Hot Film & Theater How-Tos
How To: Make an Assassin's Creed hidden blade prop
Adam from Chemical Reaction wants to show you a little movie magic. This video tutorial will show you how to make an Assassin's Creed hidden blade prop for your homemade film. If you're a fan of the Assassin's Creed video game, then you can't not make this hidden blade. This is a great prop for anybody wanting to recreate it for a fan film. It's cheap and quite easy and works pretty well.
How To: Shoot and edit a cool dance effect
Adam from Chemical Reaction wants to show you a little movie magic. This video tutorial will show you how to shoot and edit a cool dance effect for your homemade film. You will see how to position the camera, set up the scene, shoot it twice (once with your legs dancing and once with you standing still), and then edit it in your favorite editing program to make it look like you're dancing without the top half of your body moving.
How To: Adjust audio on the Canon XH-A1 Digital Camcorder
Do you own the Canon XH-A1 Digital Camcorder? If so, you might want to check out this lengthy video tutorial that shows you the ins and outs to the Canon XH-A1, the High Definition digital camera for the professional and serious non-pro alike. Learn how to make manual adjustments to fine-tune your audio by setting the mic mode with the onboard microphone or an external mic, along with alternative microphones. This shows a bunch of tips and tricks for you cameramen and sound pros.
How To: Use the Canon XH-A1 Digital Camcorder
Do you own the Canon XH-A1 Digital Camcorder? If so, you might want to check out this lengthy video tutorial that shows you the ins and outs to the Canon XH-A1, the High Definition digital camera for the professional and serious non-pro alike. Learn how to make manual adjustments to fine-tune your video by adjusting the Shutter Priority Mode (Tv), the Manual and Auto Focus, the Exposure, and much, much more. This shows a bunch of tips and tricks for you cameramen.
How To: Become a cartoon animation master
Want to become a cartoon master? Want to make your own animations? Well, you've found the right place!
How To: Make an adjustable light stand
Learn how to make an adjustable light stand. This adjustable telescoping light stand is cheap if you have all of the materials already, like a painter's pole, a metal table leg, scrap wood and some screws. This light stand is a good choice for film shoots on a low-budget. Who needs expensive light stands anyways?
How To: Make a folding reflector from cardboard and foil
Learn how to make a folding reflector from cardboard and foil. This is essentially free if you have all of the materials already, like cardboard, golden aluminum foil, tape and scissors. This foldable light reflector is a good choice for outdoor film shoots on a low-budget. When you can't bring lights to your film shoot outdoors, let the light come to you!
How To: Make a time-lapse video with a DSLR and Intervalometer
See how to shoot a time-lapse video using a DSLR and intervalometer. This video tutorial covers everything from settings you should use to making the time-lapse video in QuickTime.
How To: Make stop-motion animation with Windows Movie Maker
Watch this video tutorial to see how to make stop-motion animation with Windows Movie Maker. First, you'll have to take all of the pictures for your animation, with your action figures, Legos... dolls. Import all of your pictures onto the timeline in Windows Movie Maker. Now, just learn how to edit it and time it out right in the software program. Before you know it... one sweet ass animated video.
How To: Create a giant spider web with rope and bolts
Watch this video tutorial to see how to create a giant spider web with rope and bolts. To make this giant Halloween spider web effect, you'll need a bunch of rope, a frame and 24 eye bolts. You can use this technique to weave a spider web at any scale, as long as you have an even number of at least 24 points to fasten to, around four sides.
How To: Make the fake "glass in the hand" Halloween effect
Show your kids how to make special effects for the movies, haunted houses, or disaster drills. You can really freak some people out with this special effect makeup. Just watch this video tutorial to see how to make the fake "glass in the hand" Halloween effect.
How To: Make your own Harry Potter magic wand
In this video tutorial, go into the world of Harry Potter and learn how to make your own Harry Potter magic wand. For this magic wand project, you'll need an LED, copper wire, colored markers, plaster, and a straw. Sure, it's not the best magic wand ever, but it's nice and cheap and easy to make... a good project for the kids.
How To: Apply zombie makeup for holidays and film
Learn how to apply zombie makeup as a Halloween costume. Mike the How-To Guy shows you how to put on the makeup for that ghoulish holiday, or for any other reason, like a short, low-budget independent film.
