We bring our body to the set. Just before filming, we reach
through the opening in the corpse's back and paint the interior
with blood and goo. Then we put our internal organs into place.
Maybe we made some beforehand, maybe we just bought some livers
and kidneys at the market, or both. We seal the opening (it
doesn't have to be a cosmetically perfect job - we'll never see
the alien's back!) and roll the body over. A few drops of
glycerin to moisten the eyes, and she's ready!
Our human actors are ready too, but first we have to give them
some coaching. Because of the way we built our creature, they
can't move it at all. They shouldn't attempt to raise the arms
or legs, rotate the head, or shift the body. In fact, they can
only touch it in the most delicate manner or it will become
obvious the "flesh" is nearly solid and not
semi-liquid like real flesh. Okay, our actors are up to speed
now. Let's shoot this thing.
Roll 'Em!
First, we get our establishing shots
of our critter. We have our actors move around, look at the dummy,
point to it and nod and so on.
Next, we get a few shots in which they pantomime handling the
creature. If they do it correctly, it won't be obvious they're
barely touching it. Not many people are aware of the way real
bodies in real autopsies are twisted, turned, and flopped this
way and that. So they won't realize how bizarre this "examiner"
behavior is.
Action!
Very well done, fellas.
While we're at it, we'll try a few closeups where our actors
very carefully move the leg and the hand slightly by gripping
them firmly and moving them very slightly - just to the point
where the skin would start to fold and wrinkle.
Now We Open Her Up
Now it's time to cut into
the body. Here we employ one of the oldest tricks in the book. We
take our scalpel and attach a small tube to the side facing away
from camera. As the actor pulls the scalpel along the dummy, we
pump a bit of blood through the tube. The scalpel leaves a line of
fresh blood. And if some of the blood we put inside the body leaks
through the cut, that's even better!
Lovely. Always a crowd pleaser, that trick.
Another alternative is to use one of the newer tricks
in the book: A-B Blood. This is a commercially-available product
consisting of two transparent fluids which form an opaque red
fluid when combined. A little A on the scalpel, a little B on
the body... presto!
The examiner continues the cut down along the chest and
abdomen. Our next step is to pull back the skin and reveal the
internal organs.
But First, A Brief Pause ...
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