District 9 Fluid Device(SPOILER)

Why not print it out on waterslide sans contact brass and put it on an actual smart card? All the actual security cards I've ever had for work were like that.
 
Thanks. I see you got closer on the typeface for "MNU". I gave up on recognizing that one, it's very clean and modern, with the LOW middle on the "M", but I can't place it.

It's complicated too by the fact that the typefaces are different on the props, the on-screen graphics in the film, and on the promotion stuff such as the viral sites. I did identify Futura in the onscreen graphics, and while it's not identical, "OCR-A" is pretty close on the "computer font".

mnutypefaces.png
 
I read somewhere that some of the fonts were made for the film. I got tired of trying to find the right one, so I traced it.
 
Don't know how close this is, but the shape looks about right.
mousse.jpg


As for the black cap....Kind of looks like a laundry detergent cap.


DS
 
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The ID cards are looking really good. Following this thread a lot more now (finally got round to seeing the film today)
 
Guys. Trust me. It would be easier for a propmaker to machine a new piece from scratch than to cannibalize a metal can of hair product.

It would be a silly waste of time to gut something like this. I'm just curious why some of you are looking for the wizard in cans of hairspray and/or mousse?! I mean, you can cut a window in a piece of round metal stock and be done with it if that's the case.

This prop isn't complicated. One simply needs to have the proper reference and these can be spit out in metal no problem.

At a glance I'd say this prop is a large Piston Syringe that's been placed in a machined housing.



Don't know how close this is, but the shape looks about right.
mousse.jpg


As for the black cap....Kind of looks like a laundry detergent cap.


DS
 
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Guys. Trust me. It would be easier for a propmaker to machine a new piece from scratch than to cannibalize a metal can of hair product.

There have been too many props made from found objects to completely rule out existing objects as a basis for the tube.

How exactly would it be easier for someone to machine a tube with a tapered top, when he could easily buy one that already exists?
 
Um, because you'd still have to machine a window in a thin walled piece of crap aluminum hairspary container for starters. :rolleyes

Then you'd have to cut the bottom off without destroying/kinking the can. Then you'd have to find the perfect fit for a container to act as a reservoir, then...

Silly me. I digress.

Good luck, soldier on.

There have been too many props made from found objects to completely rule out existing objects as a basis for the tube.

How exactly would it be easier for someone to machine a tube with a tapered top, when he could easily buy one that already exists?
 
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Also, where was this filmed? There may be vastly different things available in South Africa or wherever.
I agree tht it's likely a found object, however as Rylo points out, those little spray cans (and probably fat markers as as well) are such thin metal that trying to modify them is a real pain. Maybe it was a cast of one in resin or something?
I have heard this was a fairly low budget film, though this was a pivotal storyline prop.

Watching with great interest since seeing the film, which I loved.
Waiting for the sequel "in three years."

I'll need a badge to go with my T-shirt! :D
 
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Um, because you'd still have to machine a window in a thin walled piece of crap aluminum hairspary container for starters. :rolleyes

Then you'd have to cut the bottom off without destroying/kinking the can. Then you'd have to find the perfect fit for a container to act as a reservoir, then...

Silly me. I digress.

Good luck, soldier on.

And I suppose a prop maker wouldn't have to do any of those things on a custom piece of metal.

Silly me, thinking it is easier to cut a window into a thin piece of metal, rather than a solid piece of metal.

Btw, those cans aren't made of flimsy aluminum..
 
There are certainly lots of opinions right now, all of them speculative.
I have been researching a lot of graffiti style things.
Really large refillable paint markers, as well well as small cans of spray paint.
Small in diameter that is, not in height.
If I am wrong..so what, it was fun trying to help identify something.
I still think it is a simple can of some sort, possibly with all the details added with a marker or clear stick on transfer.
This would also help to create the window.
The window area to me just doesn't look like a clean enough cut line to have been machined.
That doesn't mean it wasn't, just my opinion.
I also wonder if the prongs on the top aren't some sort of pin connector, again, just an opinion.
I am certain somebody here will figure it out eventually.
The biggest reason I thought of the marker/paint pen idea is that the black part on the bottom fits there really nicely.
That made me think of a marker cap.
I also think that the cap may be a clue to the actual product.
On pens and markers I have seen that little injection molded nipple in the center.
I don't recall having seen that on other types of products.
I could be crazy, wrong, steering people in the wrong direction, whatever.
Have fun, work together, and we will figure it out eventually.
Or someone will take the time and actually machine one and hopefully offer them in the jy.
Scott
 
I think all this brain storming about what it can be made from is really good. It is getting my designing juices flowing.
 
I think all this brain storming about what it can be made from is really good. It is getting my designing juices flowing.

You mean your creative fluid? Make sure to get a container for that; don't let it spray you in the face!
 
Again. Good luck with that! :thumbsup

And I suppose a prop maker wouldn't have to do any of those things on a custom piece of metal.

Silly me, thinking it is easier to cut a window into a thin piece of metal, rather than a solid piece of metal.

Btw, those cans aren't made of flimsy aluminum..
 
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I tried to get ahold of a couple people (but not at WETA) - they weren't chatty. Sometimes, it's like pulling teeth. I don't wanna annoy them by constantly emailing ... but I can't really think of a better solution.

Anyway, regarding the ID, the "MNU" font looks pretty close to Helvetica, and the "MULTI-NATIONAL UNITED" looks like Century Gothic. That's about what I'm sticking with.

ID people, I posted some caps in the D9 paper props thread. Go have a look around there.

The barcode looks like PDF 417, which is a standard (and public, I think) 2-D barcode symbology. You can find generators on the web, or you can just do a Google Image Search and borrow one.


-Mike J.
 
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