SAFETY AND CEMENT

A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE WERE CALLED TO FINISH THE FINAL SEASON OF 'DAVE' ON FX NETWORK.

ONE OF THE LAST GAGS WAS A STUNT PERSON FALLING INTO A BATHTUB FULL OF LIQUID PLASTER/CEMENT.

THE SHOOT WAS ON A PRACTICAL, AND VERY SENSITIVE LOCATION IN WEST HOLLYWOOD. THE BATHTUB WAS A CUSTOM POURED CONCRETE STRUCTURE WITH A COATING THAT IF SCRATCHED WOULD REQUIRE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLARS TO REPLACE.

WE WERE CHARGED WITH BUILDING A FOAM LINER ALL OVER AND INSIDE THE TUB TO PROTECT THE STUNT PERFORMER AS WELL AS FINDING A SAFE CEMENT SUBSTITUTE.

WHEN YOU NEED SLIME IN THIS TOWN, IT'S TIME TO TALK TO SCOTT AT BLAIR ADHESIVES. HE'S MADE HOLLYWOOD GOO GOING AS FAR BACK AS GOHST BUSTERS.

AFTER MIXING SEVERAL TEST BATCHES, WE FOUND A CONCOCTION THAT WORKED FOR OUR DIRECTOR AND HAD 350 GALLONS MADE UP.

WE SPENT THE NEXT DAY AND A HALF PAINSTAKINGLY FITTING FOAM IN THE TUB, TAKING GREAT CARE NOT TO SCRATCH OR USE ANY PRODUCTS THAT MAY DAMAGE THE FINISH. THE PAINT DEPARTMENT THEN CAME AND PERFECTLY MATCHED THE FOAM TO THE REST OF THE TUB SURROUND.

ON THE DAY WE HAD TO CARY THE CEMENT INTO THE BATHROOM 1 BUCKET AT A TIME, AND THEN REMOVE IT THE SAME EVENING SO NOTHING WOULD SOAK THROUGH, POSSIBLY DAMAGING THE COATING UNDERNEATH.

THE RESULT WAS A FANTASTIC EFFECT; NOT ONLY DID THE STUNT PERSON FALL INTO THE TUB, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE ACTRESS IN AS WELL AND COVER HER IN FAKE CEMENT GOO.