Hot Film & Theater How-Tos
How To: Set up and light a blue/green screen for filming
You will see a great way to light and set up a blue/green screen for your next video. There are a lot of tips that will come in handy if you want to film on a blue/green screen and don't want to pay outrageous fees to do so. The key in setting up is to block out all outside sources of light so you have just the desired amount of lighting coming just from your own sources and also setting up the screen and stretching it out as tight as possible so you won't see any creases or snags in the mate...
How To: Use a 3 point lighting technique to make videos
If you want to shoot a video and are not sure of what kind of lighting you should use, you can do a simple 3 point lighting technique. You will need to have 3 sources of light to have good lighting. The positioning of the light is important so you can capture the best light and minimise shadows and gray areas.
How To: Get the best lighting on your videos with a ring light
Lighting is everything when it comes to creating a good solid video/film. You will see a great example of a ringlight made of 12 lightbulbs arranged in a perfect circle with a cut-out to allow your camera to be in the middle to capture the best light. You will get an idea of just what materials you will need to create your own ring light.
How To: Convert DSLR 50P and 60P footage to slow motion
HDDSLR Guru, Philip Bloom, quickly demonstrates how to convert 50P and 60P footage captured on Canon DSLR's to slow motion for a hyper-cinematic effect. It's really simple; just a few clicks and you've got artifact-free footage! Convert DSLR 50P and 60P footage to slow motion.
How To: Make a stop motion video
In this tutorial, from Zappos, learn how to make a simple stop motion video. This process is a lot easier than you would expect and this video is here to give you a step by step.
How To: Execute a basic 3 point lighting setup
One popular way to use light in photography is with a three point lighting setup. In this tutorial, learn how to set up three point lights in portrait photography and get the most flattering shot of your subject. There is an art to making people look good and proper lighting is very important. So, if you have your equipment and are ready to start assembling it all, have a look at this instructional clip and follow the step by step to get started.
How To: Make a LEGO stop-motion movie
In this how to video, you will learn how to make a LEGO stop motion movie. First, you must create your set. The base plate must be taped down to the table or a hard surface. To create the animation, move the LEGO man's leg and take a picture. Move it again and take another picture. Keep on doing this until he reaches the destination you want. The more pictures you take the smoother the video will be. To edit the animation, import it to your computer and open up your movie editing program of c...
How To: Make a super cannon arm movie prop/effect
This is a video tutorial that is showing its audience how to make a super cannon arm. The first thing you need is a plastic jug, a switch, a wire, a wooden dowel, spray paint, a tap light, nick nacks, foam lining, and a pin light. The plastic jug will be the casing, cut out a hole for the lightsource and a hole for your arm cannon. Spray paint the jug. Make the handle with the wooden dowel. Then screw the handle into place with two screws into your plastic jug. Once you put the handle in then...
How To: Make an easy, cheap green screen with no posterboard
In this video you learn how to make your own green screen for less than $15 in under an hour. The material for the screen is a green felt-like fabric that can be easily found at a local fabric store or Wal-Mart. The fabric itself is just over 1 yard in width and you will need to buy 2 sheets 3 yards in length for a total of 6 yards at a price of about $2.00 per yard. You will also need a way to join the sheets together. For this, the video recommends a tube of Heat'n'Bond fabric joiner which ...
How To: Use auto exposure on a video camera
Want to move quickly from indoor to outdoor shooting environments without having to futz with the manual controls on your video camera to adjust for the disparate light levels? If so, you should give your camera's automatic exposure feature a whirl. For more information on using your digital camera's auto exposure tool, watch this free cinematographer's guide.
How To: Use gain and neutral density on a video camera
A common problem when shooting in low-light situations is that even if you open your lens to its lowest f-stop number, you're left with an image that's far too dark. One obvious remedy is to add more light. But what if you don't have more lights available to you? That's where the gain increase switch comes in. This free video cinematographer's guide will show you how to use digital gain settings to amplify available light to get better shots in less-than-ideal environments.
How To: Make a green screen using your TV
To create a green screen, open up the program Sony Vegas. Now go to media generators. On the left hand side of your screen there should be a list with the link solid color right in the middle. Click on that and a menu with a variety of different colored boxes will appear. Double click on green. A menu will pop up so that you can adjust the shade of green just by moving the vertical line to the left or right. After choosing the appropriate shade, save the green box as either a video or picture...
How To: Make a fish man movie or Halloween costume
The video is an episode of Indy Mogul. It opens with a man who tells us the topic of this show is to help people make fake prosthetics for a fish-man costume for Halloween. After an intro showing us that the show is about making homemade special effects and props on a cheap budget and a disclaimer the show tells us the ingredients we'll need to make the prosthetics. They are: clay, sunglasses, latex sheet, quarter-inch foam, styrofoam head and bald cap, and liquid latex. The show then demonst...
