Phillip DarlingtonPhil Goes Ape

Part 1 - The Life Casting Session

A bald skin cap is glued to my head, mixtures are prepared and I'm ready to go under the goo...

From this session, a mold is made of my head-- an exact copy. I will then sculpt a character formation out of clay over the plaster head in the months to come. Foam rubber parts will be made to form-fit my features for the final costume.

On weekends, I usually don't dress up much. Sometimes a lawn sized trash bag will do. Someday, I hope to wear this outfit to the Academy Awards.

"Lets see. Did I remember to shave there, or is this going to hurt?"
Things don't start off too well. I think it was the pizza from the night before.

Tim Drnec, famously known as Denver's number 1 special effects guru, sort of a God in the FX world, if you will, gets one wiff of my breath, and starts throwing up all over my head.

Actually, we are now in the shop of Tim's company, FX West, and Tim is beginning to apply the Algenate impression cream that will copy every pour of my skin. This stuff is gooped all over my head like an oatmeal. It covers and gets into everything, with the exception of two tiny holes where my nostrils will pull in vital O2 from the workshop air, which will hopefully keep me alive for the next two hours.

During the fast "gooping" process, a mass of Algenate is scooped up into my nostrils. I try to signal my comrades that there is a problem, by waving my hand in the air, and tapping my foot. but they are too busy at work, trying to get all the gel on, before it sets up.

Eventually, my signals are understood. A mass hunt ensues to acquire a Q-tip, or ample poking device, during which time I am pleasantly asked if I would please refrain from passing out.

Q-tip found, I am eventually granted two small holes again, through which I gratefully breath.
The Algenate begins to set (usually between 5 and 10 minutes) and terry cloth strips are embedded into the front side.

More terry cloth is applied. At this point, I am beginning to think about that pizza I ate the night before. I don't think they put enough garlic on that thing.
Plaster bandages are applied to the front half (the same kind used to make a plaster cast for a broken leg, or arm) I'm beginning to think-- "maybe next year, I can be a mummy."

When the front half is mostly dry, Vaseline is applied to the seam, and the back half is covered in plaster bandages.

Final touches, and smoothing. The cast dries for about 20 more minutes. I have now been in this thing for more than an hour. But I spent some time in a past life, visiting some old friends, so the time went by pretty quick..

Eventually, the cast is hard enough. The back is removed. A butter knife is run down the back of the Algenate, and I slip out of the mold. The mold is inverted. The back half re-applied, and UltraCal plaster (a very hard form of molding cement) is poured into the mold.
Two hours later.... Voila. Phillip soup!

I'm busted!!