How to find fake snow in LA?

January 24, 2007 9:47 PM

PropFilter: How to find fake snow in LA?

I'm doing a photo-shoot this weekend that will require me to use at least 5 pounds of fake snow. I know of a place where I can mail-order it, but I procrastinated and I'm not really in a position to pay for next day shipping. Any other photographers out there who can tell me where I can get some fake snow locally? The closer to the Valley, the better. :-)

posted by arishaun to media & arts (7 comments total)

You can use mashed potato flakes.
posted by lee at 9:52 PM on January 24, 2007

Second the potato flakes, but careful not to get them wet.
posted by gac at 10:07 PM on January 24, 2007

If you believe Aaron Sorkin then you can use shredded coconut.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:08 PM on January 24, 2007

Wow...all great suggestions and quick too!

One thing I seemed to have forgotten to mention was that I will be using fake blood on the "snow" (probably food coloring or something similar). Does that change things with the potato flakes?

Any suggestions for the fake blood would be cool too. :-)
posted by arishaun at 11:27 PM on January 24, 2007

For fake blood, use karo syrup with food coloring. That's pretty standard. It's sticky though, so be careful where you drip it... it can be annoying to clean up sometimes.

As for the snow, sometimes they have bags of plastic snow at Michael's, but I know potato flakes are an old standby. Or you might be able to call this company in Santa Cruz and have them FedEx you some polymer stuff.

Cinema Secrets might be able to point you in the right direction if you get into a bind... they're special effects specialists in the Valley. They specialize in makeup but they do props sometimes too.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:55 PM on January 24, 2007

Cart Planet only recently took down their Snow Powder kiosks (in favor of skin salt stuff or something). CP's out of LA, you can probably give them a call and see if you can take some of their leftover product off their hands.

Snow Powder's that "just add water" stuff; very realistic looking and easy to use/clean up.
posted by carsonb at 6:24 AM on January 25, 2007

Recently.
posted by allkindsoftime at 8:05 AM on January 25, 2007