For the new show I’m working on, Rags and Bones, I have to make a trick chair that spurts blood and hides human hearts. Actually, I have to make it look like an actor is spurting blood, but the chair is the easiest way to deliver said fluid.
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 The harder thing was figuring out where to hide the heart.The chair’s structure is fairly open and we like the way it looks. After playing around with various options I finally decided that I would start by making the heart a little smaller than commercially available options. I’m also giving the seat a much thicker pad than it had originally, which allows me to incorporate a secret compartment.
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 From here, it is much like a standard upholstery job. In fact, the top layer is the original padding from the chair, trimmed to allow access to the secret compartment.
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 When fully assembled, I’m not trying to hide the seam, but I am trying to make it look intentional. I have to pick up some different material for the seat because the plether I had on hand was way the heck too thick.
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 And there’s the rehearsal heart, tucked away inside its compartment.
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You really do make the coolest props. Also, “rehearsal heart” is a great story idea.
Oooo…. that is a good idea.