Fun in the Country~Movie Making: Props, Costumes, and a Recipe for Fake Blood (Not for the faint of heart!)

 These deadly looking fellows may someday have to protect your country..or maybe they will just produce the next generation of great action movies.  :o)  Jacob and Christian's friends spent several days out on our property working on a movie for Cody's movie making class. They had a great time and my boys even enlisted their 19 yr.old sister and their dad as 'extras'.  Too bad I didn't get photos of their friend Tim. He was there the first for the first filming but not the second one. I didn't get the camera out the first time.  You have to admit that it's a great way for teens to have fun in the country!

Really, these guys are quite harmless.  They spent a good week or two growing their five o'clock shadows for film-making purposes. The growth did make them look rather dangerous, but it was all strictly for effect. I was so glad when the whole process was finally over! I was beginning to get just a 'wee bit' afraid of my 18 yr.old!

I certainly wasn't afraid of Sean and Christian. They had a pretty hard time maintaining their characters in the bright lights of the camera. Tee-hee! Christian is the baby of our family, but don't tell him I told you so. He just turned 16 yesterday. Happy 16th Christian!!

You have seen these guys before..but clean shaven and dressed in suits. Believe it or not, they do most of their 'combat' with well placed arguments on the debate floor.   

One of the fringe benefits of living out in the country, is that your children's movie-making friends will covet your woods, barn, pasture, guns, cammo suits, flight suits, dirt roads and old blue pickup.  That means a fun overnight stay with all your buddies!  Could anyone ask for a better setting for a teenage produced 'action movie'?

But be forewarned that the mother of the house...(meaning me, of course), may be enlisted for some work in the kitchen. Cody, an expert in the art of fake blood production, requisitioned my cornstarch, cocoa powder, and lots of red food dye.

 Add cornstarch.

 

He got the perfect color but wasn't happy with the texture. I was glad to lend my cooking experience to the problem of how to get thicker 'blood'. 

 Then cocoa powder and red dye.

Stir in the water to make a smooth paste.

He had a great set of recipes to choose from, but it didn't take me long to realize  that what we were really  making was red-tinted cornstarch gravy.  

 Stir constantly while heating until thick and bubbly. Then cool.

What we needed was heat.  It cracked me up listening to Cody express his delight as the red slimy mixture thickened, while stirring over medium heat, to the perfect texture of blood. ( "Oh...SweeeeEET!!" )

I'm afraid the  pink Gerber daisy in the background could spoil the effect here. Oops...

I have to say that once he had finished applying his 'war paint', he had a face only a mother could love. (And I'm NOT his mother!)  But you have to admit that he looked pretty authentic for movie-making purposes.  I do believe he cleaned up before he and his buddies headed home.  After all, he does want to come back again next time.  :o)   

Looking forward to Cody's first action movie! Vive La Revolucion!

Here's the recipe we used...

Realistic Recipe

• 2/3 c. Corn Syrup
• 1/3 c. Warm Water
• 5 Tbsp Corn Starch
• 4 tsp red food coloring
• 1 Tbsp Powdered Cocoa
• 2 drops of green or yellow food coloring

Mix the corn starch with the water in a large mixing bowl using a whisk. Stir in the corn syrup. Add the food coloring slowly, checking for color.  

I added this step:  Heat the mixture over medium heat stirring constantly until thick.  Here is the link to other variations.  If your kids are in drama or acting, I hope this recipe will help you out. 

Do your kids like to dress up or act?

Happy Homemaking!