Photos by Lindsay Perry
By AMBER HOLT
Student Contributor
On the morning of March 14, Cranberry High School seniors Tyler Cosmiske and Danielle Peterson held a special effects workshop for any CHS students who were interested. The many participants were instructed on how to make amazingly lifelike wounds out of just vaseline, flour, and red dye.
In order to achieve the authentic look, students began by mixing vaseline and flour until it was similar to cookie dough. The mixture was then applied to their hands where the cut would then form. A paint brush was used to smooth the mixture out and ultimately look more realistic. Next, students were instructed to “cut the cut” by taking a plastic butter knife to carve their wound. They filled it in with red dye to add the bloody element to their lifelike creation.
Workshop instructors Cosmiske and Peterson described the experience as “very individualized.” Students were given the freedom to do what they wanted with the project and as Peterson mentioned, “They all did very unique things with it.”
They had an incredible response to it, too. Many teachers were astonished by how genuine the effects had seemed. Some had even admittedly said that at first glance it had made them queasy and they had to do a double take.
As a result of such a successful turn out, Cosmiske and Peterson are planning on having another special effects workshop on April 4. The upcoming workshop will feature different techniques and effects than before. It also will likely be moving into a larger area to accommodate for the growing interest in the activity. Both new and old faces will be expected at the next gathering. Many, such as 9th-grader Micah Wry, hope that they can attend once more. As he said, “It was an amazing opportunity and I’d love to improve… I went because it seemed like I could learn something new and get to hang out with friends in the process.”
Amber Holt and Lindsay Perry are students at Cranberry High School and members of Cranberry Chronicles, the school’s journalism/publications group.
