Active Film & Theater Posts
How To: Build a fake wall that you can smash
This video will give you tips on how to make your very own fake wall that is perfect for smashing, thrashing, or just plain old throwing people through. This backyard special effect should really spice up your amateur film making. Just be careful, this fake wall can sometimes look like a real wall.
How To: Make a gaseous and bubbling pumpkin
Dr. Diana teaches you how to turn your "hum drum" pumpkin into a gaseous, bubbly pumpkin using dry ice, warm water and soap for your Halloween party. For another tutorial on this same dry ice and pumpkin principle, check out "How To Use dry ice for halloween special effects." Between these two videos, your halloween party will be the talk of the town.
How To: Transform into Heath Ledger's Joker for Halloween
Since "The Dark Knight" is basically the biggest movie of all time, and with Heath Ledger's unfortunate death, the Joker is going to be a pretty hot Halloween costume this year, and for years to come. Fortunately, the Joker's makeup can be pretty easily recreated at home.
How To: Edit your first movie
How do you edit a low-budget flick to look like an Academy Award-worthy film? The same way you get to Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice editing. Fun filmmaking tutorial for first time filmmakers. This how to video will help you avoid beginner mistakes when editing your first movie.
How To: Shoot your first movie
Shooting will probably be the most exciting part of making your first movie, and possibly the most challenging, too. Follow these steps to make the best use of your cameras. Fun filmmaking tutorial for first time filmmakers. This how to video will help you avoid beginner mistakes when shooting your first movie.
How To: Record audio/sound for your first movie
You may be tempted to skimp on audio quality in your first movie. Don’t—a single garbled conversation can drive an audience to the exits. Learn how to record perfect audio with this filmmaking tutorial for first timers.
How To: Become the Joker, a vampire or a zombie for Halloween
Leah D'Emilio from Mahalo Daily meets up with Maurice Stein, founder of Cinema Secrets in Burbank, CA to learn a few tricks of the trade for Halloween makeup. This video tutorial will show you how you can do three awesome looks for under twenty bucks from makeup artist, Taco: Vampire Kiss, Zombie, and the Joker.
How To: Become Heath's Ledger's Joker with makeup and latex
And... here… we... go! This Halloween you'll be the Joker, the wry character Heath Ledger revitalized in the film "Dark Knight," but how? This video tutorial will teach you all of the little tricks to becoming Heath Ledger's Joker with simple makeup.
How To: Make tentacle face costume makeup for cosplay
James St. James, author of Party Monster, teaches you how to make a tentacle face makeup prosthetics...out of cereal! Your host for the show is Lenora Claire. Perfect tutorial for those interested in cosplay. Use liquid latex, which you can get at any theatrical supply store.
How To: Cast your first movie
Good casting can bring a script to life. The trick is knowing where to look for the best people. Watch this filmmaking how to video to learn how to make your first movie (and not make any casting mistakes).
How To: Write your first screenplay
The screenwriter Gene Fowler once said, “Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” Here’s how to make the process of writing your first screenplay a little less painful. You will need a formatting guide, a realistic set of expectations and source material. This video provides general knowledge on screenwriting.
How To: Build a steadycam for small hybrid digital cameras
Need to shoot a film for class and realized you don't have a Fisher Dolly and your cinematographer's hands are a little to shaky for what you would consider good filmmaking? Well, this video tutorial will show you how to make your very own steadycam. Check out how a nautilus design transforms into a more suitable steadycam; the gimbal is the key, and gimbals are very hard to find, especially the right one.
How To: Build a homemade film steadycam for cheap
In this video tutorial, Wess does some research and builds a steady-cam for under fourteen bucks. Hooray for no more motion sickness!
How To: Make a straitjacket for your movie or for Halloween
Are you going INSANE cause you don't have a costume yet for Halloween? Worry no more, because this video tutorial from Thread Banger, Rob shows us a crazy tutorial on how to make your very own straitjacket.
How To: Make glowing LED creature costume eyes
By using LEDs that only put out a little light the eyes can be lit in dim room light but still appear white, the moment the eyes are in shadow they glow bright red. Watch this video tutorial to see how to make glowing LED creature costume eyes for your film or costume project.
