Stage Combat Professor Demonstrates How to Make a Blood Pack

blood pack demo
Curious how stage actors use fake movie-quality blood during fight sequences? Associate Professor David Woolley explains his favorite way to create fake blood for stage.

Professor David Woolley started teaching stage combat at Columbia 39 years ago. His expertise in theatrical violence runs deep in Chicago’s theatre scene. He has staged fights for more than 400 productions since 1982 and is a Fight Master at The Society of American Fight Directors. Now, he oversees the Stage Combat program at the School of Theatre and Dance.

As a theatre industry veteran, Wolley knows a thing or two about creating realistic fight scenes on stage. He gathered a few stage combat students to demonstrat a fight scene using blood packs and small swords.

“One can use compressed air, stomp rockets, even small explosive squibs for fake blood practical effects. But the old standbys are a cup of fake blood hidden on stage or a blood strawberry,” says Woolley. 

For the uninitiated, a “blood strawberry” is another name for a blood pack. It earned the nickname because of its distinctive strawberry shape. Traditional fake blood recipes can get messy and easily stain, so Woolley recommends using a ready-made stage blood recipe. 

Blood strawberry packs using Gravity & Momentum stage blood

“You can make your own blood with a variety of recipes... Caro syrup or Hershey's syrup and food coloring; laundry detergent and food coloring; or even finger paints for children,” explains Woolley.  

“But I like to use blood syrup from Gravity & Momentum, a company founded by a former Columbia part-time faculty member. It has the texture one seeks, dries to an excellent scab, can be diluted for more watery blood if needed, and washes out completely.” 

3 Things You'll Need to Make a Simple Blood Pack

  1. Cheap sandwhich bags with no seal
  2. Gravity & Momentum blood syrup 
  3. Clorox Wipes (for clean up)

How much fake blood is needed for a practical effect to be successful:

  • For a mouth pack, 2-3 cc
  • For a small wound, 4-6 cc
  • For a large pack, 7+ cc will give a great effect

Recent News