Hot Film & Theater Posts
How To: Light a green screen properly for podcasting
Matt, the Shirtless Apprentice, advises viewers on the proper procedure for lighting a green screen. The successfully implemented chroma key technique can significantly raise the production value of any video podcast. He gives specific advice on how to separate the light that falls on the subject from the light on the greenscreen, a traditionally tricky technique.
How To: Do improv comedy
For any comedian, aspiring or professional, this video series is a must see. Actually for anyone at all, the value of these clips to help with social interaction is also astounding. There is more to improv than just games. We improvise on a daily basis in every situation. Improv is only a reaction to something.
How To: Master the art of puppet theatre
Paul Louis, professional puppeteer listed with the Jim Henson Company, will show us the difference between several moving mouth puppets and go over how to hold and work a puppet as well as ways to engage the audience and in a sense "act".
How To: Make a $10 stop motion puppet
Don't have any friends to act in your movies? No problem! This week on BFX, we'll show you how to build a miniature puppet to star in your next project. Don't have any friends? We can't help you there.
How To: Create a cloning effect
Send in the clones! Steve Nelson teaches you how to create a digital cloning effect for your films. Create duplicates of your actors on screen.
How To: Make fake heads
To make fake heads you will need Styrofoam head, flesh color spay paint, make-up kit, a wig, glasses, mustaches, fake blood and liquid latex.
How To: Make a robot suit
To build a robot suit you will need a football toy chest, a medium sized trash can, two old camera flashes, heater vent cover, two old Sega Genesis controllers, a big lamp shade, a big sheet of cardboard, dryer vent hose, plastic scale, old "Go-bots" brand 110 camera, spray paint; I used silver and gold.
How To: Create fake puke
Learn a recipe for fake vomit that you can use for puke in your films.
How To: Make a rain machine
How do you add instant drama to your scenes? Rain and sappy music of course. Using some wood, rope and a garden hose Erik shows you how to make a "Hollywood rain machine" for less then $50 bucks.
How To: Stage a theatrical set
In this video series, watch as school theater expert Peggy Charlton teaches theatrical staging basics. Learn how to build sets, the location of he different areas of the stage, what a cyclorama is, how to use the curtains on a stage, how to design a set, how to identify the apron area, and how to break down a set.
How To: Make a microphone flag
For any of you aspiring to enter the league of Broadcast News, this unique instructional will make your newscast look totally professional. The mike flag (or mic flag) is that box that surrounds the microphone and has the call letters of your tv station or network. ABC, or Fox, or Ch 5 is the typical type of lettering. (Its origins seem to be from the early days of radio: call letters were not required for an audio-medium except for requisite publicity shots.) Occasionally a triangular shape ...
How To: Start your own puppet company
In this video series for puppeteers, learn how to start your own puppet company home business, with tips on where to get puppets, what equipment you need and how to train puppeteers to put on a successful puppet show. Also learn how to market your company to schools and corporations, and how incorporate yourself.
How To: Get all the information about marionettes
In this video series, watch as freelance designer Emily DeCola teaches all about marionettes. Learn how to work the strings, the different types of marionettes, how to string a marionette, how to build and operate a marionette, and how to control the puppet's face.
How To: Stunt fight Kung Fu style
In this week's episode of Backyard FX, Erik visits the Indy Kung Fu Masters of West Haven Brook to learn some awesome tips for movie fight scenes. They talk about the counting, sound effects, pull backs and camera movement necessary for orchestrating a great fight scene.
How To: Make a fake brain
This video from Backyard FX and Indy Mogul shows you how to make a fake brain. Making a brain is not hard but it does take time and creativity. You can make cauliflower brains, gelatin brains or the one I am going to show you out of bread and glue.
How To: Recreate the effects from The Exorcist
The guys at Indy Mogul teach you how to recreate some of the special FX from The Exorcist for under $40. Included are the possession makeup, the spinning head, and the green, projectile vomit.
How To: Create a telekinesis effect
Indy Mogul shows you how to create telekinesis special fx for your films with just some simple video editing software.
