Creating The Silicone Wound : Technical File

We created the sculpture of the wound with plasticine using tools. We had to ensure it was relatively flat and very smooth to create a realistic silicone piece.

The Sculpture

Preparing the sculpture;

The first step was to cut the cup to make a guard for the silicone.

I then had used fixing spray on the sculpture and petrolese, spraying it about 20cm away from the sculpture.

Then I put the cut cup over the sculpture and used a glue gun to seal it in place to ensure that no silicone will leak out.

Mixing the silicones;
I obtained a clean cup and covered the scales and working surface with cling film. I then had to ensure I had clean gloves and mixing sticks as it is important not to contaminate the silicones.
Because my sculpture is small, I used 30g of each silicone and ensured that I slowly added the silicones to the cup using the designated mixing sticks.
I then mixed the silicones with a clean stick, tapping out the air bubbles.
I then poured the silicones over the sculpture, ensuring it was fully covered by going back and forth over the sculpture.
For the mould to fully dry, I waited 1 hour.

Casting from the silicone mould;
Firstly, I cleaned the mould with alcohol (isopropyl) using cotton pads and cotton buds.
I then had to make a mixture of Baldiez and isopropyl, with the ratio 1:2. I then mixed it well, tapping out the air bubbles.
I sprayed the mould with petrolese and poured the mixture on to the mould. I then used a brush to distribute it over the wound, not filling the wound completely. The mixture will dry matte.
I then mixed 8g of silicone A and 8g of silicone B, using the same process as before. I then added 60% of 16g of deadener to give the silicone piece a flesh-like texture.
I then chose the appropriate pigments and added two drops of the flesh-toned one and one drop of a white pigment.
After the pigment was well mixed in, I poured a little bit of the mixture at a time and evening it out with a metal scraper tool.
Again, it takes 1 hour to dry.

Wound Research

The wound that I drew was a knife wound. I have decided to create my storyline around a knife attack that my character was involved in. My character sustained a stabbing on the back of her right shoulder.
I wanted to make the wound a couple of weeks old, stitched up. I think I want to make the wound pictured when it is slightly yellow in colour, not infected but not covered in blood. I am going to use black thread as the stitches.

I want my character to look like she is getting a check up of some sort. I assume her hair will be a bit dishevelled but there is not much that needs to be done in terms of make-up.

The mid-length shot will consist of her back turned to the camera to get full detail of the injury.

Inspiration through imagery:

The anatomy of the back of the shoulder is very muscular. I think that if I was doing the wound open, I would have to consider replicating the texture of the muscular flesh but because the wound is stitched up, I feel that I don't have to worry about the anatomy that much.

References:

• https://www.pinterest.com/pin/309129961899632069/
• http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-suture-kits.htm
• http://firstcoastspine.com/2015/06/14/why-is-my-shoulder-hurting-what-you-doctor-may-have-overlooked/

Introduction

This project consists of two sections in which we will use special effects techniques to come up with an outcome that will showcase our skills.

Brave
We will start by making a wound, learning a technique widely used in the film industry allowing precision and continuity. Working in teams of two we will be given a specific wound to research, design and create.

New
We are asked to design a creature character to represent the theme of Brave New World. The basis of our investigation into the theme of Brave New World should range from concept design references, history of prosthetics in TV and film, anthropological and anatomical references. Based on the world of nature we are asked to design and create a human hybrid using silicone appliances.

I am glad that we get to create a creature of our choice and that there is plenty of room to be very creative. I really think I will enjoy this theme because it is a chance to really experiment with a lot of techniques. 

I haven't taken any special effects classes before but I am very looking forward to expanding my knowledge and taking a step in to behind the scenes of films.

I am expecting to learn new skills throughout my time in these classes and I hope to put in hard work to create work that is up to standards.

My fears when starting this course is not being technically capable as I have not done anything like this before.