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The Minions secret float building recipe
for the Fantasy Fest Parade INGREDIENTS: 1 Tow Vehicle 1 Trailer 1 Generator 1 Sound system Lights Power tools and building materials Beads (optional) Mix together for 1 week and allow to take on a life of its own. Garnish with music, costumes and special effects. Add libations to taste. Deliver to Duval street, Fantasy Fest night. Serves up to 125,000 guests |
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A rough sketch and computer model is made well in advance and a library of screen shots from the movie is posted on the web site so crew can decide which Na'vi they want to be. |
| 1). Build a sturdy frame or “bones” out of light weight lumber. Dimensions for entire float must not exceed 12' Wide x 13' Height x 40' Length |
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| 2). Cover with wire mesh or chicken wire to create the shape of the object. Wire mesh is a great material to work with because it’s light weight and can be compressed and molded. Wire mesh is attached with zip-ties and staple gunned directly to the wooden frame. |
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| 2b). Posts are placed around the trailer as mounting brackets for the black lights, and hand-holds for crew. These are quadruple reinforced to make sure no one falls off the float. |
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| 3). Cover wire mesh with bubble wrap (bubble side down), or a cheap durable fabric to help flesh out the piece. Bubble wrap is held together with spray glue and double sided tape. |
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| 4). Cover bubble wrap with painter’s drop cloth (paper side up) or other material which can be painted. |
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| 5). The piece is ready for air brushing. On some floats we use standard floral sheeting for a slightly more expensive vintage look. |
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| 6). In the line up area, the bed of the trailer is decorated with dried plants spray painted with florescent and glow in the dark paint. The most fragile pieces are carefully added at the last minute. Foam core insulation is used for flat working material (teeth and lettering) because it's cheap, light weight and can be cut and shaped with a regular utility knife. |
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| 7). The Media stand. This float won 4th place in the 2010 Fantasy Fest parade. |
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| Costumes, props, jewelry, embroidery, bead work are all made by hand, (mostly by the girls), beginning months in advance. Na'vi wardrobe includes head bands, necklaces, glasses with insect wing lenses, wrist and ankle bracelets, breast plates, bow & arrows, quivers, belts, and sheathes. |
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| Prosthetic appliances (face-masks, ears, teeth and contact lenses) are mail ordered from several websites on the internet. Once covered with makeup and air brushed paint, appliances appear seamless. |
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| Working from their customized trailer in the line up area, local artists Tim and Stacy Donald begin with a base coat of medium-blue dry makeup. Then a coat of medium blue air brush body paint, then a coat of darker blue stripes, and finally a coat of light blue, white, and glow-in-the-dark paint for highlights and freckles. |
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| Average prep for a single Na'vi is about 2 hours. |
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Audio is theme music from the DVD edited down to 2 minute loops and played through a high watt sound system.
Along darker areas of the parade route, an array of blacklights helps bring this float to life, making the center piece and crew literally glow in the dark. |
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The Minions - Key West
minions@islandalien.com |