Graveyard Statues on a Dollar Store Budget

Here is yet another amazing video tutorial from Stiltbeast Studios on how to make a cheap graveyard statue without the need for monster mud.

It's October!

There is a chill in the air, leaves are changing color, and there are pumpkins for sale.  It's October!  This is truly the month that was specifically made for all of us who are into buildin props, making costumes, home haunting and even making a horror movie.

Although I am three days late I am still kicking off the 31 Days of Halloween here.  So expect tons of Halloween or horror related how-to's to help you out before Halloween arrives.

Kicking off things off I thought that I would include the old stand-by post which is always one of the top searched and read posts on Lost in Schlock which is Monster Mud recipes. 

So here is the link to get things started. There is more to come. Have fun boils and ghoulies!

Also be sure to check out the Lost in Schlock Facebook Fanpage for extra Halloween related tutorials.

Terra's Monster Horse

Here is a very cool and inspirational vid on some creative use on pink insulation styrofoam and monster mud:



Full details on the how-to here

Lost in Schlock: Top Ten Personal Faves of 2010 That You Should Check Out

Since everyone seems to be doing their own top ten lists for 2010, I thought that I would share a top ten of my personal fave tutorials and links for the year. 

10.  Monster Mud - Admittedly, I first mentioned this devilish concoction in 2008 .  However, in 2010 there was a huge spike of home haunters and prop builders wanting to know the recipe who found their way here.  So, it has a special place on my list for 2010.

9.  How to build a Weeping Angel - for most who know me, I am a huge Doctor Who fan and avid viewer of it's latest incarnations.  The Weeping Angel from the most recent seasons has to be one of the Doctor's creepiest monsters to date and a personal fave of mine.  Therefore, this tutorial on how to build a replica of the Weeping Angel certainly earsn a spot on this list.

8.  How to Build a Paper Mache Cave Wall - as vast as the internet is and the information it holds one of the hardest tutorials to find is how to build a fake interior of a cave. Who wouldn't want to build a interior cave set!?  They are so friggin' cool!

Also since it uses paper mache it's far safer than the infamous cave set that Bob Burns and friends had built for one of his annual Halloween haunts.  The cave that Bob Burns built involved gallons of rubber cement glue and foil and lots of inhaled fumes.  You can imagine how they begun to feel after hours of inhaling the glue.

7.  Build a Rocket Pack - This tutorial from Backyard FX just brings happy thoughts of serials like Rocket Man or the comic book The Rocketeer.  It is certainly one of the funnest props to build and who wouldn't want a rocket pack!?

6. How to Build a Aliens Power Loader - This tutorial is one of the coolest uses of left over styrofoam that I have ever seen and is an amazing build.  In fact it was a tutorial that was so hip it spawned a second tutorial and a Alien Queen Replica how-to for the completest out there.

5. Edible Raw Meat - One of the coolest tutorials to come out this year was the one on how to make edible raw meat.  For every cannibal or zombie movie or any film in which there is raw meat that needs to be safely consumed there is always the question of how it's going to happen.  Now the answer can be found in the form of a neat video tutorial.

4.  Steve Johnson on Youtube - For a movie and FX geek like me, Steve Johnson on Youtube is super awesome.  Each video shares a treasure trove of information on how some of the puppets and VFX were pulled off in many favorite cult films including Ghostbusters and Fright Night, and also contain some behind-the-scenes stories and humor as well.  It is one of the coolest channels on Youtube today and deserves a spot on my list.

3. Tombstones on a Dime - There is a large number of tutorials out there that show you how to build a fake tombstone but there are fewer decent ones that show you how to pull it off on a zero budget.  Dave Lowe (prop maker genius) has a turorial on how to recycle a Fed-Ex Box into a cheap tombstone that actually looks good and is even weathered nicely.

2. Articulated Wings - Finding tutorials on articulated tentacles or hands is easy, but finding a tutorial on articulated wings is nearly impossible.  This is why I dig this tutorial and fully appreciate it.  Besides, who woudln't want wings that can actually unfold? 

1. The RPF Dollar Store Lightsaber Challenge - this was one of my fave links for 2010.  It embodies what I Iove about creating props for low-budget films: it's cheap, uses found parts, and looks brilliant.  It is hugely inspirational on what can be done for only a few dollars and a bit of ingenuity.  It certainly earns a top spot on my list.

How to Build a Doctor Who Weeping Angel

Here is a cool use of Monster Mud; someone has built a replica of a infamous Weeping Angel from the current Doctor Who series.  It's the perfect thing to geek up your home haunt or just something ot have in your garden.  Full details here.

More Monster Mud details here.

Monster Mud: A Recipe You Should Know

It wouldn't be October or the holiday Halloween without a bit of Monster Mud.  It's the kind of goop that can take a prop into the next level of coolness.  What is Monster Mud?  It's a witch's concotion of materials found at most hardware stores that when mixed becomes a goop that can turn cloth and props into statue like things of beauty and creepiness to behold.

Here is Lost in Schlock's complete listing of all Monster Mud related tutorials and recipes that I habe found throughout the years:

Link.

Learn How to Build a Tombstone

As you may recall I mentioned a great resource for any prop maker or home haunter out there from Terra's Lair (scaryladyvideos) Youtube channel.  In the video below Terra shows you how to build a tombstone.



Want to know what monster mud is?  Go here for more details.

(h/t to Haunters Digest)

MONSTER MUD - REVISITED

Monster Mud is one of those kind of things that all propmakers, especially those who have to deal with the creation of creepier props, should know how to make. So here is a old post I uploaded a year ago on the subject which should help you on your next yard haunt or horror flick.

BUILD A MONSTER MUD RINGU WELL REPLICA

Here is a cool tutorial on building a replica of the well from the film THE RING or RINGU if you prefer. There are two things great about this tutorial; it teaches how to replicate stone from styrofoam material and it also uses Monster Mud. Check it out.

BUILD A BELOVED TOMBSTONE

Once again I discover another cool tutorial that uses the amazing power of Monster Mud. Although not quite a replica of the tombstone found in RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD this set piece below strongly reminds me of it.

The full tutorial on how to build your own can be found here. There are also good tips on prop weathering found there as well. (found via Halloween Forum)

MONSTER MUD

Monster Mud is probably one of the coolest things ever dreamed of. It's a devilish mixture of Drywall joint compound and latex paint. The end result is a goopy mess that haunted house prop makers just call Monster Mud.

The brilliant thing about Monster Mud is that it can be added to cloth and when allowed to dry it stiffens to a faux stone like finish. A handy thing to have when making statues, tombstones, or anything else that requires such a texture.

Here is a website that details the exact recipe and be sure to check out the prop pages to see what groovy things can be made with Monster Mud.

Also check out this site and this one for more Monster Mud goodies.