Hot Film & Theater Posts
How To: Make a level three foam boffer sword for LARPing
If you're a LARP maniac, or just a fan of LSD-themed (Latter-day Saint) games and activities, then you can't miss out on this. Check this video out to learn how to make a foam-padded sword that is easy and inexpensive. This level three boffer sword will take care of your LARPing opponents like Chuck Norris. If you're a fan of live action role-playing, then this boffer sword is the best of the best for kicking serious ass.
How To: Make a Japanese gi costume for cosplay
Anime and manga are your life, and so is cosplay, so why not watch this video tutorial? This is a step-by-step guide on how to make a Japanese gi top, suitable for characters like Bleach, Kenshin, Inu Yasha, Shinsengumi and many more! You can even use this for your judo and other martial arts. This costume will be the best of the best for cosplay, because it's not only fun, it's art.
How To: Build prop break-away furniture cheap
This week on BFX we teach you how to build break-away furniture, because if you break one more real chair over your friend's head, he's never going to act in your movies again!
How To: Make cheap prop eyeballs for Halloween
Super cheap eyeballs without breaking the bank! While grapes are the safe standard to spook out trick or treaters, they don't look very realistic. For this project, you will need clear spray paint, white spray paint, black spray paint, blue acrylic paint, black acrylic paint, red acrylic paint, coat hanger or wire, tweezers, an artist's brush, a foam ear plug, a rag, sanding block or sanding paper, and bouncy balls. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to make cheap prop eyebal...
How To: Change Your Voice from Male to Female
This sequence of instructional videos provides a near comprehensive lesson on how you can change your voice from that of a male to that of a female. This video series is aimed at aiding transgender individuals, but is also useful for people who want to learn to do really great voice exercises and impersonations.
How To: Build Pyramid Head from Silent Hill for cosplay
Pyramid Head. You've heard the name before. You've saw him in action. Now cosplay as him. This costume could be used for Halloween, cosplay, or just for the hell of it. Pyramid Head is a fictional monster from the Silent Hill video game and movie. So watch this four-part video tutorial to see how to do it. If you can follow these instructions, you could never need another cosplay getup again. Unless you want to try out some anime or manga.
How To: Simulate a gun shot wound special effect
Watch this short tutorial on how to make a realistic bullet hit to simulate an actor getting shot by a gun. Materials needed include a pressure sprayer, clear tubing that will fit on to the hose of the pressure sprayer, a small Translucent PVC elbow, fake blood, duct tape, a funnel, a shirt you don't mind damaging.
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: Shoot an anonymous interview for documentaries
Watch this video to learn how to shoot anonymous interviews for documentaries. Matt explains how to maintain anonymity using the proper lighting and audio effects.
How To: Build a fake sword prop
It's medieval mayhem and you need a sword prop. Maybe you're larping, or maybe you just need a fake, dull movie prop blade for your action epic. Either way, this is a great weapons build project for a cool replica wooden sword. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a fake sword prop.
How To: Make a sailor fuku, school uniform for cosplaying
Watch this step by step costume making tutorial to learn how to make a cool Japanese sailor styled school uniform. This video is suitable for numerous characters like Sailormoon, Suzumiya Haruhi, Azumanga, and more. This how to video is great for costume designers, cosplayers, and anime enthusiats.
How To: Make wire armatures for stop motion
Learn how to use 16" gage aluminum wire to make stop motion puppet armatures. It is very easy to do, and wire works great for anyone just starting out. You can also see how to make basic wood feet using tie downs.
How To: Build a Tommy Gun prop on a budget
If you're looking to give your Mafia movie a real, authentic, look, but don't have a ton of cash check out this great Indy Mogul Backyard FX video to learn how to build a Tommy Gun. It may not fire bullets, but this fifty dollar prop packs some real punch.
How To: Make yourself look very old using basic makeup
In this tutorial, learn how to age yourself for any film or theatre project. This method of aging requires just a few simple makeup products that are cheap and easy to buy, if you don't already own them.
How To: Make Slipknot full head masks
No matter what you think of Slipknot's music, you gotta admit they have a cool, horror movie look. This video will walk you through how to make your own Slipknot full head masks. You'll be surprised how simple the process is.
How To: Make a Gory Cut-Off Leg Special Effect
Whether it's Halloween or your next gory, homemade horror flick, this cut off leg effect is perfect to scare the crap out of your audience. With cardboard and some poster board, along with a few other household items, this fake cut-off leg is sure to make a scene.
How To: Make a Hollywood Undead mask
Looking for some help making a Hollywood Undead mask? In this video, get a step by step guide on how one person made hers from a blank mask purchased at Century Novelty.
How To: Build Kano's Mortal Kombat metal cyborg face
Are you a big Mortal Kombat fan? Do you need a cool terminator or cyborg effect? Do you love Hannah Montana? If you answered "YES" to any of these questions then you need to watch this episode!
How To: Create a falling effect
Steve Nelson from Indy Mogul shows you how to create cool falling or jumping from a building effect. Use a combination of camera angeles, green screen, and editing to create this cool action effect for your films.
How To: Make a documentary film step-by-step
In this Film & Theater video tutorial you will learn how to make a documentary film step-by-step. The various steps involved in making a documentary are defining the documentary, stylizing the genre, shooting and finally editing. A documentary is a movie that documents reality. It is based on real life situations or people. The three most sub genres are the observational documentary, the expository documentary and the participatory documentary. The different styles can be sit-down interviews ...
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: Speak in a New York dialect
Who doesn't want to be able to speak like a New Yorker? Whether for acting, comedy or impressing your friends and family, speaking in a New York dialect will provide you with hours of entertainment. Learn how to speak in a New York dialect in this free video series from communications and public speaking expert, Tracy Goodwin.