How To: Make your own green screen studio and key it out
Want to learn how you can make some awesome YouTube videos of your own? Maybe your own Internet show or maybe even a short indie film... well, one way to make things easy is a green screen. This two-part video tutorial will show you how to make your own green screen studio and key it out. With a green screen, a YouTube show with special effects is easy!
How To: Make a prop pen flashlight powered Star Trek phaser
This is a tutorial on Halloween costumes prop construction. Follow these easy Star Trek Phaser construction directions. Spocks costume needs a phaser. The phaser laser beam is simulated by a pen flashlight.
How To: Weigh risk when making a film in extreme conditions
How far do you push to get the ultimate shot? Michael Brown tells how to weigh risk when making a movie in extreme conditions. This is a video from Serac Adventure School. It describes gear and the pros - cons of shooting under duress. Weigh risk when making a film in extreme conditions.
How To: Create and animate a stop motion LEGO brickfilm
Create and animate a stop motion LEGO brickfilm! Yes, that's right... you can make your very own animated brickfilm, but wait... what exactly is a brickfilm? Brickfilms are animated films using LEGO, Mega Bloks, or other plastic construction building block toys. Most are stop motion, but some brickfilms are even made with CGI, traditional animation and live action.
How To: Animate LEGOs for stop motion animated brickfilms
Watch this in-depth video tutorial on how to animate LEGOs for stop motion animated brickfilms. This is a detailed peek behind the scenes of stop-motion animation from the director of the "Circle Circle Dot Dot" music video, Blunty3000.
How To: Widen a LEGO mini-figure's arm motion for brickfilms
If you're into animation, you can't pass this up... see how to widen a LEGO mini-figure's arm motion for brickfilms. Brickfilms are animated films using LEGO, Mega Bloks, or other plastic construction building block toys. Most are stop motion, but some brickfilms are even made with CGI, traditional animation and live action.
How To: Make a 400-watt video light for film or photography
Bring a little life to your films, or maybe a little "light". Watch this video to see how to make your own 400-watt video light for film or photography. You can make this video light with mere parts from the local hardware store, such as plastic paneling (which is cheap, easy to cut and non-conductive), zip ties, 4 plastic bulb sockets, lamp cord (like Romex), a cheap plug, and good and cheap diffusion. With all of these materials, you'll have your own homemade light for any film or photo pro...
How To: Make an animated movie
Hey, want to make an animated movie, but you don't know how to start? First of all, you need a good idea. Good ideas are hard to find, but you could always steal one from someone more talented than you. Found a good idea? Very good. Now take good care of it, over time that idea will turn into a story almost by itself.
How To: Add sound effects to a filmed neck snapping
See how to snap a person's neck for a film effect, complete with sound. This requires just two easy steps. First, get some peanuts. Second, synchronize the head movement to you crushing the peanuts into the microphone. Snapping a neck on camera is nothing as long as you have those peanuts and are careful... very, very careful not to snap the neck for real. This neck snapping is a great cinematic trick for the seasoned amateur filmmaker.
How To: Apply zombie makeup and make zombie clothes
Get your Halloween on zombie-style! Watch this ThreadBanger video tutorial to see how to apply zombie makeup and make zombie clothes. Becoming undead is perfect for Halloween parties, but you can't do it without a little help. Get a makeup tutorial from the creators of Zombie A GO GO plus a lesson on how to zombify your clothing. This will also be helpful for all of you amateur filmmakers out there looking to make the next horrific horror movie for the undead.
How To: Build a blue Eryndor boffer sword
All you LARPers out there, watch and see how you can make a blue boffer sword for LARPing. This weapon passes all weapons specs as of Ragnarok XXI War Council for Eryndor.
How To: Make an Amtgard-style boffer sword
It's time for some LARP! Get your Amtgard LARPing on with this easy to make faom boffer sword. Just watch as Harkael explains how you can make an Amtgard-style boffer sword. This isn't the only way to make a foam sword, but if you know nothing about making swords for live action role playing, this is a great place to start.
How To: Build a cable mounted camera rig for overhead shots
Filming can get REALLY expensive, especially if you're just out of film school and starting on your first major short. It requires not only a camera, but a crane for swooping panoramic shots, a mounted camera rig for overhead shots, lens filters, and moving ground camera mounts, among other things.