How To: Create a limb tear effect
Erick Beck from Indy Mogul shows you how to create limb tear special fx for your horror movies for cheap ($35 or less).
How To: Turn yourself into a werewolf for under $50
Turn yourself into a werewolf for under $50. The guys at Indy Mogul will show you how to create werewolf prosthetic makeup for your films.
How To: Build a spaceship
Erik from Indy Mogul teaches you how to build a miniature space ship for your films for under $20. Also covered, are using green screen to create background effects for your UFO film.
How To: Build a snorricam for a cool camera effect
If you've seen Requiem for a Dream, you've seen the snorricam effect - the camera is worn around the actor's waist and as the actor moves it creates a wild camera effect. The guys at Indy Mogul show you how to build your own snorricam.
How To: Build your own light kit for $25
No light no movie. Indy Mogul teaches you how to create your own basic lighting kit for $25. Also covered are lighting basics, including three-point lighting.
How To: Make a super hero costume
Indy Mogul rises to a challenge from The Stack and teaches you how to sew your own super hero costume for under $50.
How To: Build a movie production studio for under $250
Alan K. from Indy Mogul shows you how to create a your own film production setup including a camera, tripod, and recording media for under $250. Of course this assumes you already have a computer for editing.
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 ballistics gel
Do you need that special human touch to your special fx? Indy Mogul's Mike Johnson shows you how to make ballistics gels to create flesh and gore effects for your films.
How To: Create realistic movie fog
Do you want thicker, more realistic fog from your fog machine? Indy Mogul teaches you how to make realistic, creepy fog special fx for your films for under $30
How To: Make a boom pole for $15
Sometimes a shotgun mic isn't enough. The guys at Indy Mogul show you how to build your own boom pole to help capture better sound for your films.
How To: Build samurai armor
Indy Mogul shows you how to create samurai armor for your films for under $50.
How To: Create aging makeup
Do you want to make your actors look older? The guys at Indy Mogul show you how to make aging makeup for under $30.
How To: Create a movie cyborg
Planning on shooting a low budget sci fi flick? The guys at Indy Mogul teach you how to make a cyborg arm and eye patch using a PVC coupler, coin tray, thin orange tubing, blue flash controllers, silver bubble wrap, duct tape, a rolodex, and costume jewelry.
How To: Shoot on a green screen
Looking to create great special FX for you films using a green screen. Steve from Indy Mogul teaches you how to shoot using a blue screen or a green screen and also how to add in your own digital backgrounds.
How To: Make fake, breakable glass
Erik from Indy Mogul shows you how to make sugar glass for $20. Sugar glass can be used to create breakable or break away glass FX for your films.
How To: Make a puppet
Erik Beck from Indy Mogul shows you how to make a Jim Henson-style puppet for about $25.
How To: Build a jet pack for your movie
Erik Beck of Indy Mogul shows you how to make a non-working jet pack for under $30. He'll also show you how to create a flying effect for the jet pack in post-production using a green screen.
How To: Write a screenplay
In this video series, our expert screen writer Tony Ramirez will show you how to write a screenplay. You will get easy to follow, step-by-step instructions on how to create the cover page, what type of font to use and how to number your pages.
How To: Make fake blood and scary props
In this Halloween props video series, learn how to make fake blood and other Halloween props from Halloween expert Matt Cail. Matt will show you how to make fake blood for Halloween, using corn syrup and food coloring. He will teach you how to make Halloween props such as fake arms, and how to stuff the arms to give a realistic effect.
How To: Make molds for hair pieces
In this how-to video series, learn how to make a hair piece mold from expert Sean Graham. Sean will teach you what equipment and materials you need for making molds for hair pieces and he will demonstrate how to mark the hair line shape for a hair piece, hair to create the hair style for a hair piece, how to create fasteners for hair pieces, and how to match hair piece color to natural hair color.
How To: Focus on ideas for film making
Director, M dot Strange, explains how formulating ideas is the most important part of film making, no technical skills.
How To: Understand pre-production
This video will help you understand the pre-production process for movies, animations, film shorts, etc.