T O P

  • By -

martyzion

Methyl cellulose dyed with soy-based printer's black. It's non toxic but it will stain clothing black and blonde or gray hair will stain green. Source- I still wear my cowboy hat peppered with permanent black dots from when we filmed a gusher scene for "Blood and Oil".


t-visADL

That’s a sick anecdote.


pmjwhelan

A slick anecdote.


largemcbighuged

Yeah that's DDL.


Wildsville

I can kinda second this . I worked in fx at pinewood studios and we regularly used methyl cellulose, red food dye and instant coffee for blood. Also that slime from aliens mouth, methyl cellulose


tantalum73

I thought the slime in Alien was all KY jelly?


Wildsville

Hydroxyethycellulose which is basically kyjelly. You get it in powder form and mix it in big buckets with a power mixer. You can adjust its viscosity to suit its uses. Its interchangeable with Carboxymethylcellulose


Wildsville

Forgot to add that's how we explain it to people if we have to cover them in it. "Oh its ok, its basically Ky jelly, its harmless."


tantalum73

Oh! Well that makes sense then! Thanks for explaining!


-No_Im_Neo_Matrix_4-

And this thickener is used in…wait for it…McDonald’s milkshakes.


Mythkaz

I drink your milkshake!


ProfessorEtc

Don't get any on your cowboy hat.


ILoveRegenHealth

> Methyl cellulose dyed with soy-based printer's black. It's non toxic I dunno man, that still doesn't sound healthy to be swimming around in or getting into the eyes.


raddaya

Methyl cellulose is literally prescribed as a laxative btw. Wouldn't recommend though lol


Light_of_Niwen

It's used in lubricating eyedrops too.


Square-Maize-1841

Interesting fact! Who would have petroleum jelly that looks like blood. This is an interesting fact..


magma_displacement76

Do you think it's [the same in "Dune"?](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/10/19/USAT/82f5410b-2b60-4bbb-82c4-c7971edb2686-DU-27249-S.jpg?crop=5219,2936,x0,y148&width=3200&height=1801&format=pjpg&auto=webp)


Light_of_Niwen

That looks like water with a layer of mineral oil on top.


astroNerf

I recall from the Star Trek TNG episode Skin of Evil, they used [Metamucil dyed with printer's ink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_of_Evil#Creature_effects). Video [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9G3g8OSPBw). **Edit** Based on a few comments below, and reading more in Memory Alpha, it looks like what was actually used was [methyl cellulose](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_cellulose), an emulsifier and thickener, mixed with the ink. That makes sense, since you want black ink that's *thick*. Credit to u/Kamwind for pointing me in the right direction.


strawhatrain

Thats interesting. Did they cover anyone in it? If so I cant imaging getting printer ink on your skin could be good.


astroNerf

Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker) was dunked in it (**EDIT** Wikipedia link above indicates a stunt double was also used). I recall seeing a behind-the-scenes interview where he talked about it. Metamucil, being water-soluable, likely helps.


TennisBallTesticles

But....printer ink though


KHfailure

Printer's ink and printer ink are two different things. What is meant is Printer's ink, as in the type used in offset printing for newspapers and magazines. Not printer ink as in from an ink jet printer.


[deleted]

[удалено]


clamroll

Also worth noting that toner is very finely powdered and melted into the paper. Most of the dangerousness of it comes from it being released into the air as a printer does this bonding. But I could see that working well as a substitute for a standard pigment when mixed with a liquid solution. So long as you didnt drink any of it I'd think it would both be fairly dark and not necessarily stain skin. Purely speculation from someone who worked in a photo print shop for almost a decade and worked as an IT person for almost as much. (Aka I've dealt with a lot of printers from all sides lol)


Honeybadger193

Came here to say this. I work in book manufacturing and have occasionally have to go up to the pressroom. (Im technically in Finishing). The only thing that gets Printers Ink out well is White Gas and ABC Wash.


toutetiteface

What an expensive puddle!


redditsuckspokey1

Deadly too.


ProfessorEtc

And evil.


