Active Film & Theater Posts
How To: Boffer sword fight with a short spear
Live action role-playing. LARP. LARPing. The battlefield. Boffer. Sword fighting. DEAD. Do these terms ring a bell? They should, if you're anywhere but heaven.
How To: Set up the perfect green screen studio
Hey guys. Here's a guide to making the best green screen studio without paying too much cash! Not cheap like our first one, Today we're balancing price AND quality. Can't use green poster board forever.
How To: Use a light meter to properly light a digital film
A light meter can prove to be an invaluable tool on any film set, allowing you to quickly and efficiently set lights and know the correct exposure values of those lights. Light meters were initially designed for still photographers and cinematographers can easily calibrate them to a given film stock speed for shooting film. But what about today’s digital cinematographer? I’m glad you asked. In this video tutorial you'll see how you can use a light meter to quickly and efficiently light a scen...
How To: Make Naruto shoes for cosplay
See how easy it is to make your very own Naruto shoes for cosplay! They're cheap, easy to make, and fun! Anime and manga, all the way!
How To: Create vambrace forearm armor film props
Check out this video from Chemical Reaction Tutorials (CRTutorials). If you love filmmaking, prop making, editing and everything else that goes along with making movies, then you'll want to see what Adam has to say about gauntlets.
How To: Build a Batman grappling gun prop
No Batman Halloween costume is complete without a grappling gun and hook. Parker put together this video to teach how to make this easy prop. You will need a fake plastic gun, two mini DVDs, cardboard, scissors, miscellaneous hardware, two checkers, duct tape, spray paint, and a hot glue gun. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to build a Batman-style grappling gun prop.
How To: Build a low cost teleprompter with Bill Myers
This video is about how to create a low cost teleprompter using your computer, a long vga cable, and your LCD or Plasma TV
How To: Make a cheap special effects blood cannon
Check out this video guide on how to make a cheap special effects blood cannon. This inexpensive SFX machine not only cheap, but an effective Special FX blood cannon for any zombie movie or gunshot wound or blood splatter effect!
How To: Make a Lego man walking animation
If you're planning on being the next Ridley Scott of brickfilms, then maybe you need to start off with a few basics, like in this video tutorial about how to make a Lego man walking animation. Creating a world of moving legos for your "legomation" masterpiece starts with the simplest things... walking.
How To: Create aging makeup
Do you want to make your actors look older? The guys at Indy Mogul show you how to make aging makeup for under $30.
How To: Create an alive and moving solo hand effect
Check out this video from Chemical Reaction Tutorials (CRTutorials). If you love filmmaking, prop making, editing and everything else that goes along with making movies, then you'll want to see what Adam has to say about hand effects.
How To: Build a foam boffer sword for awesome LARPing
Need a new foam boffer sword? Can't get into a LARPing event without it? Well, you better steal one, or make one, but this video will show you how to do the latter.
How To: Give yourself a black eye using just a newspaper
In general, no one actually WANTS a black eye. But if you're filming a movie, in a play, or just want to freak out your mom and dad or friends, it's nice to know how to "put on" a fake one.
How To: Make a boom pole for $15
Sometimes a shotgun mic isn't enough. The guys at Indy Mogul show you how to build your own boom pole to help capture better sound for your films.
How To: Shoot and edit a 3D movie
Sick of making BORING two-dimensional movies? In this video tutorial, an episode of Indy Mogul 4 Minute Film School, you will learn how to shoot and edit a 3D movie.
How To: Record good audio with your video camera
Are you an aspiring filmmaker? If so, you might not have made it to Steven Spielberg status just yet, which means you could learn a thing or two. Eos Lighting has made this video to help teach you a little bit about sound on a video camera.
How To: Create the Indiana Jones budget crystal skull
This is an Indiana Jones special that shows you how to make your very own crystal skull. You can't miss this episode! Erik dressed as professor Indy, test film by Waverly Films, and much more!
How To: Set up three point lighting for shooting video
In this illuminating episode of the Shirtless Apprentice, Matt walks you step by shirtless step through the three point lighting technique as he explains the relationship between the key light, fill light, and how to give your subject some pop with an overhead backlight.
How To: Make your own Masked Magician mask
Make a Magician's Mask Have you ever heard of the Masked Magician? With the television series Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed, the so-called Masked Magician (Val Valentino) revealed secret after secret of the magicians repertoire. Valentino creates “the magic” then proceeds to reveal the reality of the illusions before a captivated television audience.
How To: Write a script following proper screenplay format
Mike and Rajo from the SubStream's "Film Lab" have some tips regarding pre-production and development for proper script format.
