a whole lot of fun to spend long days in, but does give off such a wonderful effect on screen. This beautiful concoction can be seen on THE HOBBIT, however actor Martin Freeman does mention that it’s like spending the day in hair gel, cold, sticky and uncomfortable. The things we do for our love of film.
From Oatmeal to soup - These ingredients are classic for creating a vomit effect. Whether you want a projectile eruption of just a small prop, special effects artist often rely on this tried and true method for creating a vomit effect. Its also common to see minestrone or pea soup used if your really wanna blow chunks!
Rosewater and Glycerin in a spray bottle - Sex sweat. YUP! You heard that right, though I am sure with several takes, the actors tend to work up some sort of sweat by grinding on each other, makeup artist try to make this as comfortable as possible. Knowing that sex scenes can be awkward and embarrassing, a little spritz of this mix in-between takes, and voila - hot and sweaty.
Flour, Baking Soda, or Cornstarch - It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell you not to bring drugs on set, but now I feel I should. DON’T BRING DRUGS TO SET, yes I am yelling you crazy kids. There household items are used to recreate cocain, blow, nose candy whatever you call it. When you see actors actually snorting it we use powdered lactose because its harmless. PSA: Do not snort baking soda or cornstarch. You can see this effect in the film HORRIBLE BOSSES. Heroin is a little harder to make and requires a few more ingredients you can add sugar and baking soda to thicken like heroin if you need a scene where they are “cooking” the drug, it’s also common to see gelatin and bullion be used. Milk and vitamin powder works when you need to see a powdered form of the drug. Last but not least oregano - do I even have to say what this is for? Marijuana.. duh. Prop masters can also purchase pit with THC removed, it will look and smoke like the real thing but no one gets high.
Parsley - Movie cigarette are often filled with parsley. While some actors will smoke their own cigarets, others might want to stay away from nicotine. In this case you make a fake cigarette or purchase “herbal” cigarettes which are often found with parsley, rose petals and clover flowers.
Everyday liquids - I highly doubt any director wants to work with a drunk who can’t remember his lines. A substitute is nearly always used like for alcohol like vodka or gin water can be used. Whiskey can be replicated with a weak tea. Beer is all in the texture, carbonated iced tea or non-alcoholic beer with some dish soap at the bottom to help create a foamy top!
Methyl Cellulose - Seman. Not every film is blowing loads for this shot pun intended. Those who do need it commonly use methyl cellulose for the look and use of sperm. This is pretty mainstream and used quiet often in porn industries to fake seman in the women’s nether region. For filmmakers who need realistic jizz that wont cause and yeast infections or health problems, methyl cellulose is your pick here. There are some other great uses like the slime in GHOST BUSTERS It can also be seen for other gooey effects as well like lava in a volcano like STAR WARS, to molten metal in THE TERMINATOR with a little backlighting with some colored gels the a.
Grape Jelly and cream cheese - Schmear this solution on a doll, or “baby” for that disgusting after birth right out of the womb effect. In KNOCKED UP they put this mixture on like a bagel.
Sugar, water, and soap flakes mixed with famine - This combo will make even Florida look like its snowing though you will probably need about 6,000 gallons of each it works for a great snow effect. Clean up is not fun, forewarning.
Tea - I did mention the use of this one earlier but another great use for tea is to place a dry bag on the under arm of a shirt and spray with some water to great a sweaty armpit stain. Also using baby oil to great those stains for the “slob look.”
I hope that I have given you with a little insight on how some of these iconic effects are created on some amazing films. Are you curious about other effects? Tell me what effect and from which movie or television and I’ll do my best to find out!