Hot Film & Theater Posts
How To: Make pneumatic dust system for blood and dust hits in film
Have you ever wondered how all of the blood and dust that flies from wounds and bullet holes in Hollywood films gets shot through the air so convincingly? The answer is a pneumatic dust system. This video will show you how to make one yourself for almost no money, allowing you to achieve all sorts of cool special effects without any expensive digital technology.
How To: Make a Jason Voorhees mask for Halloween or other scary occasions
Jason Voorhees single-handedly terrified millions of American children away from ever going to summer camp, and his iconic mask can still send people running to this day. This video will show you how to can quickly and easily make your own Friday the 13th Jason Voorhees mask out of papier mache and other materials. It looks good, and should be quite comfortable by mask standards.
How To: Buy and properly use the right wigs, contacts, and makeup for your cosplay
If you really want to make a convincing cosplay costume, be it furry, anime, manga, or video-game related, you're going to need really high-quality wigs, makup, and contact lenses. This video will show you how to shop for and use all of these products to make a really awesome costume.
How To: Make DIY Hatsume Miku Vocaloid headphones for cosplay
Vocaloids have to be one of the weirdest of the many weird things to ever emerge from Japan. They are basically synthesizer software programs that can sing any song a user creates in the voice of a character created for that Vocaloid. The queen of these Vocaloid characters is Hatsune Miku, who has become something of a cosplay darling since her software caught on. This video will show you how to make her cosplay replicas of her iconic headphones.
How To: Use the screenwriting index cards pyramid trick to outline a screenplay
Screenwriting isn't as easy as it seems, and many screenwriters can't make it past the second act of the screenplay. It's called writer's block, and one reason many writers fall victim to this is because of a poorly outlines idea. The only way to make sure you get a completed first draft of your script is to properly outline the whole storyline.
How To: Make feet and hand paws for a fursuit or other costume
If you like fur, and you want to make your own fursuit, the head is the hardest part and you may want to just order that from someone. But the hand and feetpaws are much easier, and as this video will demonstrate you can make your own at home. The video explains all of the steps, and should have you all furry in no time.
How To: Use 3 point lighting for professional studio lighting
Three point lighting can be used to achieve professional studio results. For this, you will need: a key light, a fill light, and a backlight.
How To: Shoot deceptive & multiple camera angles
This video tutorial is in the Film & Theater category which will show you how to shoot deceptive and multiple camera angles. Camera and shooting techniques can add to the magic of your videos along with some simple special effects. One of the techniques is called the Zolly. It adds drama by creating a disorienting visual effect to the viewer. By zooming out a camera while using a dolly to move in, the subject stands out as separated from the background and appears to be floating towards the c...
How To: Make a curved fox tail for a fursuit using darts
This video will teach you how to make a curvy fox tail for a fursuit! From the Creator:
News: 8-Bit Trip With Two Swedish Ninja Retards
Daniel Larsson and Tomas Redigh are the Swedish band Rymdreglage, otherwise known as two "retard ninjas". Their music video 8-Bit Trip pays ultimate nerd tribute to both LEGOs and old 8-bit video games (and ninjas).
How To: Make video clips into animated gifs
In this video, we learn how to make video clips into animated gifts. First, open Windows Movie maker and import a video file. Now, shorten the video to four seconds or less and save it. Now, go to the website gif ninja. Once on this site, you will see a section that says "tools", then click the button to convert your image to GIF. Once on this, you can browse and upload the file that you just created. Next, click "make my gif!" and a status bar will load on the bottom. When this is done loadi...
How To: Make a claymation puppet
In order to make a claymation puppet, you will need the following: clay in various colors and pipe cleaners. You will need to choose clay colors for clothing and skin and eye and facial features. If you want hats or accessories, you would need to keep that in mind.
How To: Build a cheap steady cam rig or fig rig
Steady cam rigs allow you to film really great smooth footage, but they cost about $300. If you're too lazy to make one yourself that is! This video will show you how to make a cheap substitute called a fig rig using $30 dollars worth of materials. Now you can finally push beyond handheld to the world of professional-looking video.
How To: Use umbrella lights to create a glamorous music video look for your films
Umbrella lights are the surest sign of a photo shoot in progress, and allow you to create all sorts of clean well-lit looks for photographing people especially. This video will show you how to use them in film to create a glamorous look often used in music videos.
How To: Perform your own one-man show
Talent show or theater audition coming up? Want to improve your street performance techniques? Looking to impress your friends and family by performing alone? A one-man show might be intimidating, but putting on a good performance isn't that hard!
