Pounding hand against the window....how do I do it?

firsttimmer · #1 (**permalink**) 08-25-2005, 11:52 AM

OK....I think I have the idea on how to do the peppers ghost, but need to get something that will pound against the window in a ghostly manner.

I would like to find something that I could plug in and, with the attachment of a hand, would bang against the inside of the window to look like a ghost that wants to come out. I noticed a site that talks about this effect with lighting, a drape, and an actor, but I would like to do this automated rather than with an actor. Anyone know of someone who may have something that I can use in this effect?

Thanks

Don

www.locustgrovehouse.com
donkraper@allstate.com

llondra · #2 (**permalink**) 08-25-2005, 04:59 PM

I don't know if you're more wanting visual or sound (or maybe both), but...

Maybe you could rig one of those crawling severed hands (I think they run about $15). If you tied it down and then backlit, you would maybe get the shadowed effect of a hand scratching against the glass? Maybe?

FontGeek · #3 (**permalink**) 08-27-2005, 05:56 PM

If you want an actual hand knocking on the window, how about using a windshield wiper motor and gear box with a hand attached on the arm?
If you just want a hand or hands that are rattling the window, use a hand with a bimble ball inside it, you can have it suspended by nylon lines so that it is "floating" in air against the window.
FontGeek

Wolfman · #4 (**permalink**) 08-30-2005, 06:36 PM

An authentic "Peppers Ghost" couldn't actually pound on the window, as you put it, the ghost is a visual illusion. BUT...years ago we used a two way mirror as the opening scare of our haunt. The ghost was a girl in full costume. The costume was all white cotton and the illumination was a black light. At a cue, the internal light came on and she moved towards the glass. As the night wore on, she got more and more aggressive, rushing the glass with her hands outstretched. She never really pounded then glass per se, but she could have. You can acheive the effect this way but you need a live actor. Our ghost also ran a sound console when she wasn't scaring the TOT's, and she could see everything through the mirror. It was an excellent vantage point, by the end of the night we had four girls inside that room taking turns rushing the glass.