Posted for those who LARP, or costume.

[cyrano]

I'm NPCing another game. Because I'm a glutton for punishment. (:
I'm playing a Nosferatu, which means I'm grotesque, and I'm trying to find a way to portray that simply, and without a lot of latex. Right now I'm thinking maybe buying a pair of sheer nylons (the sock-only kind if I can get it) and putting that over my head like a classic bank robber and then maybe trying to hunt down a hoodie that I can pull up over my head. If you've got suggestions, please feel free to weigh in.

Comments

[aberdeen.livejournal.com]

Do you have a latex sensitivity? Because, a little bit can be used to great effect, depending on what you're looking to get. And, having put a stocking over my head, I found it annoyingly constrictive. If you want latex hints, I can share. There's lots of stuff you can do that doesn't involve complete, pre-formed prosthetics. (Which are also fun.)

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

I don't think I have any latex sensitivity. My big thing with that is time consideration--I'm on my way out the door to work, and I'll have less than an hour after work before my ride leaves for the game. I'd have to go buy latex, maybe an appliance or two, learn how to use the stuff, and apply it.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Urh. Which doesn't mean I won't want latex hints for later use.

[outlawcoon.livejournal.com]

I'm also something of a latex fan, but you can also do simple makeup to good effect too. At a minimum I would recommend playing with basic white and basic black cake (you can get from a costume shop) for an undead. They also make fake blood in minty-fresh flavor!

Nosferatu always make me think of the big vampire teeth too, but those can get downright annoying to try to do anything in. I managed to keep mine in about two hours before I gave it up.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

You had me at "I'm something of a latex fan." (:

[kiras.livejournal.com]

Those special effects contacts can help a look get seriously disturbing in just a couple minutes. James had pretty good luck with these teeth for Halloween a while back.

[sararainmaker.livejournal.com]

Makeup Makeup Makeup. With a bit of an artists touch you can turn cheap makeup into something pretty grotesque. You probably won't get the effect of skin dripping off your body, however you can still look seriously mangled or quite old.

Buy a base or foundation makeup several shades lighter than your own skin, in the case of a vampire, I would saw go for the palest pale you can find. When applying the base makeup, 'scrunch' up your face as much as you possibly can, this will give you a good idea as to where you should draw lines, then use a light brown eyeliner pencil in those areas to define what will be your good old fashioned "Old Man" wrinkles. Be cretive with them, make bags under your eyes (they do wonders), crowsfeet, mouth lines, etc.

Then blend blend blend. once you are satisfied with your creation, use hairspray to set the makeup so you don't "share" it with everyone.

Some ideas I have never tried but thought of for making other cheap special effects, perhaps others can chime in about this:

Baking Soda: Baking soda with a little bit of water turns into an pretty neat consistancy, wet and mushy to the eye, but powdery to the touch, perhaps a bit of this applied to the face, then set with hairspray and make-up'd over might allow you to make some sores, or even drippy skin.

Gummy Candy: Don't know how well this stuff would stick, or melt down but it might be cheaper than latex, if it doesn't burn your face when putting it on. Perhaps melting it down, shaping it into the desired shape and then using some glue or something to apply it before makeup?

Scrambled Eggs: I dunno, just another idea, I know eggs can be made into some disgusting gooey crap, I would use both yolk and white. I don't know how long you would have to wait for them to dry, not to mention you would go the whole day with egg on your face. ^_~

One last idea: I don't remember right now if you live around here or not, but nearby is a 364 day a year costume shop. there tend to be others around, and getting one of those cheezy make-up kits might just be what you are looking for. ^_^

I hope these help :)

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

I checked at the local costume shop, and they had the rigid collodion for scarring, but not a lot which I thought would be useful. Surprising given that they should be gearing up solid for Hallowe'en at this point.

[sararainmaker.livejournal.com]

Where are you located? I could check out my local one here, it's ALWAYS got stuff, and it's about the size of a small market. :)

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

I'm in Mountain View, and the shop I go to is Debbie Lynn's in Sunnyvale.

[sararainmaker.livejournal.com]

Sunnyvale, thats north of LA right? or is that Sunville? I can never remember. yeah It would be a bit far to come down here to our costume shop here in Orange County ^_^ I would try the face peel with oatmeal :) that really was a good idea. :)

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm on my way to WalGreen's now. (:

[sararainmaker.livejournal.com]

Have fun! (and let me know how the peel works, Who knows when I might need to seem like flesh is dripping off my skin one night and have baby-soft skin the next ^_^

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

It didn't work as well as I'd hoped, even when I blended it with the facial scrub. It was less 'grotesque' and more 'odd'.

[sararainmaker.livejournal.com]

rofl odd can be... good :)

a trick I learned from folks at nero

[princessmei.livejournal.com]

One of our friends was playing a leper, so he went out and bought a tube of this cucumber cleansing peel mask from walgreens. The stuff goes on clear and cool but dries out to be nearly the color of pale flesh and the longer it dries... it starts to peel off in flakes. So he would be at game, with little pieces of flesh looking peel coming off his hands, face, neck and arms.

Oddly enough, the stuff was edible too, so occasionally to creep us out he'd peel a strip off and eat it. He said the best part was, after a weekend of being up at the mountain in costume his face and hands were so soft. He said he had good luck with mixing some of the oatmeal scrub into it as well, to provide a lumpy, uneven feeling for the areas of skin that were supposed to be rough and covered in boils.

-Megs

Re: a trick I learned from folks at nero

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Ooo. Sounds like a stop by walgreen's may be in my future. Which is good, because the Salvation Army is closed and the Goodwill didn't have any hoodies big enough.

Re: a trick I learned from folks at nero

[sararainmaker.livejournal.com]

oooh that is a GOOD idea ^_^