How To: Create a lighting setup for an interview
When shooting a traditional-style interview, one of your jobs as cinematographer is to think about lighting so the viewing audience doesn't have to — that is, the lighting should serve and most not distract from the subject. This free cinematography lesson presents a number of tips for lighting a person whom you intend interview on camera.
How To: Ace an acting audition for a film
Acting auditions are stressful, and are different depending on what type of project you are trying out for. In this tutorial, get tips from working actors on how to audition for a film or TV show. Learn how to work the camera, emote, and read your lines the way casting directors want you to. Follow these tips and break a leg! See you on the silver screen!
How To: Brand yourself and become a movie star
Whether you are an actor or a toothpaste, branding yourself is the best way to get yourself out there and noticed. By branding yourself you will be remembered. So, if your dream is to become a movie star and you think you have the skills and the look, check out this video and learn how to brand yourself into stardom. You will be signing autographs in no time.
How To: Create a flipbook animation
Flip book animation is a very cool video effect that is relatively easy to make. Check out this tutorial and learn how to make your flip book come alive as an actual cartoon! In this video, graphic designer and author, Alan Lastufka, shows you how to make your very own mini animated film using paper, pencil and some fancy editing technique. If you have a couple of hours to kill, why not make a flip book cartoon and impress your friends?
How To: Make puppets from foam rubber
You, too, can make an adorable, bug-eyed foam-rubber puppet. And this free video guide will show you how. For a complete, step-by-step overview of how to make your own puppet from foam rubber, watch this crafty how-to.
How To: Light your own web show
In this how-to video, you will learn how to light your web show. This is important as it will make your web show look more professional. Proper lighting allows you to see your face, eyes, and the colors of your shirt. If there is not enough light, you cannot see yourself as well. You will also look dark and grainy. Too much light will cause your face to look too hot. Backlit lighting will cause your face to be too dark because the light is in the background. This is why background lighting is...
How To: Do a quick princess face paint
This video will show you how to face paint a basic princess that is perfect for birthday parties, celebrations and just about anytime. You’ll want to have a basic kit of colors to work with. You’ll be doing some beautiful swirl and jewel on the brow with some winged out eye. Add a heart on the cheek bone and outline for extra interest. Add sparkles or bling to make it really magical. This look is easy and will make any little girl or grown up for that matter really feel like a princess. Do a ...
How To: Choose the right set for your web show
This video shows the method to select the right set for your web show. The video tells us what a set is and its importance in the show. A set is a place for shooting your own show. The set should be designed carefully and properly. A typical set should be bright with various colors. It should not look depressing like a blank wall. Make a set which will look fine on camera. There should be an element of fun in the set. The set should be made to grab the attention of the viewers. The design of ...
How To: Pick a theme for your web show
In this how-to video, you will learn how to pick a theme in order to make your own web show. You must decide what your web show is about. It can be about anything. For example, if you liked dogs, you could do a web show about dogs. If you like eating healthy foods, you could do your web show about healthy foods. Clothes can also be a great theme for a web show. Cool and lame music, cats, lunch meats, cooking, sports, and monkeys are also great themes you can try out for your web show. Your sh...
How To: Become a film or theatre actor
So, you wanna be an actor? It's not as easy as you may think. Check out this four part tutorial from Josa Maule, director of the Montreal School of Performing Arts, and learn everything you need to know to become a successful thespian. Josa takes you through all of the necessary steps and offers plenty of tips. This interesting video is very real and honest, and a must see for anyone looking to get into the biz.
How To: Rotate a video clip using iMovie HD
This video shows us the method to rotate a video clip using iMovie HD. Go to iMoviePlugins and download Turn Clip from it. Also make sure you have iMovie HD installed. Now add the video clip to the timeline. Go to the editing tab and choose Video FX and CFX enhancements. Choose Turn Clip from the resulting window. Now set the rotation angle. This can be configured to 90 degrees or 180 degrees. Click on 'Apply' and the software will render the rotation on the timeline. When everything is done,...
How To: Make a reproduction of Freddy Krueger's clawed glove
Freddy's Alive! No, it's not the next part of the Nightmare On Elm Street series, it's the new remake coming out in a theater near you. And in celebration of the return of "A Nightmare On Elm Street", starring Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy Krueger, Indy Mogul's BFX made this great how-to video on making a cheap, but super-realistic, highly detailed replication of Freddy's iconic killer clawed glove. If you're a fan of the horror series and Freddy, this is the ultimate fan reproduction to make ...
How To: Plan for post in a film production workflow
Eric Escobar, acclaimed independent film and commercial director, delves into the ways in which you can create a quality material in post by having done the necessary leg work in prep. Never again should you hear: "We'll fix it in post." Plan for post in a film production workflow.
How To: Use electronic image stabilization on a video camera
This is a video that is showing its audience how to use the electronic image stabilization or digital image stabilization on their digital cameras. Image stabilization is a good function to have on when movement is involved while taking a photo. The video goes over terms such as image stabilization, shutter speed, and contrast. It adequately defines image stabilization and digital stabilization and goes over the problems that consumers might have with the image stabilization mode on their cam...
