Special Effects Stores & Vendors
 

Anyone have any recommendations on where to buy fake, breakaway glass, body paint, latex supplies, etc? A good reliable place similar to our sponsers who provide special effects supplies.

My girlfriend has a special photo shoot coming up early next year where we will need to use lots of body paint... And no, it's not that kind of shoot, it's a fashion photography one!

I can always do a Google search, which I did, but you can always do a Google search for DV equipment too - and you could stumble across Broadway Photo and other scams. So, any recommendations on a reliable dealer are welcome!

These guys are awesome: http://www.graveyardgoodies.com/
Just call them up, tell them what you want, and they'll hook you up with great prices. Very friendly people, and always willing to help out. And if they don't have what you want, they'll tell you where to get it.

If you're planning on using a lot of body paint, I'd highly recommend getting an airbrush setup with the type of paint that won't rub off. The setup cost is more expensive, but I think you'd save a ton on supplies in the end, and it is also a lot less messy and much less of a hassle during shooting than regular makeup. The guy at Graveyard Goodies can tell you more about that setup.

As far as breakaway glass goes, I found that it wasn't practical to order it online for a few reasons:

1) You have to buy it by the case
2) It is expensive (around $15 a bottle)
3) They won't replace bottles broken during shipping.

I just ended up making my own. You can find the recipes online, but my tips are not to use salt (as some recipes call for), cook it very, very slowly and at a low heat to avoid browning, and after it cools put it in a plastic bag with some silica gel dessicant packs so it won't get sticky.

Good luck!
Ryan

Hey Ryan, thanks for the great info! Sounds like you've ordered your share of special effects supplies in the past, what shoots did you use them for? I didn't know you could make your own glass.

I'll be sure to show my girlfriend and her boss that website, thanks again. For my own purposes, have you ever used their fake blood or did you make your own?

A Google search also revealed this website: FXSupply. Have you heard anything about this company?

Any theatrical supplier should carry most of these things. ESTA is a professional organization for suppliers and their website lists a couple places in Hawaii http://www.esta.org/members/estamembersstate.html#HI.

Here we buy a lot of stuff from The Production Advantage, BMI Supply and Rose Brand.

I've used special fx stuff for a bunch of shoots, most recently my feature length film "Livelihood". We had a bunch of zombies as lead characters, and needed professional makeup to be able to replicate things from week to week.

I always make my own fake blood, with the exception of the gel blood (not the gelatin kind you heat up, but the kind that is just really thick). I use Karo corn syrup, red food coloring (and a touch of green and blue), and a little coffee and a little non-dairy creamer. Makes great blood.

Haven't heard anything about that FXsupply company. Another decent place is http://stageandtheatermakeup.com/ , although I still recommend Graveyard Goodies because you'll actually get to talk to a knowledgeable person, and you won't end up buying stuff you don't need.

Ryan

Thanks for the links, Boyd, Ryan, I appreciate it! After we shop around I'll let you guys know who we went with. These links are very good resources to have otherwise.

Ryan, did you post info on your film in the DV For Masses section? I think a lot of members would enjoy that.