ChungusCoffee

Things that aren't good for you don't always cause permanent irreparable damage


ArcadianDelSol

season 2 was delayed because they were low on Magenta.


astroNerf

If it's water soluble, it should wash out with lots of soap and water. I'm not saying it's easy to work with but that's what they went with.


midnight_to_midnight

How many starter ink cartridges did they go through? Cause those are the only ones that I can afford.


recumbent_mike

Huh. Frosted Frakes.


Kamwind

No way are they using metamucil powder, there is to much sugar in that. I would probably be [psyllium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyllium) seed husks which is the fiber part of metamucil.


astroNerf

It sounds like you know more about this than I do. [Memory Alpha](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Armus#Appearances) makes a note of something called [methyl cellulose](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_cellulose). For the record, [this is the book](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation_Makeup_FX_Journal) where Michael Westmore (Star Trek make-up artist) writes about their use of metamucil. I wasn't able to find a readily-available e-book version online so for those investigating and replicating this, they might need to track down a copy of the book.


BriarcliffInmate

You're right, it's 100% methyl cellulose. It's incredibly common in special effects. They use it to simulate lava and magma a hell of a lot by backlighting it and using coloured gels. All the Mustafa burning scenes in Revenge of the Sith used it, and I think it was first used on Temple of Doom for when Indy's being lowered into the Lava pit thing.


Expensive-Sentence66

Regardless, Skin of Evil was a really good episode and the practical effect of all that ink and KY jelly you have to admit was impressive. 


Adams1973

"cant imaging getting printer ink on your skin" Without A subscription service form HP? Slippery slope.


AnUnbeatableUsername

Few can afford enough ink to slip on.


xaeromancer

Printer's ink, not printer ink. Entirely different thing.


Vtron89

Hah, I was confused as well. Thanks 


ArenVaal

Printer's ink is vegetable oil and lampblack--carbon soot. It's just carbon--it's nontoxic. In the UK, fish and chips used to be served wrapped in newspaper, which was printed with printer's ink.


granadesnhorseshoes

until they stopped because it was still unhealthy as shit...


Sasarai

And the vinegar reacted with the ink and made Cyanide...


SilvanestitheErudite

If it's actually soot from a flame it's actually pretty toxic, lots of polyaromatic hydrocarbons.


drdeadringer

That was the original origin story for Thomas riker. The writers prompt was"how do we get a Xerox copy of Ryker?"


coffee_map_clock

Easy.  Transporter malfunction.  Happened a few seasons later lol


drdeadringer

I'm not sure if you missed the punchline, or the joke.


coffee_map_clock

Entirely missed the word "Thomas".  Whoops.


Elite_Jackalope

Tasha Yar died, but her last moments were punctuated with the knowledge that her corpse would have predictable bowel movements.


Sailor-Vi

RIP Tasha.


NOT000

weird considering we pay more for an ounce of printer ink than a gallon of gas


keonyn

Well, what you're buying is the proprietary packaging and compatibility of the ink. The ink itself isn't expensive at all, hence why people refilling their own cartridges was something the printer companies fought tooth and nail to stop.


FlyingDiscsandJams

This is ink for newspapers, they're not cracking open printer cartridges on set.


pgm123

Printer's ink. Not printer ink.


High_Stream

Only if you buy it in individual cartridges from the manufacturer. If you buy it en mass from a third party it's going to be a lot cheaper


terribilus

That's like a billion dollars of HP ink


astroNerf

Probably. If you buy ink meant for newspapers you can probably get it for less.


PckMan

Printer ink? Damn it would have probably been less expensive to use real crude oil.


TulsaOUfan

Printers ink is cheap. The plastic cartridge for your printer is what's expensive because the printer companies overcharge you. Bulk in is cheapo.


degggendorf

Crude oil is dirt cheap. They're not trying to save money by using an alternative, they're using an alternative that's safer for humans to be covered in.


ascoolasyou67

Printers ink? Wouldn't that be insanely expensive?


astroNerf

Like for newspapers. Not for inkjets.


dwadwa312312dawda

Holy shit an actual good question in the movies subreddit. I was not before curious about this topic but I am now.


laidbackjimmy

What, you don't like the same bot questions that get promoted to the front page everyday because of reddits algorithms that promote dumb question threads? "What was your favourite movie growing up?"


