Active Film & Theater Posts
How To: Load the Arriflex SRII magazine
Check out this instructional cinematography video to learn how to load 16mm film into the Arriflex SRII magazine. Professor Plow demonstrates the process of loading the Arri SR2 mag. To start loading the feed side, it needs to be done entirely in the changing bag, in a light tight environment. This cinematography tutorial video is ideal for serious film enthusiasts and professionals alike.
How To: Hack a prop ghost to fly continuously for Halloween
Check out this instructional video to learn how to hack a prop ghost to fly continuously for your Halloween display.
How To: Set up a prop static ghost for Halloween
Check out this instructional video that shows how to set up a prop static ghost for Halloween.
How To: Make a display graveyard & border fences for Halloween
Check out this Halloween tutorial video that shows how to make a display graveyard and its border fences.
How To: Make a display entry archway for Halloween
Check out this Halloween set video that explains how this entry archway display was created. This show & tell video was taken immediately following the Halloween Yard Haunt prior to dismantling. The unscripted prop descriptions are as complete as time would allow.
How To: Build a simple stop motion puppet stage
Check out this fun animation tutorial video that shows you how to build a simple stage that sits on a table for your animation using a stop motion puppet. It will be a small, compact and easy to make stage. You will need a sheet of plywood and some screws. Follow the step by step instructions, add puppets and create your own stop motion animation video.
How To: Learn the six animation principles
Check out this instructional stop motion animation video that illustrates the six animation principles:
How To: Build the Panavision Genesis Super 35 camera
Check out this instructional cinematography video that shows you how to build the Genesis Super 35 Digital Cinematography Camera System. Watch and learn as this instructor sets up the Panavision Genesis camera and prepares it for a shoot. This cinematography tutorial is perfect for professional filmmakers.
How To: Display lightning FX & fog into back of tombstone
Check out this demonstrational video to learn how to create lighting FX and fog behind the back of a tombstone that's a great prop for Halloween sets.
How To: Make a flying crank ghost on Halloween
Check out this Halloween tutorial video to learn how to make a flying crank ghost. This is essentially like making a big Marionette ghost puppet. All you need is the following easy to find materials: a styrofoam skull, 7 wire coat hangers, black spary paint, pliers, cheese cloth, tacky glue, and laundry detergent. This flying crank ghost promises to be a delightful scare on Halloween trick or treaters!
How To: Make linear tracks on the Technik Skater
Watch this professional cinematography video to learn how to make linear tracks on the P+S Technik SKATER Mini dolly to better utilize and maximize its performance. It's actually extremely fast to get the Skater ready to shoot. Learn how to make straight tracks inward as well as a typical linear tracking shot. View final footage of the Skater used on professional film sets.
How To: Use the Steadybag on the Technik Skater
Watch this professional cinematography video to learn how to use the Steadybag to enhance and maximize the performance of the P+S Technik SKATER Mini dolly. The Steadybag allows you to work with angled shots. Just place the bracket into the frame of the skater and then place the camera on top of it. View final footage of the Skater used on professional film sets.
How To: Use periscopes & borescopes with the Technik Skater
Watch this instructional video to learn how to use periscopes and borescopes to maximize the performance of the P+S Technik SKATER Mini dolly. Working with periscopes and borescopes can add interesting perspective to the shots you do with the SKATER. View final footage of the Skater used on actual professional film sets.
How To: Make an organization xiii coat for Cosplay
Check out this tutorial video sequence to learn how to make a Kingdom Heart's 2 Organization 13 Coat for Cosplay! In part 1, you will learn how to make the front part of the coat. Then, when you start sewing, you have to make sure that the outside of the coat is on the inside and to start sewing the shoulders first. This is one way of making Axel and Saix coats for Cosplay. This video was filmed in the hopes of helping people who are struggling to make an Organization XIII Coat. Watch these i...
How To: Make Axel's chakrams for Cosplay
Check out this tutorial video to learn how to make Axel's chakrams for Cosplay. This instructor guides you along every step of the process, even taking you to the store and providing tips on which materials to use. Watch this instructional video that details how to make Axel's chakrams for cosplay, and enhance your role playing.
How To: Make a cardboard sword for Cosplay
Check out this step by step instructional video to learn how to make a Cosplay Sword from cardboard and wood! Make sure you have all of the following materials to start making your Cosplay sword: spray paint, hard cardboard, wooden dowel, bendable metal wire, silver colored tape, embellishment, super glue, hand saw, paper clay, masking tape, scrap papers, pen knife, and a PVC pipe. Watch this Cosplay video and enhance your role playing with this tutorial!
How To: Make a Halloween Jason hockey mask
Jason Voorhees might be one of the scariest horror villains, and that's why he would make for a great Halloween costume. For this project, you will need a hockey mask, white spray paint, black spray paint, clear spray paint, an artist's brush, red, black, and brown acrylic paint, sand paper, an X-acto or utility knife, a drill bit, and a black barker. Watch this video special effects tutorial and learn how to make a Jason Voorhees hockey mask for a Halloween costume or movie spoof.
How To: Make a cheap corpse head prop for Halloween
Dr Kreepy, Halloween crafter, shows how to obtain a rotting head without killing someone! For this project, you will need a skull, paintbrushes, liquid latex, black spray paint, brown paint, and cotton balls. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to make a cheap corpse prop head for Halloween.
How To: Enhance videos of a static scene using photographs
This video presents a system for automatically producing a wide variety of video enhancements and visual effects. Unlike traditional visual effects software (e.g., After Effects, Shake, Boujou, etc), the system is completely automatic and no manual labor is required from the user. The major limitation of the work is that it can currently handle only videos of static scenes (i.e., videos shot with a moving camera but containing no moving objects in the scene). Efforts are being made to lift th...
