Independent Research 1 & 2

Practical Research

Today I am doing independent research to improve our open sequence. 

Fake blood 

The second piece of research I'm going to do is research into how to make fake blood. I'm doing this because we will need it for our opening sequence. 

I choose this video because it has a variety of colour and texture tutorials. 

For thin, transparent blood.

Ingredients:

Karo syrup

Red, blue, yellow, green food colouring 

(Tip) A bowl and wash cloth is useful to wash colouring off your hands etc.

- Mix ingredients 

(Tip) Test the colour on a white surface, like a paper towel.

(Tip) If the blood beads up on the skin, add washing up liquid 

For a thicker consistency you can add cocoa powder or corn starch. 

Makeup Research 

Because we have our main character hitting a person in the club with a hammer. I was thinking incase we want to show this we could try some makeup. I chose this video because it doesn't use too many products and it is simple and achievable. 

First the girl uses a nude eye pencil to outline where she wants the split in her head in be. Then she apply's some facial glue over the pencil, where she wants the nude scar wax to be placed. She then apply's the scar wax by rolling in into a sausage like shape and moulding it to her face. (TIP, use oil or vaseline on your fingers before working with wax)

She then makes a cut down the centre of the wax and applies liquid latex on top to make the wax more sturdy. 

She then adds black into the centre of the cut. 

Then we add fake blood to the edges and inside of the wound, adding blush as well to the very outer edges gives a bruising effect. Finally adding flicks of fake blood over the face to finish the look. 

How to Shoot a Film in Neon Lighting 

Firstly, If you are going for a club look (like we are) It's good to either use contrasting colours like pink and blue or use one colour with another light to add depth and to highlights features. 

You can use Quasar science LED strips, or Tungsten lamps with gels

Steps to get a shot like this:

1. flood the room with the dominant neon colour. In this case blue. (if you aim the light at the ceiling this avoids shadows.)
2. adding another light of the other side of the subject which helps with separation 
   
   
   
3. you can also add movement through lighting. For example a club would probably have a laser disco ball or a regular disco ball

This research was relevant to our opening sequence as our location is a club and we intend on using neon lights. Understanding a little bit more about how light works and special tips on how to use neon lights will be very useful for our project.