How To: Understand exposure when filming
This is The Substream's "The Film Lab" series on cinematography basics. This is an intro into the basics of exposure. What is the difference between exposure and shutter anyway?
How To: Practice "the rule of thirds" in filming compositions
This is The Substream's lesson from The Film Lab in Composition: The Rule of Thirds. Composition is how you choose to show the audience your story.
Use video camera lens basics: Angle, focal length, DOF
Mike from the SubStream's "Film Lab" has some tips regarding video camera lenses. In part one, Mike talks about the basics of lenses, starting with focal length and angle of view. It's a lesson on the analog collections of lenses cinematographers use with their cameras. For people who like to point lenses at things, here is the functional knowledge.
How To: Setup Rembrandt lighting for a film shoot
This is The Substream's "The Film Lab" series on lighting basics. This episode covers Rembrandt Lighting.
How To: Use the Letus Extreme depth of field camera adapter
See how to use the depth of field adapter, the Letus Extreme, for your digital camcorders. Also see 35mm adapters for your digital cameras. Great for that professional look you need in your film.
How To: Make a ninja mask from a t-shirt
Want to be a ninja? This ViewDo video tutorial will show you how to make a ninja mask from a t-shirt. Once you have your t-shirt ninja mask made, the rest is up to you... learn some martial arts or something. Kyeaah!
How To: Make bloody cuts and slashes for Halloween
Special effect makeup, at home and easy. Make fake cuts and slashes for your Halloween haunting! Or any other day of the year, especially Valentine's Day.
How To: Calibrate an NTSC camera monitor
Check out this cinematography video tutorial on how to use calibrate an NTSC camera monitor, specifically a Marshall monitor.
How To: Use the Panasonic HPX500 broadcast quality camera
Check out this cinematography video tutorial on how to use the Panasonic HPX500 broadcast camera. The Panasonic professional digital camcorder HPX500 is an awesome camera for the new age.
How To: Set up a wireless microphone for sound recording
Check out this film and theater video tutorial on how to set up a wireless microphone for sound recording.
How To: Make a bicycle camera mount
Shoot an action-packed close up, or film while you're biking around. All you need to do is build a simple bicycle camera mount. You'll need a tripod mount, PVC pipe, pliers, bungee cord, a U bolt and a bike. Watch this video cinematography tutorial and learn how to build a bicycle camera mount.
How To: Add a handle system for RED ONE camera
Here's a new handle system for the RED ONE Camera. Allows multiple mounting points as well as an isolation plate for RED DRIVES. It's extremely robust, versatile, and inexpensive.
How To: Make a rain machine
How do you add instant drama to your scenes? Rain and sappy music of course. Using some wood, rope and a garden hose Erik shows you how to make a "Hollywood rain machine" for less then $50 bucks.
How To: Create a land mine prop
Check out this video from Chemical Reaction Tutorials (CRTutorials). If you love filmmaking, prop making, editing and everything else that goes along with making movies, then you'll want to see what Adam has to say about land mines.
How To: Set up a hot chick bloody gun shot stunt double
This Kipkay video shows you how to make a squib for a perfect bloody gun shot effect. This Special FX howto will make your gorey bullet hole movie so much more realistic. You need a garden hose valve to build this movie effect.
How To: Create a clone effect in Wax for films
Check out this video from Chemical Reaction Tutorials (CRTutorials). If you love filmmaking, prop making, editing and everything else that goes along with making movies, then you'll want to see what Adam has to say about cloning.
How To: Build a laser gun prop and create laser effects
Check out this video from Chemical Reaction Tutorials (CRTutorials). If you love filmmaking, prop making, editing and everything else that goes along with making movies, then you'll want to see what Adam has to say about laser guns.
How To: Build two lightsabers, make effects, and use the force
Check out this video from Chemical Reaction Tutorials (CRTutorials). If you love filmmaking, prop making, editing and everything else that goes along with making movies, then you'll want to see what Adam has to say about lightsabers.
How To: Shoot and edit a cool dance effect
Adam from Chemical Reaction wants to show you a little movie magic. This video tutorial will show you how to shoot and edit a cool dance effect for your homemade film. You will see how to position the camera, set up the scene, shoot it twice (once with your legs dancing and once with you standing still), and then edit it in your favorite editing program to make it look like you're dancing without the top half of your body moving.
How To: Create easy special effects
This week Brandon demonstrates how to perform a few special effects that can improve the visual dynamics of your videos. He explains special effects such as projector feedback loop, levitation camera trick, "use the force" trick.