special effects

What you need: willing parents, a hose, many lamps, a coat hanger, condensed milk and a 55 gallon fish tank.
Mention to anyone within earshot that you have a burning desire to create clouds in a tank of water. Be fortunate enough to learn that your father has seen, only hours earlier, a fish tank by the side of the road. Run to the car, dragging younger brother for emotional support.
Find fish tank - help other trash pickers load and enormous dresser into their van, load fish tank and return triumphant.
Set up an elaborate Rube Goldberg system in the back yard: fish tank on benches, hose at the ready and every light from your room pointed (sans shades) at the water. In the absence of Duvetyne, use a roll of tar paper found in the garage. Make sure to use a lot of power strips and extension cords - and keep them near the water.
Wait for nightfall.

Discuss, over dinner, things to drip into the tank for the desired effect. Rule out blood, soap, ashes, baby powder, dinner.





Fizzy tablets look good in the tank but don't really show up on tape impressively.



Condensed milk is the winner.











In the end, realize that food coloring makes no difference. You'll have to syphon the tank dry several times and bring in the electricals before you go to bed.



But you can leave the last blue tank of water for the morning.