Thread: Need ideas for "ghost" children

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this year we are adding a haunted hayride to our haunt. One area that patrons will pass is a playground. There is a row of swings and what I want is to come up with a way to have "ghost children" on the swings. I don't want the stereotypical ghost, I am hoping more for faintly glowing figures on the swings. I thought maybe making a wire frame, putting battery operated mini lights/string of LEDs, then wrapping with plastic wrap... or some other type of plastic. But not really sure how that might look. I thought perhaps jointing at where the knees would be and getting a "kick" as the swings swing. If I can come up with something decent, I would also like to put a couple on the teeter totter. Patrons will pass by the playground rather closely, but the swings are at the back side and will be a good 25' away. Any input or idea is welcome. TIA

sounds like you want something like this

Tech Info Blog Archive How To Make a Ghost?

If link doesn't come though for you : Google Images : Chickwire ghost.
You should be able to find it that way.

As is, it probably won't show up at night with same effect. Perhaps painting with white paint and a black light? Or maybe glow in the dark paints? I think LCD's would be too point of light emitting. Glow sticks- nah to many or too stick figurey. Perhaps your idea of plastic wrap. You are on the right track.
Once you get it figured out...please let the rest of know for future use.

I don't know if anyone does it, but you could do lifesize prints of children on clear plastic (desaturated) and back it with a translucent film. Paint the back with a blacklight reactive material to get the color of glow you want and hide blacklights around the site. That way you avoid any clear points of light. Alternatively you could use glow-in-the-dark paint and pop a strobe on them before the hayride passes by.

Think X-Files Season 7- Sein und Zeit and Closure

You could also use the cheesecloth/woolite trick, but use the afore mentioned wire frame to make the ghosts human shaped.

Thank you... it helps thinking I'm on the right path with the wire. I really believe the cheese cloth and black light idea might do the trick, as long as I can be sure that it's water safe in case of rain. I'll also have to check the area and make sure nothing glows that we don't want. I'm now thinking I might be able to die/paint the cheese cloth, then have several ghosts glowing different colors.

I have a lantern that holds a tea-light but I didn't want to use real candles. I lightly fluffed cotton batting and stuffed it into the lantern and used a green glow stick in the center to light it. The batting gave off a creepy glowing effect. It might work for what you want and there are many types of glow bracelets,necklaces on the market now at dollar stores to "fill" a child's form in the right places....good luck!

Have you ever thought about automating the swing set so the teeter totter and swings move by themselves, and then add muted sounds of kids laughing and playing? You wouldn't be able to see the ghosts, but you could hear them and see the play ground equipment moving. I'm thing of doing something similar with a rocking chair and a lullaby.

Here is another idea too.
Here in Tenn. a lot of children of all ages died from the hooping chough in the 20's in mass numbers there are large plot of just child graves in the older cemeteries here. Maybe have the old song ring around the roseies playing with a ghostly sound to it and the kids dressed in old fashion.

I have some creepy ghost children sound effects I might be able to dig up as well. Send me a message if you're interested!

danandmeg
thank you... I have emailed.

deadpeanutboy
That is part of my plan, the swings will swing, and if there's time I'll included the teeter totter.

TNbrad
EXACTLY! Slow, singing, creepy childrens voices.

The inside portion of our haunt will be stepped up from last year as far as fear factor. The addition of the hayride is in order to have a family friendly attraction. We want creepy fun, but not frightening and I think this scene will do well.

Thanks all for your input.

Don't forget to keep us posted and take pictures please.