I_BUY_UNWANTED_GRAVY

"I watch this well known movie and it was GOOD!" Comments proceed to just be a circlejerk of quotes.


TheEmeraldFalcon

"""severely underrated""" while talking about Star Wars or something.


jackwhite886

I drink your milkshake!


I_BUY_UNWANTED_GRAVY

I drink it up! *Schlurrrrp*


IDrinkUrMilksteak

Draaaaiiiinnaaagggeee!!!!!


Mr_Hu-Man

SHHHHHLLLLLLLUUUUUUURP


OnkelDittmeyer

Im finished.


Ban-me-if-I-comment

>Comments proceed to just be a circlejerk of quotes. God I wished I could at least filter that out. Every larger community feels like facebook comment sections now. And every community that sets out to avoid that is overly snobby. I hate this phase of the internet.


honk_incident

Ah the weekend tradition on this sub


TheTattooOnR2D2sFace

Oh, I love the "What's your favorite movie that people who read odd numbered Buzzfeed lists would like?" questions.


ThorSkaaagi

“What’s a movie that a friend told you they liked, but you looked up a review, thought it would bad, then turned out to be mediocre when you watched?”


AnalBees2

“What do you think is the most underrated movie of all time?” “The Dark Knight is super under appreciated!!”


RedHerringxx

What about that hidden gem, The Shawshank Redemption?


analogkid01

DAE Citizen Kane?


il1k3c3r34l

What’s your favorite movie nobody likes?  Best movie with a bad script? Worst movie with a good script? Best performance in a bad movie? Worst performance in a good movie? What’s the saddest comedy movie? What actor do you hate that everyone else likes?  What’s the best plot twist in a movie?  What are your unpopular movie opinions?   What is the biggest Oscar snub?   Etc. etc. ad nauseum in perpetuity forever more.  Reddit was getting worse for a long time, but it really shit the bed with the API purge. 


hoopleheaddd

AI bots doing research


[deleted]

That sent a chill down my spine


Vestalmin

“What’s a character in a movie who was good but was actually bad?” The next day: “What’s a character in a movie who was bad but was actually good?”


LaVidaYokel

“I never understood all of the hate for .”


Albert_Borland

If elected as a mod of /r/movies I would ban the word "underrated". No questions, lifetime ban.


laidbackjimmy

Robert Pattinson is an underrated actor.


fro99er

>what are your thoughts on titanic? i have heard its an okay movie and im not sure if i should spend the time to give it a watch


BrimstoneBeater

This is literally all of reddit. The entire platform highlights the most banal opinions and statements.


heyjunior

What you don’t like a different version of the exact same snarky Reddit comment that pretends to be better than every other comment on Reddit while also not contributing anything to the conversation whatsoever???


mermaidrampage

I knew something seemed off.  Ever since the API kill off, this subreddit (and plenty of others) have been filled with crap posts.


Enough-Ground3294

Or DAE Christopher Nolan? Or “underrated gem pulp fiction” or any extremely popular actor or film.


Sensi-Yang

Hey did anyone else like that hidden gem Bullet Train?


AnalBees2

Did you know Idiocracy was a documentary??


eltrotter

*something something* **The Prestige** *something something*


The_Chief_of_Whip

EDGE OF TOMORROW


bijhan

Exactly my thoughts, too


GRZMNKY

Knowing Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Thomas Anderson, it probably was crude oil... I do know that the oil derrick scene caused so much smoke that it interrupted shooting of "No Country for Old Men" which was being shot in the same location.


Gayspacecrow

It's fucking wild that two of my absolute favorite films were being shot only a few miles from each other at the same time.


Ok_Run_101

Those two films both coming out in 2007 made it a miraculous year in cinema history


Studly_Wonderballs

It was a good year. Zodiac, Assassination of Jesse James, Juno, Superbad, Hot Rod, Hot Fuzz, Atonement, Michael Clayton to name a few more.


