Potions and More Spooky Stuff

In preparations for filming later this week (and next week), I've been researching ways to make safe practical effects.

One thing we want to recreate is a potion like the one below, that glows and bubbles/fogs, but is safe to drink.

My idea is to use dry ice, tonic water, and a black light.

A bit of dry ice in water.

Tonic water in normal light (left), and in blacklight (right)

While dry ice needs to be handled carefully, and not put directly in a drink, it can provide a fog effect that will hopefully remind our audience of the usual representation of witches. Unlike dry ice, tonic water is perfectly safe to handle and drink, although most people think it tastes kind of nasty. Tonic water contains quinine, a chemical originally used to help fight malaria. Now the quinine is added mostly for its distinct bitter flavor, and helpfully makes the drink glow in blacklight.


We also want to use candles, to provide a spooky atmosphere, which plays to the generic representation of witches. We have to be careful not to burn my house down, but I know we can make it look pretty cool. It will also add a natural light source that's part of the mise-en-scene.

Sources:
"Dry Ice Party Ideas." Tiger Ice. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2017. <http://www.tigericeco.com/dry-ice/dry-ice-party-ideas/>
"Tonic Water." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Mar. 2017. Web. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_water>