Bursting pustules

D Fisher

I’ve been trying to come up with a method for an on camera pustule burst.  Ideally something that could be incorporated into a blood gag type prosthetic.  I’ve gotten close, with silicone but my method requires a new prosthetic for each take.  I’ve used silpoxy as prosade doesn’t seem to hold up to the hydraulic pressure needed. 

Anyone have ant suggestions on materials or methods? 

Darrell Green

Just a sudden inspiration but could you incorporate the boba tea pieces? Just a whim but if you could dry the outside enough to glue or bind it in a nested spot in the makeup. Depending on intended filming you could either drain and fill it with a needle syringe. But if you were filming a larger prosthetic, the needle could be incorporated into the prosthetic to deliver the pressure to burst or even spray. Cover with a similar makeup color.

Chris Ellerby

What I would do may be pretty close to what you have tried.  I would make a silicone prosthetic and pre-score the pustule where I want it to burst, and then have a flat tube under the appliance to provide fluid/pressure.   Between takes the pustule could be glued back together with silicone adhesive.   I would still want to have multiple backup appliances just to be safe.

You could also make the pustle component modular, so you could swap out new pustules without having to replace the entire appliance.

/Chris

D Fisher

Darrell not sure about boba tea. Aren’t they water based?
Chris, this is the direction I’m going, using flat heat-shrink tubing, adhesive, and condom tips to make modular units. Except for the puffing up of the tubing all the hydraulic action would be within the unit. 

Thanks for the input. Testing continues…

Darrell Green

If you get a working process, definitely post a video. I was thinking of how to speed up the replacement process and was thinking of precoloring the adhesive to something closer to the prosthetic itself for when the old pustule is removed. I use precolored silicone makeup from dermaflage. It comes in a syringe and mixes as it is pushed out. It sticks well to skin but I am not sure it would adhere to your current pustule material. I struggle in the silicone arena because it is so famous for not playing well with other chemicals.