After searching the site for methods of using slime on my new uniform,
I did a quick internet search and found they used this in the movies: (from what the search results claimed, anyway) methylcellulose powder mixed with water. It produces a clear, slime-like material (depending on how much powder is used and can also be made to look like mood slime. Source: Ghostbusters
If I am mistaken, then I apologize in advance.
From the site: *Ghostbusters II:
Ghostbusters II was much more slime filled than original, particularly due to the now famous river of slime that is central to the story as it threatens to engulf the city of New York. Variously known as Psychomagnotheric Slime, Mood Slime and Psycho-Reactive Slime it reacts to emotions, both positive and negative. Primarily pink in the film, It has been portrayed in other colours in the animated series
As would be expected, a lot of effort was put into both the river of slime and the other ectoplasmic ooze effects in the film.
The basis of the slime was Methocel (methylcellulose) and a food colouring, however there were a number of variations between scenes, as Chuck Gasper, effects supervisor speaks about in Cinefex (3);
“The usual formula to create thirty-two gallons of slime, was about eight cups of methocel to four-and-a-half cups of separan. Then we would add about fifty cc’s of red food coloring and thirty-two gallons of water. You could actually eat the stuff. It would not have any taste, but you could eat it. The grade of methocel used is also used in pie thickeners and salad dressings.”
These quantities therefore equate to the following proportions, by volume:
Methocel= 1.6%
Separan= 0.9%
Food colour= 0.04%
The separan is a “non-ionic polyacrylamide”, normally used as a flocculent in water treatment, however it would appear that this grade is no longer in production (certainly under this trade name). It is this that creates the stringiness clearly seen in some of the shots- for more info on this type of material see the main slime page.
The good news however is that a variant of it is available as 'Sticky Yuck in the US; Sticky Yuck or as ‘Slime Baff’ or ‘Slime Play’ in the UK; Slime Play
I have succeeded in making a very passable version of the slime using 1.5% Natrosol (as I haven’t got any methocel, and it gives a clearer goo than guar or xanthan gums) mixed with the slime play polyacrylamide.
The river as seen in the film was shot in miniature and composited with live action shots against a partial set of the subway steps and a matte painting of the rest of the tunnel. The river trough was approx. 1 ft wide by 10 ft long, on a slight slope fed by a high level dump tank with the slime recirculated back to the tank with a pump.
The specific colourings and visual look of the river took a significant amount of effort and changes to produce; the colour mix has not been revealed but the ooze contained a mica pearliser to give a shimmering effect and had a layer of clear mineral oil on the surface. The river had various air bladders and other methods of affecting the flow with puppetry used to produce further movement and tentacle effects when needed.*
It can also be colored or comes in colors, too. You can purchase it here in the States http://www.monstermakers.com/product/methylcellulose-powder.html or here overseas: http://messysupplies.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=180_189
Some pics: