cassandra sechler's video: DIY Horror Props: Skull Prop Altering Demo with Cassandra Sechler

This video tutorial was created by Cassandra Sechler of Dreams For Dead Cats Productions LLC for Women in Horror Month (2018) in collaboration with the Ax Wound Film Festival to demonstrate one inexpensive and resourceful way of altering skeleton props, specifically the skull. Need a simple how-to on making a cheap plastic skull look gross & give a bit of production value? This simple DIY guide will help introduce you to one inexpensive and resourceful method of making a cheap plastic skull look realistic with decay using simple materials that are inexpensive and easy to use. Things you will need: fake plastic skull with removable jaw disposable table cover (cheap party table cloths from the Dollar store are great!) screwdriver set a strong glue (a basic epoxy or gorilla glue recommended) latex gloves (optional for clean freaks) cotton balls 1 ply toilet paper plastic wrap (optional) hair dryer (optional for fast drying) liquid latex, a cheap brush (basting or foam brushes from the dollar store will do) cups/bowls for latex & water paper towels various paint for desired effect, colors will vary based on desired outcome (burnt umber, burnt sienna, black, red, & yellow recommended) medium sized paint brushes, art medium, palette (a plate will work) a sealant or fixative (optional for preservation of prop) fun background music (optional but highly recommended) Step 1: Place the Skeleton Jaw You’ll want to start with removing the jaw so you can reposition it in a unique, grotesque way. perhaps you’ve decided that your prop died screaming and in a fire or torn apart by a monster. Think about this a bit for it will influence your decisions on paint colors and applied textures. After you’ve decided on a position, secure the jaw to the skull by propping them up safely & applying glue to the joints. Allow to dry before moving forward. Step 2: Add Latex and Texture! Lay down some protective material on whatever surface you are using. I am using a cheap plastic party cloth. Then, break out the latex, cotton, and toilet paper. I recommend prepping your cotton and toilet paper pieces ahead of time to save you time and trouble while working on your prop. Tip: To prep the cotton balls, simply stick your finger through the center and pull the protruding end out. Keep pulling gently until it unravels completely. This will give you a nice long piece to work with that is more manageable than a ball of cotton. Begin by applying latex to the skull. I recommend working in sections, starting with the top. Focus on the areas where the plastic is joined together with harsh edges. You’ll want to conceal those areas. Use the cotton pieces and/or toilet paper to add texture as desired. Think about where muscle tissue would be. You can sculpt areas using the latex and toilet paper/cotton to define areas that you want to build up and give a specific shape to. Gently apply the cotton and pull it in desired directions for gnarly effects. Secure placement with more latex. Switch between using the toilet paper and cotton based on the desired outcome—do you want a cleaner skull? Has this skull been sitting around a cave for a while and super decayed? Was a lot of flesh left on it to rot? These are important questions. Make sure to let the skull dry between applications. A blow dryer will help speed up the drying process between layers. I found that about three rounds of latexing & texturizing was sufficient for creating my skull prop. Step 3: Paint the Skull! Paint the skull to really bring it to life! Acrylic paints will do just fine. Colors I recommend are burnt sienna, burnt umber, black, brilliant red, magenta, and bronze yellow. Set up your paints and water cup and get started. With my skull I decided that it’s been sitting around decaying after being gnawed on by an otherworldly beast. So my color Choices are various browns and black mostly. Reds and yellows won’t necessarily be appropriate. It all depends on the desired effect. Start with a brown wash. Liberally apply paint with a brush, adding water and paint as needed. Use paper towels to dab away and rub paint around the skull. You’ll see how the latex and cotton areas absorb the paint differently. Tip: You don’t always need to start with clean water—when doing the brown and black washes, I found that dirty water and things getting a little “muddy” worked out well. Experiment, try any colors you want…add blue and see if you like it. Add glitter if you want! This is your prop. Get as wild as you want with it. You may want to consider using a fixative or sealant to keep your prop in good condition—this is optional. Visit www.dreamsfordeadcats.com for more info and links to other tutorials Cassandra Sechler Writer, Director, SPFX Makeup Dreams For Dead Cats Productions LLC www.dreamsfordeadcats.com