Active Film & Theater Posts
How To: Create your own episode of South Park using Flash CS4
In this super cool tutorial, learn how to create your very own episode of South Park using Flash CS4 and a couple of images you can download on the web. This tutorial is for any super fans who wish to spend some extra quality time with their characters, or for anyone interested in animation. These famous, foul mouthed, 2D characters are fun to move around and will do anything you need them to do once you get started! Get your fan fiction minds turning with this video!
Trip on This: Liquids Reaching Freezing Point in the Most Dramatic Fashion
"Freezing Moments" is a great piece of video of different liquids dramatically reaching freezing point, directed by Andrey Muratov. It's cryptically described as "Components of the space. Between existence and 'No!'. Alive - Absorbs." Hmm. Client is also cryptic: GTLK (Gosudarstvennaya Transportnaya Lizingovaya Kompaniya). Appears to be Russian, which would translate to the "State Transport Leasing Company".
How To: Be Amazing at Improv Acting
Have you ever seen Whose Line Is It Anyway? Many people enjoy watching this show, where they can see people do comedy off the top of their heads. There's no prior thought involved and it can be a lot of fun to participate in.
How To: Use a rubber band for smooth panning and tilting
In this tutorial, learn a quick tip on how to get smoother panning and tilting using a tripod. A rubber band is an inexpensive way to improve your tripod's movement.
News: Whaddya Know? Human + Ice Skates = the Perfect Camera Dolly
Filmmaker Kasper Bak didn't bother with buying (or making) his own camera dolly. Instead, he strapped on some ice skates, and with Canon EOS 550D in tow, he captured beautiful footage of his wintery town in the Netherlands.
How To: Turn a tripod into a free body mounted camera rig
Start with a basic tripod, and then follow this DiY tutorial which shows you how to construct a body mounted camera rig. Why spend hundreds of dollars on one, when it's so easy to just construct one for yourself at home?
News: Banksy's Storyboards From the Simpsons Intro
A glimpse into the storyboarding process behind Banksy's Simpsons intro. Visit Banksy's site to view larger.
News: Banksy's Simpsons Opening Portrays Grim Sweatshop Underworld
Last night's Simpsons opening was a sardonic take on the usual gag, directed and storyboarded by the legendary Banksy, the famed renegade British graffiti artist whose real identity is hidden to the public. Below, laborers in Asian countries manufacture Simpsons merch in a dark underworld sweatshop, as an imprisoned dying unicorn impales Simpsons DVDs.
How To: Make a monster out of foam latex for stop motion filming
This tutorial shows you how to create your own monster, from start to finish, out of foam latex. You can use this as a prop in your movie by using stop motion techniques. Get your inspiration for the monster from anywhere!
How To: Edit clips into movies as a newcomer to digital video
Learn the basics of video editing in this funny and informative clip from Vimeo's excellent Video 101 series of tutorials. This video provides a handy overview of the steps involved in editing video, including transferrring footage, organizing clips into video bins, editing using the timeline, trimming the footage & using transitions, saving frequently, and exporting videos to be viewed on various sites with various compression settings.
How To: Shoot like a pro as a newcomer to digital video
Learn the basics of shooting videos in this video. This funny and informative video from Vimeo's excellent Video 101 series of tutorials demonstrates the importance of things like always carrying extra batteries, holding on to the subject for at least 5 seconds, using the rule of thirds to compose the shots, and planning the shots ahead of time.
How To: Replicate some props from the video game hit Fallout
If you're a fan of the hit video game Fallout, you may want to check out this how-to video which gives an overview of building several different props from the game. Check it out and see if you can get your Pip-Boy 3000 up and running. No mutants allowed!
How To: Construct a realistic light saber prop from Star Wars
What more to say? It's a light saber! You will need need 1 1/4 inch PVC pipe, a dremel, a drill, a hot glue gun, a riveter, some rivets, a 12 inch metal pipe, a brass nut, a beveled rubber washer, a one inch thumb screw, a rubber door sealer and some hardware. Construct a realistic light saber prop from Star Wars.
How To: Apply face prosthetics to make yourself look like a zombie
Who doesn't like zombies? This tutorial shows you how to get the ripped face prosthetic from Nimba Creations, and how to apply it. This is a fairly pricey prosthetic, so make sure that you get your money's worth by making it look as awesome as possible!
How To: Create an effective candle lit scene in your movie
If you're trying to film a romantic dinner, you'll want the setting to seem dim and candle lit - but you'll still want the lighting quality of the film to be good. Here's how you can shoot an effective dimly lit scene.
How To: Make a microphone boom at home
You can make an inexpensive and effective microphone boom pole just by using a extensible paint roller handle. Add a few modifications (all you'll need is a few pieces of basic hardware), and you will have your own DiY microphone boom.
How To: Set up an efficient workflow system for processing your digital footage
This tutorial shows you how to improve your digital asset management. Once you have recorded your digital audio and video footage, you'll want to import it and edit it as efficiently and quickly as possible. This video shows you the most efficient workflow set up to use.
How To: Use a Superclamp and articulated arm for camera support
This system won't replace the need for a tripod entirely, but it's a great way to use both a superclamp and an articulated arm to give you a little extra camera support if you can't use a tripod for a particular shot.