How To: Reproduce Freddy Krueger's famous glove from 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'
It's not a complete Freddy Krueger costume without his famous glove! Learn how to make the famous glove from Nightmare on Elm Street to terrify your friends at the next Halloween party.
How To: Properly use a green screen
A green screen lets you add any sort of background to your movie in post-production. Part of a successful green screen shot is properly lighting your set so you can easily add the special effects later. Teach your camera crew these tips for your next film!
How To: Datamosh or combine two videos to create digital art
Datamoshing is a cool new art form that takes uses digital videos to create original artistic works by combining them together using software. It takes advantage of the way that digital video is encoded to make one video appear to dance across and destroy the other video is a very psychedelic way. If you use a Mac, all you need are videos and two programs, which you can get in one .zip here. The programs are FFmpegX and Avidemux. If you have a PC, you'll need to use VirtualDub instead of FFmp...
How To: Create a simple low budget shoulder mount for a DSLR camera and accessories
Wow. Forget about buying an expensive pro-style digital camcorder. You can make your DSLR camera into a moviemaker camera with a simple DIY shoulder mount. The goal of this video is to give you a way to create a low budget way of mounting your camera and necessary gear onto a cheap shoulder mount. It works really well. See for yourself!
How To: Pitch a Reality Show Idea to a Network Executive
This how-to is aimed at the uncynical, bright-eyed outsider who wants to become a television producer…the talented person who believes he or she has the ‘it’ to crack Hollywood. The ‘Sammy’ who just arrived in 90210.
How To: Build a professional DIY camera slider for smooth video
If you know what a cam slider is, you know you want one. But camera sliders can be pretty pricey, so that's when it's time to resort to DIY techniques. In this video, see how to build your own pro-slider. It's super easy and only takes ten minutes to make!
How To: Build a DIY wooden dolly platform for smooth camera shots on PVC tracks
When it comes to filmmaking, especially cinematography, indie filmmakers need to acquire a DIY sensibility in order to get their films made, because film equipment is nowhere near cheap. But DIY is.
Make edible prop bodily fluids: poop, vomit, snot, and blood
The human body is full of different kinds of fluids, most of which are either gross or dangerous to remove from a person for use in one of your films. Fortunately, most of them are pretty easy to replicate using household materials. This video will show you how to make edible prop fake blood, feces, vomit, and snot. They all look great, are safe, and will make you movie much more realistic.
News: Did Inception Rip Off a Scrooge McDuck Comic?
You tell us. It's quite possible Christopher Nolan locked The Dream of a Lifetime into his memory bank, not knowing years later it would subconsciously shape Inception:
How To: Do face painting for teenagers and adults
In this video, we learn how to do face painting for teenagers and adults. First, you want to use a fine brush to create the lines on the side of your face. After this, you want to use a brush with purple to create a flower on the opposite eye. Next, use a size two brush to make a swirl next to a looped upward purple design. Continue to add on more paint marks to the face, making fine details that join together. This is a great look because you can be as creative as you would like! When finish...
How To: Make a Freddie Krueger glove
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a Freddie Krueger glove. You will need: a saw, sandpaper, silver spray paint, black paint, brown paint, old glove, tin from a can, plexi glass, shiny cardboard, and a hot glue gun. Start off by using your paper roll to cut off a strip of it that will start on the joints of your hands, then cut this in half. After this, make a cut in the top of it and on the sides of it. Do this again for the four fingers, then wrap it around the glove fingers. After this...
How To: Apply mime and clown make up
In this video, we learn how to apply mime and clown makeup. To start, outline your face in a mask shape. When you are done with this, apply white paint to the face until it's on thick and you can't see your skin color any longer. If you make mistakes, use a q-tip to clean up, then run it around the edges to make it a clean line. After this, use a q-tip to remove some paint from the eyebrows. Now, take black paint and paint it onto where the eyebrows are at. When you're done with this paint th...
How To: Make an DIY Aliens power loader prop for cheap
The Alien movies, most notably Alien and Aliens, are icons of sci-fi horror, and one of their most well-known elements is the awesome power loader that Sigourney Weaver's character Ellen Ripley used to tear the aliens apart. This video will show you how to make your own prop replica of the power loader at home for cheap, so that you can destroy aliens in your own films or maybe pretend to maul some party guests.
