makin' innards...

[kerouac_off]

Hey, I'm looking for a way to create intestines and organs and what not a la original Dawn of the Dead. They don't need to be super realistic looking, in fact the cartoonier the better maybe. Also, this is for a performance art group, not a film, so I need something that'll keep for an hour long set, not just one shot. (i.e. no real organs) Thanks!

[Actor]

Try a butcher shop for artificial sausage casings.

Go to an auto parts store and get one of those big sponges that are used to wash cars. Cut it up so that the shape is unrecognizable, then soak it in stage blood.

Unroll a condom, fill it with stage blood, tie off the end.

A theatrical supply house may have fake innards.

[Mr DJD]

Take a trip to the butchers , son !They must have plenty of left over intestines and such.

[Mr DJD]

Oops ! i miss-read the part where you said "no real organs" ! Sorry .Ignore what i just said .

[Andy.tom]

Get some old hose pipe, paint it gray/brown, leave for a few hours in a bucket of fake blood, take out and you have some fake intestines.

[danr7]

For organs, I've seen paper towels formed into the shapes needed. You might check out "Gray's Anatomy" from your local library so the organs are correct in the basic shapes.

Then liquid latex is used to coat the "organs" for the right surface look. Add soft bubble gum and KY jelly for good zombie effect.

If you want realism (I know this isn?t your objective), draw on arteries, veins, etc. For the drawing, use a combination of water soluble and non-soluble crimson markers. The soluble lines will run a little when you apply the blood make-up, blurring the hard edges and making the effect more convincing.

Good choice about not using real organs. I worked on a shoot where they did. By the 2nd shooting day under the hot lights (in an enclosed space), my lord the stench! Nothing worse than rotting meat.

Dan Rahmel
Author: "Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking"
http://www.cvisual.com