How To: Set up the lighting and camera angles for a music video shot
This tutorial shows you how to set up a very stylized shot that's ideal for shooting music videos. Choose and set up the right kinds of lighting setups, and then make sure you get just the right camera angle for your project.
How To: Create a one light set up for fashion and beauty shots
This set up will show you how to use just one light to create a setting that's ideal for cosmetic, fashion and beauty shots. Great for a photographer who only has so much money to spend on studio equipment and accessories.
How To: Design your shot setup to make it look more like film
The equipment only does about half the work when it comes to making your shot really stand out - the other half is setting up your shot just so. This is a quick video that gives you some good tips for making your shot look amazing, no matter what you're filming with.
How To: Troubleshoot your Arriflex S camera
Will your camera refuse to run? Is your viewfinder just one blank screen? This video takes some common problems users might experience when trying to film with the Arriflex S camera, and shows you some easy and quick solutions for all of them.
How To: Load the Arriflex S 16mm camera properly
The Arriflex S is a high grade, professional quality 16mm camera. It can shoot steady, consistent film footage. This tutorial shows you how to properly load your film into the camera and a few other tips for getting the most out of your equipment.
How To: Quickly and easily clean a focusing screen
If your focusing screen gets too dirty, the quality of your picture will suffer. This tutorial shows you a quick demonstration on how you can quickly and easily clean your focusing screen without cleaning it. Watch out for static charge!
How To: Set up a low budget lighting system for filming a documentary or interview
Low budger project? NO budget project? Lighting is a key part of any film, so you don't want to skimp on it. This tutorial shows you how to set up some inexpensive lighting systems when you're filming a documentary or interview.
How To: Create a stabilizer for a point and shoot handheld camera
Even a small point and shoot camera has it's strong points, but being able to get a steady shot with one can be challenging. This tutorial shows you how to create your own DiY stabilizer for a small handheld camera.
How To: Make a cheap body harness out of a camera stabilizer
Start with a Targus Monopod, and then follow along with this tutorial to create a BodyPod - a body harness that will let you 'wear' your camera. This modification costs less than fifteen dollars, and lets you cut down on the gear you'll need when filming.
How To: Drill the angle iron correctly for a DiY track dolly
If the track isn't perfectly straight on your camera dolly, it won't work the way you need it to. You can use a basic hinge from any hardware store, and use that as the template when drilling holes for your angle iron.
How To: Make your footage look like you're shooting with a Steadicam
This tutorial shows you an easy technique you can use to make your footage look like you've shot it using a Steadicam... even if you don't actually own one! All you'll need is a steady tripod and some open space.
How To: Load and film with your Bolex H16 Reflex camera
The Bolex is an amazing professional quality camera. This is quick tutorial that shows you how you can load film into one, and a few more basic features that you can take advantage of to get the best film quality possible for your projects.
How To: Make your own Spider Trax dolly at home
Don't spend hundreds of dollars on an expensive Spider Trax dolly when you can make your own at home for just a few dollars and an hour or so of your time. Make sure you build something that will work with your own camera!
How To: Set up ten different lighting styles for your film projects
This tutorial shows you a quick rundown of ten different lighting setups for films. Whether you're looking for a silhouette, a documentary or confessional style look or something else entirely, you'll be able to find something useful in this tutorial.
How To: Make your own HD/HD-SDI capture station inexpensively
This is for the semi-pro or professional filmographer who wants to get the best picture quality out of their digital cameras possible. Get broadcast or film studio quality for your footage without needing a film studio budget by following these easy steps.
How To: Set up a stable car mount for your camera
One of the problems with car mounts for film cameras is avoiding harmonic vibration and keeping your shot steady. This tutorial shows you how to make your own camera mount that will shoot stable, clear footage as the car drives.
How To: Use 35mm film adaptors with your digital camera
What's the best film adaptor for your digital camera? Digital cameras are great, but they dont' always get the right 35mm film look you want. This tutorial shows you how to pick just the right adaptor for your project and camera.
How To: Use the Skater mini dolly to film low to the ground
The skater mini dolly is a great little tool you can use when you want to film something close to the ground. To get the best shot possible, it's critical that you align your three wheels precisely. Make sure they're calibrated properly.
Behind the Curtain: The Visual Effects of Boardwalk Empire
HBO's hit period drama, Boardwalk Empire, is chock full of elaborate effects, created by VFX company Brainstorm Digital. Below, get a behind-the-scenes survey of the before and after breakdowns of scenes from the first season.
How To: Shoot a moving shot at a camera low angle
Trying to get that perfect ground shot done, but just can't seem to make it work? This is the tutorial for you! This video covers a few techniques any cinematographer can use to pull off a stunning movie shot with a low camera angle.
How To: Film a stop motion effect with any digital SLR camera
You don't need a rotoscope or special lip syncing equipment - you can create the stop motion effect with any digital SLR - even a webcam! All you need to do is add an adapter, as shown in this tutorial.
How To: Make a home made glidetrack at home using a curtain rod
This is a great DiY idea for the indie or home film maker. Don't spend hundreds of dollars on a glidetrack, when you can make your own at home for less than twenty dollars. Turn a pair of curtain rods into your new camera glidetrack.