How To: Export your stop motion films with iKITMovie
iKITMovie is stop motion animation software for PC's running Windows XP or Vista. All you need is a computer and a USB webcam or USB streaming camcorder and you are ready to make your own brickfilms or clay animation (claymation) movies. If you wish, you can simply import your JPG images (640x480) that you have already taken with your camcorder or digital still camera for simple editing.
How To: Add sound to stop motion films with iKITMovie
iKITMovie is stop motion animation software for PC's running Windows XP or Vista. All you need is a computer and a USB webcam or USB streaming camcorder and you are ready to make your own brickfilms or clay animation (claymation) movies. If you wish, you can simply import your JPG images (640x480) that you have already taken with your camcorder or digital still camera for simple editing.
How To: Animate stop motion films with iKITMovie
iKITMovie is stop motion animation software for PC's running Windows XP or Vista. All you need is a computer and a USB webcam or USB streaming camcorder and you are ready to make your own brickfilms or clay animation (claymation) movies. If you wish, you can simply import your JPG images (640x480) that you have already taken with your camcorder or digital still camera for simple editing.
How To: Install the iKITMovie stop motion animation software
iKITMovie is stop motion animation software for PC's running Windows XP or Vista. All you need is a computer and a USB webcam or USB streaming camcorder and you are ready to make your own brickfilms or clay animation (claymation) movies. If you wish, you can simply import your JPG images (640x480) that you have already taken with your camcorder or digital still camera for simple editing.
How To: Install the Zacuto EVF mount on the RED ONE Camera
This EVF mount is the mount all RED users have been waiting for. It is inexpensive, adjustable and will not loosen. This simple three hundred dollar mount is a great addition to any RED ONE camera setup. This video will show you how to install the Zacuto EVF mount on the RED ONE Camera.
How To: Set up a handheld Zacuto Letus35 Elite on an HVX200
In this demonstration, you will see how to build an HVX200 up with a Zacuto Letus35 Elite DOF Baseplate and Backfocus kit in a handheld setup. These three videos will show you how to build the HVX200 setup from nothing, start to finish. The first step to setting up the package is the baseplate, just like most cameras. If you want, you can even add a monitor to the setup to see what you're doing when filming.
How To: Build a homemade steadycam camera stabilizer
In this video tutorial, you'll see how you can build a homemade steadycam camera stabilizer for under fifty bucks. This is more specifically how to build the JayCam MkII Merlin-type camera stabilizer from Jay Shaffer. He demonstrates how to use inexpensive parts to make a versatile stabilizer for camcorders like the Canon HV30. This is a great steadycam addition for anyone in need of DIY cinematography tricks, because real steadycams can be costly.
How To: Use the Zacuto Zube
Zacuto Zube Tutorial Use this coupling device in-between a Zacuto male and female threaded rods to securely connect them. After tightening the Allen screw on the Zoupler (Male or Female ), the rods are locked and cannot unwind, creating a rock solid connection.
How To: Adjust your Zacuto Letus35 Elite Backfocus DOF
Zacuto Letus35 Elite Backfocus DOF Tutorial
How To: Install and use the Zacuto Universal Baseplate
Zacuto Universal Baseplate V3, includes 12-inch rods and works with all cameras. Zacuto's Universal Baseplate allows mounting accessories off the front and the back of the rods. Our new version 3 Universal Baseplate is 22% lighter then Version 1 or 2. The baseplate measurements (excluding rods) are 7 x 4 x 1 ½
How To: Install a light weight rod support system for the Red
Lightweight rod support bracket from Long Valley Equipment mounts directly to front of the camera, saving weight and cost of other methods. Holds 15mm rods at 60mm spacing to support matte box, follow focus, remote focus, zoom motor.
How To: Build a cheap Red One EVF mount
Alternate version of a Red EVF mount made with Zacuto parts.
How To: Build a Britek Softbox
How to assemble a Britek Softbox Number 3428, including reflector and diffussion.
How To: Make a feather fascinator hat for Burlesque shows
Ruby Rouge of the Ministry of Burlesque shows you how to make a feather fascinator hat. This is a classic showgirl prop or costume piece. Make this craft for your next exotic Burlesque show! Make a feather fascinator hat for Burlesque shows.