How To: Light for video to get a filmic look
In this video, Tony Reale describes some cinematography tips for video lighting. He focuses mainly on different ways to capture the look of video. The lighting style he's using in this video is a 2-light setup. One light is reflecting off a foam core and is placed at the right side of the room. The second light is acting as background light and is smaller and placed in the back, right corner of the room. This is a very simple setup and, with a cost of $100-$200, it is an inexpensive, effectiv...
How To: Do a unique film flash time lapse
Nick from Greyscale Gorilla explains how he did a certain timelapse technique in conjunction with certin in-camera effects for the "Every Photo Shot for the Conan O'Brien Title Sequence" video.
How To: Build a portable green screen for under $30
Special effects are so cool and so..expensive! In this tutorial, learn how to make a portable green screen for very cool effects for less than 30 bucks. This green screen can move with you so you are ready to shoot no matter where you are! Follow these step by step instructions and you will be practicing your Oscar speech in no time.
How To: Set proper white balance on a video camera
When a scene is filmed, problems can occur in the final outcome of a scene if the white balance is not set correctly. If the white balance is off, a scene may look too orange, blue, or the color is just off in general. This video tutorial shows how to set the correct white balance on your video camera. White balance is what the camera considers to be white. Most cameras have white balance presets for both indoor and outdoor. This is because the light we perceive will vary depending on whether...
How To: Create storyboards
In this video we learn to make a storyboard for a movie. To start all you need is a finished script of the movie or video that you want to do and some storyboard sheets. These are easy to find online to print out. Although being some kind of artist may be nice, you don't need to have a lot of artistic ability to do storyboards. You just need to be able to decode your own drawings. Storyboard sheets consist of a drawing space to draw your frames and some lines underneath for notes. In these no...
How To: Set up a 4x6 Profoto softbox
Mike Wallace is going to show you how to set up a softbox in order for a photo shoot. First, you are going to need an 1200 watt generation and with the Profoto one it comes with a pocket wizard built into it so it allows the photographer to meter and trigger with a pocket wizard TT1 on the mini camera. Also, you want to use a Manfrotto Megaboom softbox, and this is much easier then using a ladder because on the ladder you'd need to climb it whenever you wanted to reposition it. With the Megab...
How To: Build a pro-sumer Canon HV30 camera rig
Tony Reale shows you how to mod a pro-sumer Canon HV30 camera rig in order to give it a more professional setup. Here are the items he uses:
How To: Make a claymation video
In this Film and Theater video tutorial you will learn how to make a claymation animation video. This is a Zappos how to video. The equipments that you will need for this are a camera on a tripod, a trigger so that your camera stays steady, constant source of light and clay. Make some animation characters with the clay. Start moving your characters around and take a picture of the movement. When you are editing, each picture will take up two frames. If you want to be in slow motion, then put ...
How To: Soften the background by crushing the depth of field
In this Film and Theater video tutorial you will learn about depth of field and how to adjust it. Depth of field means how many objects are in focus in the frame at one focus setting. If the depth of field is large, more objects at various distances from the camera are in focus. The first factor is the amount of light. If the light is good, more objects will remain in focus. On the other hand if you zoomed in with a long focal length lens the depth of field will reduce and lesser objects will...
How To: Knife someone's face with a knife without digital fx
Learn how to knife someone in the face without using digital effects with this video tutorial. You will learn how to perform this effect without needing a computer and without actually hurting someone. You will need a hat and two identical knives. Cut the blade on one of the knives very carefully. Next, affix the knife to the hard hat or whatever hat you are using for this trick. The actor throwing the knife should pretend as though he is throwing the knife, but he won't actually be doing it....
How To: Properly focus your video camera
This video shows you how to properly focus your video camera. Usually cameras have two focusing modes, manual and automatic. Despite the sophistication of modern cameras and their auto focusing modes, manual focusing still gives the person operating the camera the most control. To focus in manual focusing mode you must first focus your eyepiece. To focus your eyepiece fully zoom in on your subject, then rotate your lens' focus ring until the subject becomes sharp and clear. Finally rotate you...
How To: Improve your video quality by lighting each shot
The video producer in this instructional lighting video shows the contrast of how to produce a well lit scene. He first makes a cut out of a piece of foam board, then mounts it, placing it just so. He then position the lighting at an angle that appeals to the viewers and compliments the subject at hand. He also shows the difference between the angle of the camera and how the lighting is positioned. He takes us through the process of how to angle the camera and set up the lighting with minimal...
How To: Make a dramatic film
This tutorial covers some of the basics of dramatic filmmaking. A drama is a film that is character-driven, using the characters' emotional responses to situations to move the story along. Epic and historical dramas put their characters in historical events. Crime dramas are set within the rules and boundaries of reality, but do not have to be linked with any historical event. These films utilize suspense and action to push the characters through the story. Biopics are motion picture biograph...