How To: Make fake blood for Halloween
In this video, we learn how to make fake blood for Halloween. You will need: small bottle, teaspoon, cut, clear syrup, red and blue food coloring, and corn starch. First, pour some syrup into the cup, then add in 2 tsp corn starch and mix together. Next, drop in some red food coloring and mix together. After this, add in blue food coloring and mix it together so you have blood red colors in the cut. When you are finished, you will have fake blood that you can use on Halloween at home and it w...
How To: Create ink drop & spread effects
In this tutorial, we learn how to create ink drop and spread effects. You will need: coffee filters, fish tank, dropper, black ink, water, and a bowl. Next, pour water into your fish tank, then pour your ink into the dropper. After this, add in water into the bowl and place the coffee filter in it to soak it, then place it on a flat surface. For the first effect, drop the ink into your water and see what it looks like when you drop it into the tank, getting this on tape and using the proper l...
News: Death by Psychedelic Flowers
My favorite kind of violence: flower bullets and drops of petal blood. The bad guys encroach on the scene in a hippie VW bus, and flower bedlam ensues...
How To: Make your very own sugar glass prop for movies
If you and your friends want to make your own movie and need some cool stunts, this next tutorial should help. In the video, you'll find out how to make your very own sugar glass from scratch. This is perfect for breaking over someone's head and can easily be done within a few hours.
How To: Create a man-eating plant and a severed finger props
This video will teach you how to make two awesome props for you films for the price of one! Well, technically it's all free, but still, 2 for 1! You will learn how to make man-eating plant and a severed finger props, with instructions given by devoted viewers of Indy Mogul like you. All you need to make this stuff work is $35 for each project.
HowTo: Make a Daft Punk Helmet
Daft Punk has had an infectious effect on much of the world, on the web and off. The French electronic duo have inspired multiple viral videos, and now, with the help of Volpin Props, you can make your own Daft Punk helmet. Check out the in-depth build guide here, and watch the video below to see the HowTo process in action.
How To: Make eyes for clay animation puppets
In this tutorial, we learn how to make eyes for clay animation puppets. First, drill a hole inside of a block of wood, then insert a bull so it fits snug inside of the hole. After you have done this, use a drill to make a hole that goes half way down through the pupil. Now, use paint to fill in the hole where the pupil would be at. Push the balls into clay to hold them in place while painting. Make sure the dots you have on both eyes are even. When finished, paint a black circle around them, ...
How To: Type in Japanese in Vista or XP w/ an English keyboard
In this video, we learn how to type in Japanese while using Vista or XP with an English keyboard. First, go to your control panel from the start menu. Next, click "clock language and region". After this, click on the button to change keyboards, then click on "add". Now, select "Japanese" and then click "ok". Now, on the bottom right of the screen, click to turn on the Japanese typing. Click this again if you want to change back to English. This is a great tool to use if you need to type in mu...
How To: Memorize lines by identifying the root of a scene
In this tutorial, we learn how to memorize lines by identifying the root of a scene. First, know the way you work as an actor and know the other people you are around. Next, know what the material is and what the scene is about. If you are familiar with what you are talking about, you are going to be more engaged, rather than just memorizing a line. Another trick is to write your lines over and over, so your brain will understand what you have to learn. Also, make sure you say your lines out ...
How To: Set up and light an inexpensive green screen
In this tutorial, we learn how to set up and light an inexpensive green screen. First, use the backdrop with anything that is a lime green color. You can use anything from a green colored wall to a green blanket. Put one light on both sides of the screen, then place blue color over the lights. Place the camera in front of the green screen and look at the lighting to make sure the lighting is right in the area. When you are ready, use software to change the background to different places. When...
How To: Simulate a shotgun kickback effect
In this tutorial we learn how to simulate a shotgun kickback effect. Start off by purchasing a harness from a department store. Next, take the harness and strap it onto the actor. After this, have the actor put his shirt on and then cut a hole in the back for the hook in the back of the harness. Now, have the actor bend slightly forward, then pull in the actor quickly. Next, have another actor kick or hit something where the other actor would be standing. Combine both of these clips together ...
How To: Make a sniper rifle movie prop
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a sniper rifle movie prop. First, go to this website to get the blueprints: Sniper. After this, draw your gun out onto a poster board and cut it out, you will do this for around 6 of these poster boards. When you are finished, use the hot glue gun to stick all of these together. Next, sand out the sides and attach duct tape to the sides to keep it together. After this, grab two empty water bottles and an empty toilet paper roll. Cut around the top of the...