How to Build Castle Walls

Hey everyone, a while back while we were preparing to shoot our Game of Thrones parody “A Character I Used to Know”, I took some time to shoot a tutorial on how to make the castle walls in the video.

The process is relatively simple. First you need to secure some large sheets of styrofoam from your local hardware store. While you’re there, pick up a utility knife or two and a pair of safety glasses. A drill and grinding bit can come in handy as well, but they’re not completely necessary. You’ll also need some paint and a brush or two for detail work. Oh, and a vacuum to clean up all the styrofoam beads.

First up, draw out your stone pattern on your sheet of styrofoam. Here’s a picture of a small test piece I did just to get the hang of it.

Next, take your utility knife and start carving out all the grout and cracks between the stones. Don’t be afraid of messing up here, you don’t want them looking perfect. The small imperfections and bevels will really give the piece a more realistic feel. The more areas there are to catch light and give it depth, the better it will look on camera.

Be warned, this process is messy.

Once that is done, go over the surface with a wire brush to give it even more texture. Once it’s looking how you want it, then you’re ready for paint! I used a water based spray paint (spray paint with acetone will eat into the styrofoam, so be careful which one you choose). You can also use regular latex paint and brushes if you prefer. Do a base coat or two, then use smaller brushes to add character and detail to the individual bricks and stones.

That’s all it takes! They look great on camera in both still photos and video, and they’re a great way to add instant production value to your next project.