How To: Build a lightsaber prop for film making
Backyard FX shows how to build a real lightsaber. Erik Beck unearths the original lightsaber blueprints from the special effects creator for Star Wars, and show you how to buy parts to a real lightsaber so you can have your own custom Star Wars weapon. In the test film you'll see our rotoscoping technique on how to complete the effect with some simple computer animation. You will need chrome plated slip joints, black vinyl rubber, a nylon slip joint, a rubber slip joint, rubber O rings, and m...
How To: Properly use wireless microphones
One of the best tools for audio systems is a wireless microphone. This video will give you tips on how to use a wireless microphone if you're shooting on the move, or if you're a one man band type producer.
How To: Do Joker scar makeup from the Batman Dark Knight movie
With the Dark Knight being one of the most successful movies of all time, the Joker is sure to be a sought after Halloween costume. While the make-up might seem tricky to apply, this video shows how to recreate it. Watch this video special effects tutorial series and learn how to do the makeup for the Joker from Batman's Dark Knight movie.
How To: Paint a tiger fur suit head
This video wardrobe and costume design tutorial shows how to paint realistic tiger colors and stripes onto a fur suit head. You'll need an airbrush, paint, and the ready made blank fursuit head. Watch this instructional video and get painting. Come Halloween, you'll be happy to have a costume ready and waiting.
How To: Sew a pair of fox ears for a costume
Costume fox ears are simple to make. Just draft a pattern, cut them out of the fabric, and sew it all together. Watch this video wardrobe and costume-making tutorial and learn how to build a pair of fox ears. Come Halloween, you'll have a costume ready and waiting to go.
How To: Make a fur suit elk head costume
You don't need to go buy an expensive costume, or rent a fur suit that countless people have already sweat into. Make a fur suit just the way you want it at home. The fur suit can be a great Halloween costume or movie prop. Watch this video wardrobe and costuming video tutorial series and learn how to build an elk head fur suit costume.
How To: Build a smashable guitar prop
You're not really going to smash that guitar are you? It's a piece of art. Parker put together this tutorial to show how to build a prop guitar you can smash and let out all that rock and roll angst. You will need a glue gun, chess pawns, cardboard, duct tape, a gift box, glue, a garbage can, paper, paint, string, and a ruler. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to build a prop guitar for smashing.
How To: Build a Ghostbusters proton pack prop
When you need to make a Ghostbusters prop, who are you going to call? Parker! In this video, he shows you how to make a proton pack prop for Halloween, play, or a home movie. You will need a vacuum hose, a small box, miscellaneous plastic parts, a medium circular tin, a big box, a tin can, a water bottle, a coke bottle, a race car trigger, a cookie package, and a pudding container. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to build a Ghostbusters proton pack.
How To: Build a prop teleportation chamber
Unfortunately, no one seems to have, or willing to share, the science of making a real teleportation chamber. That doesn't mean you can't make a prop one though. Parker put together this video to show us how. You will need foam core poster board, a hot glue gun, duct tape, a pane of glass or plastic, silver spray paint, black paint, and cardboard. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to build a teleportation chamber.
How To: Build a hand held steadicam
Don't take shaky footage? Make a homemade steadicam and use it to prevent jumpy shots. You will need two lawn mower wheels, nuts, PVC pipe, a tri pod head, a bar, wood, and zip ties. Watch this video cinematography tutorial and learn how to build a hand held steadicam from simple materials.
How To: Keep armature puppet standing without a tiedown
Armatures basically stand up on their own, but while animating, the balance might become uneven and precarious. An easy way to keep the puppet standing is to give the armature large feet. Watch this video animation tutorial and learn how to build an armature puppet that will stay down during the stop motion animation without using a tiedown.
How To: Understand depth of field while focusing a camcorder
Depth of Field (DoF) is easy to understand, but it is often extremely poorly explained. It's all about selective focus. For consumers with conveniently small camcorders, you only have two options: get your subject away from the background and then (1) zoom in or (2) get the subject close to the camera. No 35mm lens adapters, no secret techniques, no complex math: That's it!
How To: Navigate the RED ONE video submenu
The Red One Camera has loads of menu and sub menus to explore. In this video, we dive into the video menu button on the back of the Red Camera. The focus is the video sub menu and all the feature contained within, including color, gain, and detail.
How To: Use the RED ONE CAMERA program buttons
The Red One Camera has three buttons labeled A B and C on the back of the camera. Each of these buttons have a specific feature that is the default setting. Learn what these buttons do.
How To: Use the RED ONE compact flash cards
Learn the Red One Camera basics. Installing, removing, and formating the compact flash cards.
How To: Turn the RED ONE camera on
This is the most basic thing, but you gotta learn it. How do I turn the Red One camera on? There is only 1 on/off button and its on the back of the camera.
How To: Sew puppets
Learn how to make puppets with moving mouths in this free video series, including tips on making a puppet pattern, sewing and adding features like arms, legs and eyes.
How To: Make a silhouette puppet show
Is there a natural-born performer in your home? How would you like to have your own silhouette puppet show? Learn how to make a silhouette puppet show in this free crafts video series.
How To: Make a table top puppet theater
Make a folding puppet theater that stores easily and comes alive with your own designs, including decoupage, stencils, and stickers in this free craft video series.
How To: Do some comedy improv games
There are hundreds of great improv comedy games that you can do to improve your improv skills and interaction among people as well. Here are a few free games for you to try in these free video clips.
How To: Become a performance artist
Performance art is conceptual, usually visual art that involves bringing a concept to an audience. Learn to be a performance artist in this free conceptual art video.