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I'm planning an effect in it's very early stages, and before I start spending any money I need to know if there is a safe and legal way to make a living person look and feel like a corpse. I'm hoping some of you might be able to either advice me on some techniques or recommend any resources on the subject.

Hypnosis, I guess. Not tried it, but I'm pretty sure an experience somnambulist could be "encouraged" to adopt the outward appearance of a corpse. I leave the legal and moral ramifications to others to discuss!

Pale, almost waxy skin colour, very cold and clammy to the touch, possibly an odour of early stages of putrefaction... could be tricky.

Ask Keith Richards...

Cold and clammy hands - could be arranged using ice, perhaps. Just don't forget the participant needs to enjoy the magic as well.

The corpse wouldn't be a member of the audience, but a fellow magician. I had thought of a bed of ice, but I can't imagine he'd find it very comfortable, plus there's a risk of shivering. But perhaps just on the hand and wrist while someone checks his pulse.

I was going to mention this........

A great way of achieving a dead hand effect (what is that syndrome called where a limb has a life of it's own?) is to submurse it in water for a long period of time. Dry the hand and voila. It looks completely alien compared to the other hand and you can then strangle yourself with it or do a more sinister set.

Alec

Alec Kobain wrote:I was going to mention this........

(what is that syndrome called where a limb has a life of it's own?)

Alec

Alien Hand Syndrome?

the published method is quite good.

the icy hand , page 283 13 steps..

oh, and if you want a look, and strange feel, very fine grade latex gloves.

Alec Kobain wrote:I was going to mention this........

A great way of achieving a dead hand effect (what is that syndrome called where a limb has a life of it's own?) is to submurse it in water for a long period of time. Dry the hand and voila. It looks completely alien compared to the other hand and you can then strangle yourself with it or do a more sinister set.

Alec

When you say strangle yourself, do you mean that thing where if you lay on your hand for long enough it goes numb and you can, well, y'know.

Duplicity wrote:

Alec Kobain wrote:I was going to mention this........

A great way of achieving a dead hand effect (what is that syndrome called where a limb has a life of it's own?) is to submurse it in water for a long period of time. Dry the hand and voila. It looks completely alien compared to the other hand and you can then strangle yourself with it or do a more sinister set.

Alec

When you say strangle yourself, do you mean that thing where if you lay on your hand for long enough it goes numb and you can, well, y'know.

Now,now men

Duplicity wrote:

Alec Kobain wrote:I was going to mention this........

A great way of achieving a dead hand effect (what is that syndrome called where a limb has a life of it's own?) is to submurse it in water for a long period of time. Dry the hand and voila. It looks completely alien compared to the other hand and you can then strangle yourself with it or do a more sinister set.

Alec

When you say strangle yourself, do you mean that thing where if you lay on your hand for long enough it goes numb and you can, well, y'know.

I assure you, I don't need any guidance or advice in that area.

Mandrake wrote:Pale, almost waxy skin colour, very cold and clammy to the touch, possibly an odour of early stages of putrefaction... could be tricky.

Surely you could just buy a teenager the latest games console.

I'll have a new game console

Try looking up some effects make-up tutorials online, there's plenty of very very convincing cuts, pealing skin and other effects to help sell it.

The main seller point though will be how cold the person is, try and hide some ice water for their hand to lie in just before their brought on stage or wherever your performing.

As for smell.. since it's basically rotting skin your after, try some rotten fruit, just make sure your actor can stomach it, practice breathing in a way that filters out the smell ( very, very slowly ).


And as for legal and moral, for your actor, I see no problem.

As for the routine in general, I don't know what kind of routine you actually want to convince someone `hey this is a dead corpse` ( kinda like barry and stuart did ) but just don't freak someone out too much ( as fun as it is )

Unless your going to traumatize someone for the next 5 years with the effect you've got planned, I see no problem.