Sleight of Hand: The Magic of Fake Props in Film
A magician’s trick involves more sleight of hand than actual magic. The magician’s skill lies in the movement of their hands. The true purpose of magic should be to spark questions in the minds of the audience. Just as a magician creates illusions with their magic, films also have scenes that create illusions. One crafts the illusion on stage, while the other does so on screen. In both cases, sleight of hand and perfection are essential. In films, creators often use specific objects or props that are fake but seem real on the screen. This article will discuss 10 fake movie props that seem real. We’ll learn about the materials used in these objects that bring scenes closer to reality.
Glycerin for Fake Tears
How do actors cry in movies without looking fake? Do they use glycerin or something else? Well, the answer is that some actors draw from their personal losses to cry on cue, but most rely on glycerin. Glycerin is a hygroscopic substance that, when mixed with a bit of menthol, produces fake tears. It’s the makeup artist’s responsibility to conduct a patch test before applying glycerine to any actor to ensure it is safe for their skin.
Alcohol used in films
Do actors really drink alcohol in movies?
Some actors might drink alcohol, but most do not. To mimic the effect of real alcohol, technicians often use clear water instead of vodka or gin. For whiskey, they use unsweetened tea or a mixture of water and aerated drinks. To replicate the color of wine, people mix pomegranate juice with blueberries or cranberries. Sometimes, they use water with food coloring to simulate liquor. Cream soda with food coloring, ginger ale, or epoxy resin can mimic real beer, and non-alcoholic beer is often used as well.
Fake Drugs Used in Films
Using fake drugs in movies is challenging because filmmakers must ensure that the substitute substances do not harm the actors’ health. Since male and female actors have different biological makeups, it’s essential to ensure that they carefully consider the representation and safety of fake drugs.
When actors appear to snort drugs in scenes, they often use baby powder, powdered lactose, or vitamin D powder to create the illusion of real cocaine. For actors who don’t want to snort these fake substances, the team uses special effects instead.
When actors inject drugs with needles, they apply prosthetic makeup to the skin, and they place food coloring inside the needle, which they then inject into props or containers.
Fake Body Parts
Polyfoam and molds are used to create fake body parts. These parts are coated with colour to simulate injuries and wounds.
Bomb Explosions in Films
When large-scale explosions appear in scenes, filmmakers use a significant amount of fuel and stage flash pots to create smoke effects and air ignition. Common explosives include plastic explosives, ammonium nitrate fuel oil, cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, and trinitrotoluene. Experts control the explosions, which they film on a smaller scale under strict safety measures. Sound designers create the impactful sounds of the explosions for added effect. Some action choreographers use regular firecrackers, such as jute twine (sutli) bombs. Crews create large flour mounds, and they set off these jute bombs, aka sutli bombs, using incense sticks as timers, simulating explosions to some extent. Of course, special effects and editing also contribute significantly to the final effect.
War Horses
How do they fake war horses in films?
Filmmakers use customized mechanical horses in war films. In other words, these dummy horses resemble the original ones. Crews fit an automatic machine inside the dummy’s stomach to create the effect of a real running horse. Camera work and special effects convert the mechanical horses into real. These fake horses are used alongside real horses, especially for female artists or those who cannot ride real horses.
Heavy Rain Effects
To create continuous rain effects, filmmakers use long pipes with adjustable nozzles to control the speed and spread of the water spray. Camera work and lighting also play a crucial role. Crews use large fans to direct the water, helping create the effect of a storm on screen
Knives Used in Movies
When characters appear to stab someone in a scene, they use a knife that is not real. It’s a button knife or an automatic knife. The tip of the knife has a spring, so when actors press it against the body, it retracts. To the viewers, it looks like real blood, but crew use an automatic knife in such scenes.
Fake Blood Used in Films
Technicians usually make fake blood from red food coloring or red-cultured juice. People mix water in the right proportion to mimic the appearance of real blood. Technicians use ingredients such as corn starch, distilled water, cocoa powder, and corn syrup to create the fake blood.
Fake Hair Used in Films
Yak hair is often used to create fake hair in films. People take this hair from live yaks without causing them any harm. Artists often make fake beards, mustaches, and eyebrows from yak hair. Sometimes, people also use real human hair or synthetic hair.
Most of the time, heroes and heroines wear these wigs.
Even though these 10 fake movie props that seem real must not compromise with the safety of the actors which is the primary responsibility of the technicians. They must conduct rehearsals in a controlled environment, use safety gear, provide first aid, and constantly supervise everything during the use of fake props in filmmaking.