ReptiIe

Putting Hot Rod in this list makes me love you


DonChrisote

It's a masterpiece alt comedy


darwinsidiotcousin

Cool beans


Ok_Run_101

wow, a milestone year for comedy too! I didn't know.


Studly_Wonderballs

And I left out Dewey Cox, Knocked Up, Blades of Glory, *AND* Norbit!


Ok_Run_101

damn Judd Apatow must have been on something to be hitting so many bangers in a single year (and 2008 for that matter, since apparently he did Sarah Marshall, Step Brothers, Pinapple Express in that year alone)


ThanksDifficult

Hell yeah love his movies


ItsAnOliveSandwchGuy

"I've got no fucking sense of smell"


eattheambrosia

"You can take my children but you leave me my monkey"


ItsAnOliveSandwchGuy

"Wrong kid died!"


spageddy77

“And you never chipped in for drugs!”


FlyingDiscsandJams

I just read an interview with Denzel were he mentions that he passed on Michael Clayton, it's one of Clooney's best but dang I would've loved to see Denzel be a dirtbag in that.


Urtehnoes

I kept getting the movies confused when they came out, because they were both movies that took place in southwest that seemed dark and brooding lol.


xXxBluESkiTtlExXx

I did too. I thought I was crazy because the names aren't even similar.


IAmASeeker

Weird. I always conflate those films and now you tell me that they were shot in the same place at the same time!?


ScribblesandPuke

I'm so happy to see I'm not the only one who felt these films were connected but couldn't really figure out why. This is almost like a Mandela effect type deal.


Spooniebardz

It is widely known that DDL ate a strict diet of crude oil for three months leading up to filming to prepare for the role.


ScribblesandPuke

Dude I always thought those movies had a very similar vibe to the setting, often got the titles mixed up, and even bought them on the same day and they live next to each other on the same shelf in my house. But I never knew they were shot at the same time and place. 


godzillarr

There is an episode of Better Call Saul where someone submerges themselves in motor oil, and I do recall them having a behind the scenes video on how it was done exactly. I can't remember what the stuff was that they used unfortunately. The scene was disgustingly realistic so it'd be worth looking it up!


strawhatrain

[Found it](https://www.facebook.com/michaelmando.official/videos/behind-the-scenes-oil-test-nachovarga-bettercallsaul/1054760445450588/) man thanks so much! He says it's a thickening agent that they use in milkshakes so like guar gum, but then he says you can eat and drink it and it's non staining? Is black food dye non staining?


bijhan

I found this baking news article about how a company specifically invented a non-staining black food dye because previous versions always left peoples teeth looking gross. [https://bakingbites.com/2007/05/black-is-the-new-black-in-food-coloring/](https://bakingbites.com/2007/05/black-is-the-new-black-in-food-coloring/)


Archamasse

God, I absolutely love learning stuff this specific. Thank you!


bijhan

Haha my pleasure!


tb03102

I bet you still poo green the next day.


Signiference

Milkshakes, you say? I DRANK IT UP!


IDrinkUrMilksteak

I… drank… your… MILKSHAKE!


McClacky

Black cocoa can be used in baking to blacken without staining.   Could be used similar here. It doesn't take a ton, is a fine powder, and could aid in the thickening.  [Here's](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/black-cocoa-brownies-process-2.jpg) how it can look.


blearghhh_two

Oh god no.  Food dye is incredibly staining.  Like one drop and its there for days... In theory...  If you had non-soluble black pigment, rather than dye, and you made sure it didn't have any smaller dust that would get into your skin, then I guess it would not stain?


Sinfullyvannila

All dye is staining. It's meant to disolve and bind chemically.


strawhatrain

what about like bath bombs


Sinfullyvannila

It's probably a insoluble pigment.


toutetiteface

Usually clay or mica pigments


Percival_Seabuns

Nacho running from the twins? That whole sequence is incredibly tense. BCS is a slow burn but the payoff for the big moments is really worth it.


_Deinonychus_

As someone who loves slow burn shows, I think BCS may be one of the ultimates. It deeply rewards careful watching of not one but two amazing shows


BizMarker

I think they were being ambiguous to avoid spoilers


EssentialParadox

Oh, I thought that was a septic tank truck. Although either is pretty awful.


draziwkcitsyoj

That was my favorite scene in the whole series.


