This may not be the tech you expected from me, but it is still tech, regardless.

Today’s installment goes with live stage tech, or theatre tech. I am going into a way to make realistic fake blood. This recipe is from Bruce Campbell’s book, If Chins Could Kill. The recipe was used from the Evil Dead films as well.

• INGREDIENTS
  • 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

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

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

Gradually fold the non-dairy paste into the syrup.

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

Test on white surface.

Coat aspiring actor from the top down.

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

Now, that recipe there will make some real looking blood, and give a nice texture. However, if you wanted to, take some small pieces of sponge and cut it up in the mixture. When applied to the person, the sponge will look like some marks for the skin, like when you get a bad cut, from like a whip, or a bad knife cut. You may want to experiment with some black around the “affected area”. This works better on stage, as the people are not right on top of the actor with the blood, instead of having a closeup shot with a camera. This effect was used during a production of “Jesus Christ, Superstar” that the local theatre did a few years back.

Keep it digital… or not.

Tags: stage, theatre tech, theater tech, fake blood, bruce campbell