Inflatable Trashbag Suit

sneedling

I haven't started on this yet, but I am considering fabricating an inflatable suit for the final creature in my project. It seems to be a good strategy to create something that appears to have a lot of mass without concerns for excess material and weight. I would want to use black trash bags to hide the performer, but I was wondering if that would limit what I could do to paint it. My question is, I would want it to be pretty durable and tear-resistant. Would painting on a layer of silicone caulking strengthen it without weighing it down? I also want a texture like this for the skin, but again, I don't know if silicone would inhibit the suit from inflating:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYux4z2Z3nA

Chris Ellerby

You could put a latex or silicone layer on your trash bags to make them more durable and get a nice paintable surface, however, the weight they add will mean you will need more air pressure to keep the bags inflated. It would also be fragile and prone to tearing/leaking.  You would likely need multiple fans running at all times to keep things inflated if they could even keep up with the weight, which would also mean a lot of noise.

Another option would be to fabricate the creature suit out of upholstery foam.  You can use different densities of foam to create a lightweight undestructure that allows for the desired range of movement, and then skin that however you like.  

Here are some of our courses on working with foam:  
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials?search=foam

This 5 part series covers making foam creature suits:  
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/how-to-fabricate-a-monster-suit-1-design-pattern-prototype

/Chris

sneedling

@Chris I wanted it to move in a way foam couldn't, I don't understand how it would make it more prone to leaks? 

Darrell Green

I believe the leak comment was not about after adding another layer but just the inflated bag idea in general vs foam. The monsters that incorporate bags, Bill Bryan style, get a very controlled shoot due to how easily they can snag and tear. Forgive my ramble because I do not have your current vision of what the hoped for movement is but cloth suits with fans, the Halloween type, would be inflatable but far more resilient to snagging and tearing. But in the end the fan power and noise issue that was mentioned above is still there. 

I love trial and error though because that is what leads to discovery. If strength is an issue and thicker plastic bags don't move the way you want (think 6 mil yard waste/leaf bag) then by all means try out a few iterations of coating sprays and video how it works out for each. If you intend for a fully sealed and inflated balloon style, another realm altogether, I fall back on my Fire Marshal Bill fears and say stick with regular room air and avoid the dangers of other compressed gases when a person is intended to be in the suit.

Most fold lines in plastic sheeting will flatten when warmed. Be very cautious about putting too much direct heat on it.

Definitely watch the foam suit builds and Bill Bryan's bag monster classes, actually Bill will likely end up in both of your viewings. But kick out some trials of your idea too, on small scale, to see what you can make of it.

sneedling

@David I just want a shifting gelatinous look, so maybe I wouldn't need to fill the suit all the way. Air might be too heavy, but I would think helium would be dangerous (the face of the performer wouldn't be sealed in but still). 

sneedling

I realized that what I'm thinking of is what Steve Johnson made for MIB

Chris Ellerby

Attaching things to the outside of a garbage bag could potentially make it more prone to leaks as you are adding extra material/weight which will stress the plastic (which is not designed to hold air or support weight) more over time.  It also changes how it bunches/pinches/folds/moves/etc. all of which could contribute to material fatigue and potential rupture.

Another option might be to use modular inflatable bladders sewn/velcroed into a fabric suit, and then have that fabric act as the strong/durable understructure that the outer skin is adhered to.  And if a bladder ruptures you can swap it out or repair it.

But that all depends on your character design, what type of coverage you need in your shots based on the storyboard/script, how it's expected to move for the live performance aspect, etc.  

We do have a course that covers the technique Steve Johnson used:
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/make-a-monster-plastic-bag-technology

/Chris

sneedling

@Chris, I changed my design a bit so it's two people in a suit, creating a quadruped, so both will have fans, and there should not be a problem with a lack of air. What about making the "bulk" of the suit out of nylon and adding a layer of plastic w/ silicone (or just plastic) over it to provide the organic texture? 

Chris Ellerby

That might work.   My main concern is that silicone is rather heavy, and may make it difficult to keep suit inflated.  You may need some type of support structure or even something like inflatable ribs to help support the weight of the silicone.

/Chris

sneedling

@Chris Ellerby I will do some tests with trashbags, but even then, I wanted the outer layer to not be inflated all the way and "shift" around anyway.