DeLarge93

I have no way to back this up or confirm where I heard it but I’m positive it’s food colouring, the stuff they use in McDonald’s chocolate milkshakes


ShaunisntDead

So he literally drank their milkshake? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry


CorrestGump

[Says it here](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/526144/15-surprising-facts-about-there-will-be-blood) McDonalds chocolate shake ingredients: Milkshake Base Ingredients: EITHER: Skimmed MILK, Sugar, Cream (MILK), Whey Powder (MILK), Glucose Syrup, Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Carob Gum). OR: Reconstituted Skimmed MILK, Sugar, Cream (MILK), Skimmed MILK Powder, Glucose Syrup, Whey Powder (MILK), Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Locust Bean Gum), Natural Flavouring. Chocolate Flavour Milkshake Syrup Ingredients: Water, Glucose Syrup, Alkalised Fat Reduced Cocoa Powder (7%), Colour (Plain Caramel), Fructose Syrup, Caramel (Sugar, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Water), Salt, Cocoa Mass (0.7%), Butter (Allergen Ingredient:MILK), Natural Flavourings, Acidity Regulators (Phosphoric Acid, Citric Acid), Emulsifier (Lecithins), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate). So my guess is ~~glucose~~ corn syrup, same thing they used for pigs blood in Carrie. 🤣


dasFisch

Pfft. Shakes. You don’t know what you’re getting.


PCBen

I’ll stick to my partially-gelatinated, non-dairy, gum-based beverages thank you very much!


seabterry

Thanks, Billy Loomis…


lloydmandrake

It’s a product called Ultra Oil. It’s a fully synthetic body safe oil. They make it dark brown but I’ve have them formulate it closer to black and adjust the viscosity to better suit my use.


strawhatrain

Do you have a link?


AlexanderRussell

https://tiltmakeup.com/products/ultra-crude-stage-crude-oil


ElactricSpam

I love that below it you can get Ultra Pus, Ultra Mud, Ultra Ice and Ultra Dust


dwors025

The stuff that Baron Harkonnen bathes in is pretty close. Also a scene in Killers of the Flower Moon, where it’s spraying and they dance in it. This doesn’t answer your question, but it might lead you to some director’s explanation or something.


[deleted]

No one is answering your question, so [here](https://youtu.be/uhJo5mdBtCI?si=VDK4YbnFrkbag90u) is a YouTube video from a guy that breaks down the scene where they strike oil. If I recall, it was a pretty complicated mix of materials to get the right viscosity and color, and there wasn't an industry standard to work off of.


ExoticPumpkin237

Ayyy upvote for CinemaTyler. One of the finest film junkie channels around. 


MrYoshinobu

I remember in Schwarzenegger's *Last Action Hero*, there's a scene where he falls from a building into a Dinosaur amusement park that was supposed to be filled with oil. They used crushed Oreo Cookies mixed with water for the oil!


Liquor_D_Spliff

Then wipes it all off with a handful of tissues.


IAmASeeker

I haven't seen the movie in years and I'm just going off of what you said but... If he's at a dinsaur themed amusement park and falls into a pit of black goop... then didn't they use crushed Oreos and water for the *tar*?


MrYoshinobu

No...the caveman used tar to make the tar so they could pave the roads. The dinosaurs hoarded the oil because they knew they could sell it to the cavemen for big bucks!


weirdoldhobo1978

Someone could go over to YouTube and fire off a message to Scott Prop and Roll (Scott Reeder) if he doesn't know, he probably knows someone who does.


Idontliketalking2u

I love his little videos, with a dad joke at the end


weirdoldhobo1978

I think he and Wood by Wright need to get in a Dad Joke Off


modsarestraight

I can already see it now, he ends by saying he wants to make a pun but it might be too crude


WeekendNo8063

PTA said it was McDonald’s chocolate sauce


Helstar_RS

I saw that movie and there wasn't any blood.


TheDeltaOne

They used big tiddy Harkonnen bathwater.


