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Bloody Brilliant: How to Develop, Execute, and Clean Up Blood Effects for Live Performance: How to Develop, Execute, and Clean Up Blood Effects for Live Performance
Bloody Brilliant: How to Develop, Execute, and Clean Up Blood Effects for Live Performance offers methods and techniques for delivering this special effect on the stage. The world of live theatre presents its own set of unique challenges when creating special effects, particularly blood. There are no cropped-view frames, multiple angles, or reshoots – everything is live and in view of the audience. This book provides helpful insight, information, techniques, and tricks for producing reliable and repeatable blood effects, covering everything from design and budgeting to safety and clean-up. Filled with easy-to-follow descriptions and full-color artwork, this text includes: Prop managers and builders in professional, educational, and regional theatre are sure to benefit from the tips outlined in this book.
168 pages, Hardcover
Published April 26, 2022
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August 7, 2022
A much-needed resource filling a vacuum in the record of performance production documentation.
McClure provides a brief history of blood and blood effects in performance, dating back to Greek theatre (which arose concurrent with gladiatorial combat as another form of entertainment) up through the Grand Guignol to the present day.
All aspects are covered, from planning the effect with the input of the many other people involved, choosing a blood product/recipe that will do what you need, implementation, and cleaning up afterward. McClure even addresses alternative ways to stage bloody scenes without messy blood products at all, through various theatrical effects employing lighting, fabrics, and what one of my professors called "flingables" (confetti, ribbons, glitter, etc).
Highly recommend this title for an in-house backstage theatrical library and as a textbook in propbuilding classes, as well as a reference manual for costume wardrobe supervisors.
Disclosure: I am a fellow author published by Focal Press. This review was neither solicited nor sponsored.
McClure provides a brief history of blood and blood effects in performance, dating back to Greek theatre (which arose concurrent with gladiatorial combat as another form of entertainment) up through the Grand Guignol to the present day.
All aspects are covered, from planning the effect with the input of the many other people involved, choosing a blood product/recipe that will do what you need, implementation, and cleaning up afterward. McClure even addresses alternative ways to stage bloody scenes without messy blood products at all, through various theatrical effects employing lighting, fabrics, and what one of my professors called "flingables" (confetti, ribbons, glitter, etc).
Highly recommend this title for an in-house backstage theatrical library and as a textbook in propbuilding classes, as well as a reference manual for costume wardrobe supervisors.
Disclosure: I am a fellow author published by Focal Press. This review was neither solicited nor sponsored.
Displaying 1 of 1 review