Burning Zombie Dummy

Sean was asked by an independent film group to develop a "burning zombie" special effect for the next arc of their series Exile. Originally, they planned on setting one of the actors on fire. When no one volunteered for the task, they planned on strapping a bust to one of the actors and setting the bust on fire. This was deemed appropriate, until they asked Sean to do it, and he decided it would be better (for values of "better" equating to "safer") to build a dummy with articulating arms and some sort of "walking" motion. Sean started with a simple sketch to feel out the details of what needed to be in the apparatus. The project came in three parts, the Cart, the Torso, and the Head.

Design

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Cart

The cart provided a handle for moving the dummy from a safe distance, a spar for holding the torso in the air, and off-center wheels for inducing a wobble motion that would make the dummy appear to move with a loping, shambling hobble.

Torso

The torso was a basic form for holding shape in the shirt covering it, as well as a platform for attaching arms that would swing during movement and a spike for attaching a head.

Head

-- aaaah