How To: Make a creature puppet that bites and wags when held
If you're in the mood to make a horror movie, complete with creepy creatures and all, then you could make your dreams come true. Just check out this video tutorial on how to make a creature puppet that bites and wags when held. You can make this mechanism using string, craft wood, and hot glue, the action can be controlled with one finger, so the puppet appears to be alive when cradled in your arms. A nifty horror prop for a "pet monster."
How To: Setup and configure the Brevis 35mm Lens Adapter
This is a hands-on video tutorial that addresses the basic setup and configuration of a Cinevate Brevis 35mm Lens Adapter. We demonstrate this using the Brevis on a Panasonic HVX200 mounted on Zacuto rods and baseplate.
How To: Distribute a film and avoid the pitfalls of contracts
FreshDV had the opportunity recently to speak with Jerome Courshon on the marketing and distribution of movies and films. Jerome offers a full course in the “Secrets of Distribution” . If you are a filmmaker of any kind you owe it to your crew, your cast and yourself to watch this segment. From contracts, residuals, and pitfalls to avoid Jerome covers the 101 basics of film distribution and helps prepare you for what you need to know once the ink dries on the DVDs. In Jerome’s words:
How To: Make a Gatling gun arm costume
Backyard FX is back just in time for Halloween with this video tutorial. This how-to video shows you how to replace your an arm with a motorized gatling gun! Make a cool movie or the best Halloween costume in town! All for less then $35 dollars. You will need six cardboard shipping tubes, a sheet of scrap foamcore, a cordless screwdriver, a film canister cap, an L-bracket, plastic tubes, a plastic bucket, a roll of friction tape, a 1" by 3" scrap of wood, a scrap of wooden dowel, and a skateb...
How To: Make a homemade electric chair
Whether you’re pro or con on the death penalty issue, there’s nothing more terrifying than having a real live electric chair in your own home! So you should probably just use these simple steps to create a mock-electric chair to “shock” your guests! This Fear.Net Halloween video shows us how to make a homemade electric chair to frighten the Trick or Treaters this holiday season! Make a homemade electric chair.
How To: Make up a bloody gauged eye for Halloween
Even if you’re a Cyclops, you can’t expect to turn a blind eye to the most authentic Halloween make-up! Be part of the cringe-worthy fun and try our gauged eyeball make-up, brought to you by the pros. Make up a bloody gauged eye for Halloween.
How To: Build a vibrating 35mm adaptor for HD cinematography
This 2-part camera mechanical tutorial is for showing howto make a vibrating 35mm adapter. The vibrating adaptor is for high definition cinematography, and is useful for eliminating certain dust particles while shooting. The first video is to show the material and the first test with a Canon HV20.
How To: Build a vibrating 35mm DoF adapter
Check out this cinematography tutorial video that provides a basic introduction on how to build a vibrating 35mm depth of field adapter. You will need only 8 parts for the basic version of the vibrating DoF adapter:
How To: Recreate the Joker's makeup from the Dark Knight movie
This video series demonstrates a take on the screen accurate Joker from "The Dark Knight." The materials and makeup used are all from a company called Mehron, specifically the Extra Flesh that used for the scars, the Liquid Latex, the Spirit Gum, and the Fantasy F/X Tube Makeup. Watch this video special effects tutorial and learn how to do the Joker's makeup from the Batman Dark Knight movie for a Halloween costume or a new life as a sociopath.
How To: Create the Indiana Jones face melt effect
Welcome to our Indiana Jones special. This week, we've been challenged by Eric Zala, the director of "Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation" to create an awesome face melt effect for cheap! This is probably Indy Mogul's grossest effect yet, so you better not get nauseous or anything, because you might just want to use this for your film!
How To: Build a bass or sound trap
Halfed Ass Construction presents how to build a Bass / Sound trap in this home audio tutorial. This how-to video goes over the step by step instructions for how to build a frame, the materials needed the process of building the bass or sound trap. A bass trap acoustic panel will help capture low frequency sounds specifically, but will improve the sound quality of all levels. Turn your home into a sound studio or set on a budget. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to build a bass or sound...
How To: Make fake breakaway glass using SMASH plastic
Watch this video to learn how to make your own professional fake breakaway glass, using SMASH plastic. This glass is great for special effects and pranks!
How To: Build a character's objective for acting
Actor and teacher Benson Simmonds speaks on the actor's process that he teaches in this how-to video. This video acting lesson is about objective and obstacle. In addition, he remarks on the importance of the action. Whatever the objective, the actor needs to be able to translate that into a need and to express that feeling. Watch this video acting tutorial and learn how to build a character's objective.