How To: Make an armature out of clay and foil for stopmotion
This video demonstration series shows the process of creating an armature for stop motion animation, claymation specifically, out of aluminum foil and polymer clay. Armatures need to be flexible to withstand the positioning and repositioning required to make stop motion animation, but still secure enough so that the material won't break. For this reason, a tin foil skeleton provides a sound structure to the clay armature. Watch this video animation tutorial and learn how to sculpt an armature...
How To: Use a 16mm Bolex camera
Watch this video series for a tutorial on using the various features of the Bolex 16mm camera. Part 1 of 6 - How to Use a 16mm Bolex camera.
How To: Create a "natural wipe" in film
Jennifer talks about the technique known as "Natural Wipes". She gives several examples of these types of "in camera" transitions and how they can be used to create better videos.
How To: Make cloth and foam puppets and ventriloquist figures
In this four part video series, Barbara Dewey teaches viewers how to make cloth and foam puppets and ventriloquist figures. Email her for free patterns.
How To: Make a realistic-looking Monkey Bomb just like in Call of Duty: Black Ops
This video shows you step-by-step instructions on how to make a realistic Monkey Bomb prop just like the one made by Dr. Richtofen in Call of Duty: Black Ops. You will have to find your own monkey but the finished product is guaranteed to bring hours of zombie-killin' fun! Make sure to get permission from your parents to make this prop!
News: Obsessively Crafted Fallout 3 Weapon Replicas
Ryan Palser is an artist. His Fallout 3 weapons (the AER-9 laser rifle and the A3-21 plasma rifle) are so finely crafted, you've gotta ask yourself: how is it that somebody spends that much time and skill on a make-believe weapon, a prop? Palser must be one of the biggest Fallout 3 fans ever. Fantastic work.
How To: Make a really gross fake scar for Halloween or film
Making fake scars, abrasions, lacerations, and other wounds is one of the most entertaining parts of special effects and makeup work. This video help you get started, teaching you how to make a really gross, festering, fresh-looking fake arm wound that will scare the pants off of your audience (if you use it for a movie) or your fellow revelers (for Halloween or another costumed occasion).
How To: Apply a wound with gel filled silicone & movie makeup
Cinema Makeup School instructor Greg McDougall goes through the steps your need to know in order to create a silicone wound on a student. He starts off by explaining the products needed in order to get the best results. Greg then proceeds to apply and explain how to place a prosthetic piece on your face and how to get it to blend into your skin color. After apply the prosthetic he begins to color in the wound to make it look more realistic. To finish off and get the best result you apply fake...
How To: Project your voice on stage
Theater acting is a fun and creative art form but it can be difficult to project your voice loud enough for the audience to hear if you are use to speaking softly. With a few exercises and practice anyone can have a booming voice.
Hack Ikea: $15 Camera Dolly
Ikea Hacker features a nice Ikea mod: Romain turns the Ivar side unit into a camera dolly. "A few days ago, I found out that the Ivar 'wooden ladder' was perfect to use it as rails for my cinema dolly! I can now make some nice sequence shots with this 18€ accessory from Ikea."
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 dramatic spotlight from a household lamp
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a guerilla spotlight using household items. Users will simply need a cardboard cylinder and a light source. Te materials used in this video were a toilet paper roll, piece of aluminum, gaff tape and a lamp. Begin by cutting a couple of 90 degrees slots in the middle of the foil, slide in the tube ad secure it with tape. It should be a bit longer than the tube. Now wrap it around the light source. This video will benefit those viewers who produ...
How To: Film realistic, bloody gun shots
In this tutorial, we learn how to film realistic and bloody gun shots. You will first need to gather up all the materials you need to make this happen. Once you have everything ready, set it all into place. Make sure you have the fake blood placed in the shirt where the person is pointing the gun, and also make sure you have a good actor. After this, use a firecracker to make the sound of a gunshot. As soon as this goes off and the person pulls the fake trigger, have the other person push on ...
How To: Build a DIY professional animation studio
Indy Mogul Weekend Extra peers into the brilliant mind of Javan Ivey, who shows you how to to save thousands of dollars when building your own home animation studio.
How To: Set up the presets on your Canon 7D for filming video
Your Canon 7D camera can film in video as well as take still photographs, however, the settings will be different. To get the best picture quality possible, here is how you can set up your camera's presets when filming in live action.
How To: Build your suit of DIY Master Chief armor from Halo
Master Chief, the star of the Halo franchise before it's most recent iterations, is one of the most recognizable and beloved protagonists in gaming history, and that's without players ever actually seeing his body through his inconic and intimidating armor. If you want to dress up as Master Chief for a Halloween costume, film, or other purpose, watch this video to learn how to make your own DIY Master Chief armor for cheap.
How To: Make a latex skin over carved foam
Are you in need of some kind of mold or cast for your next feature film, but need to save a few bucks? As an alternative to casting (making a shape from a mold) one can carve foam into a desired shape and then coat the foam with liquid latex. This will not create a perfectly smooth surface, but is much less expensive than casting as it requires fewer steps and less resources. So, with this video tutorial, you can learn what you need to know about making a latex skin over carved form.
How To: Make cheap lighting & barn doors
Check out this instructional lighting video that explains how to make cheap barn doors for your lights. For this project, you will need a total of 4 hinges, 12 nuts and bults, a screwdriver, cardboard, scissors, and a lighting fixture. This is a simple guerrilla filmmaking tutorial on how to design your own barn doors. A great addition to any low-budget filmmaker's lighting kit.