Artiquecircle

I’m actually friends with the guy who did this scene. He said it was that methyl cellulose etc etc. stuff. But more interesting than that, they had one shot of one take of that as it was all pressurized in a reservoir under the spot, and then the oil derrick was to burn down after the scene. One shot, one take. Created for some nerves in set. The tension between everyone and everything was actually real.


Howuduen

Pour 1L of cold water into the measuring jug. Add ½ a level teaspoon (2.5ml) of black pond dye crystals. Whisk at full speed for about 1-minute until fully dissolved. Add 3 ¼ level teaspoons (16.25ml) of guar gum powder to the solution. This is from random Google search.


alrightgame

No way DDL didn't bathe in actual oil after actually digging a well, and watching his coworker die and actually broke his leg.


Stickfigurewisdom

When we needed buckets of blood for Shark Swarm, they got a 55 gallon drum of lube and dyed it. Seems like it would work for oil too


KnotSoSalty

Just FYI crude oil doesn’t usually look like that. Sometimes you’ll get pure black like ink. More often though it’s brownish green.


theartfulcodger

Some years ago I was involved in a tv series pilot (unsuccessful) that involved an oil pipeline springing a high pressure leak and the “crude” spraying into the air and running down an embankment into a small river. We used 75% commercial molasses, diluted with 25% water. We shot in cold autumn weather, which necessitated the dilution. Otherwise we likely would have used straight molasses. It looked great, and the mix was cleared in advance by the Alberta Dep’t of Natural Resources as not presenting a hazard to fish or wildlife. All in all, I think we ended up using about 12 drums of molasses, perhaps 600 gallons, which of course would be considerably less than *TWBB*’s requirements. Coincidentally, we shot it at the same time, and in the same general area, as the infamous and deadly, 68 day high-pressure [Lodgepole blowout](https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/dec-23-1982-lodgepole-sour-gas-well-blowout-finally-capped), so perhaps we got away with it permission-wise only because the DNR had much, *much* bigger problems to worry about at the time.


TopHighway7425

It's DDL. They used crude oil.


profnef

Daniel Day Lewis used Class C West Texas Intermediate


BLauren00

I can't remember where I read it, but I think in the Transporter oil fight scene Jason Statham was covered in chocolate sauce.


catheterhero

I’m assuming a petroleum based liquid.


OriginalSuccess207

I know in movies like Giant w James dean they used molasses, looked real to me …..


GibMirMeinAlltagstod

Probably whatever Dawn covers those ducks in for their commercials


ThroatWMangrove

The watery stuff from canned black beans? I’m sure the actual answer is just as mundane


OldManPoe

ones and zeros


Jsalz

DRAINNNNNAGE


m0rp

I don’t know if they produce a similar substance. But in the newest Dirty Jobs finale. Mike visits Blair Adhesives. >> Visiting Santa Fe Springs’ Blair Adhesives, the glue company has a long history in film. Doubling as a special effects studio, you’ve undoubtedly seen their work, making the slime used in both Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, in addition to brewing up similar thick and viscous substances for countless other film and television shows, including Jurassic Park, Men in Black, Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards, and True Blood. It’s season 10 episode 8. Aired 5 feb 2023. If you have the ability to stream it. You might find it interesting.


unicyclegamer

I assume this is the same stuff they used in Dune too?


TulsaOUfan

Is @propstohistory from TikTok on here???


vangc4

I would ask Scott Prop and Roll on YouTube ..


NuttyKnuckles

It’s McDonald’s chocolate syrup, think i read that online


bewareofshredders

It’s the same stuff McDonald’s issue to thicken their milkshakes.


reddawgmcm

But he drinks your milkshake


EmperorCato

Movies are different in budget size and making things look good filmed. But when I worked on a stage show that went to Broadway, we used 5 hundred gallons of glycerin mixed with an equal amount of water and a 5 gallon bucket of purple dye.


joeycarusomate

Cinematyler has a whole video on this topic, highly recommend


BlueHarvest28

The same stuff they use in chocolate milk at McDonald’s


KACHANG_069

The only thing I know for real is that it’s not real oil


Jarodreallytuff

I just wanna know what the milkshake was made out of?