How To: Build a breakaway tombstome prop
Are you doing a graveyard shot and decided it would be cool to throw someone through a tombstone? This video tutorial will show you how to make a breakaway tombstone. It can also be used to make a cool fake graveyard. You will need foam insulation, a tape measure, sand paper, a utility knife, a marker, string, and paint. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how make a breakaway tombstone for your next scary movie.
How To: Build a sci-fi cryo containment chamber
Making a prop for a science fiction movie? This how-to video dives step by step guidance on how to build a super cool, futuristic, sci-fi, cryo containment chamber. You will need a cylindrical object, craft foam or sytrofoam, a hot glue gun, plaster of Paris, aquarium line tubing, and paint. Check out this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to build a great sci-fi like cryogenic containment chamber.
How To: Make a Spiderman gun for Halloween
Modify a hot glue gun and shoot streams of sticky web goo all over your haunted house with the Spiderman gun in this how-to video. Add a little extra something to your Spiderman costume, to impress while trick-or-treating or at a Halloween party. You will need a hot glue gun, an air-compressor, air-compressor tubing, and copper fittings. Watch this video Halloween tutorial and learn how to make a Spiderman gun.
How To: Light your video with three options
You've got a camera, you've got some shooting know-how, and your audio is sounding sweet. Now, what about lighting? This video shows you three options for lighting your film.
How To: Choose a lavalier microphone to produce videos
Bill Myer compares four different lavalier microphones for use in producing videos: Sony ECM 55, Sony ECM 66, and Radio Shack lavalier microphones.
How To: Be a puppeteer
Want to be a puppeteer when you grow up? Watch this how-to video and learn as our host John Kennedy gives insider tips on how to develop your puppet character, make your puppet move and perform in front of an audience. All you need is a puppet, a huge imagination, and the helpful tips in this video tutorial. Be a puppeteer.
How To: Clean a smoke machine
Smoke machines can add great atmosphere to any occasion. But your smoke machine can get clogged. You need to clean the smoke machine every 6 months. This tutorial teaches you how to clean your smoke machine. Great care must be taken as the smoke or steam is very hot and can burn you in a split second. Watch this how to video and soon you will have a sparkling clean smoke machine.
How To: Film in a moving vehicle
Jennifer demonstrates an in car video camera techniques by showing different ways to shoot video from a moving vehicle.
How To: Set the aperture and shutter speed on the HV20
This is a cinematography tutorial video that demonstrates how to control the aperture and shutter speed on the HV20 high definition camcorder. This is the PAL version, so it's basically the same except the NTSC version would have different shutter speeds. You will also need a miniSD card in your camera for this technique to work. Learn how to set the aperture and shutter speed on the HV20 high definition camcorder with this instructional cinematography video.
How To: Use the Milo Motion Control system rig
This gem, an extensive cinematography video tutorial on Motion Control systems by Mark Roberts Motion Control. In some ways this video is an advertisement for the systems they create, but there is a lot of useful knowledge shared that transfers to planning, shooting, and compositing with lesser tools. This instructional video explains what motion control is and the features of the Milo Motion control system rig. A ton of fantastic commercial and music video creative work is shown, with shot b...
How To: Use the JVC GY-DV5100U professional camcorder
Check out this cinematography tutorial video that demonstrates how to use the GY-DV5100U Professional DV Camcorder. JVC has upgraded the camera's features and digital processing circuits to meet the requirements of a growing number of broadcasters looking for cost effective alternatives to the over-priced tapeless solutions of other manufacturers. This video is great for cinematographers and filmmaking aficionados alike. Learn all the functions and settings on the GY-DV5100U with this instruc...
How To: Use the JVC DR-DV5000 Direct To Edit
Check out this cinematography tutorial video that demonstrates how to use your professional JVC DR-DV5000 Direct to Edit (DTE). The DR-DV5000 is designed to mount directly to your JVC GY-DV5100 and turn it into a DV-Disk recording solution. It becomes possible to shoot directly to disk or simultaneously to tape and disk. The DTE capture files are a mirror image of what's recorded. Learn everything there is to know about the DR-DV5000 with this instructional cinematography video and start usin...