Hot Film & Theater How-Tos
How To: Animate GIF files from video using Photoshop CS3
This tutorial shows you how to make an animated GIF out of any video on Adobe Photoshop CS3.
How To: Pass through a wall using your camera and Sony Vegas
This tutorial shows you how to "pass through a wall". It's a really neat editing trick, so use it wisely. Don't overdo it, or it will just look cheesy, not that cheesy's bad or anthing.
How To: Make a whip cut with your camera and Sony Vegas
The 'whip cut' is a clever way of joining shots together without the audience realizing there's been a cut. This means that you can shoot one actor in one place and another actor in a completely different place and join the two shots together. If you're trying to make twins, then make sure they are wearing different clothes, please.
How To: Pull and split focus on your digital video camera
This is a very popular effect in film and television, where the camera switches focus on objects in one shot.
How To: Pass through a keyhole with your camera and Sony Vegas
This tutorial shows you how to make it seem as though you pass through a keyhole. All you need is a camera and an editing platform with chroma keying and keyframing. This video uses Sony Vegas to demonstrate, but you can use any program you like. Yes, that's right, any (almost).
How To: Animate World of Warcraft characters for Machinima
UncleTom of Azerothian Super Villains fame introduces the first episode of How 2 Machinima. This series of tutorials is aimed to introduce both the fundamentals and advanced techniques of WoW machinimaking.
How To: Lip sync a Machinima in World of Warcraft
This will show you how to lip sync machinima films in World of Warcraft. This is a lesson about making machinma characters move their mouths with your dialogue while within World of Warcraft. Don't make overdubs like the old Godzilla over dubs from Japan. We need to sync the lips with the talking. The animation must be redone. Swap out different mouth sizes for each syllable. Customize mouths by using animator's cartoons to show what they look like relative to the audio.
How To: Film machinima of World of Warcraft with good lighting
Ian Beckman of Azerothian Super Villains fame introduces the third installment of How 2 Machinima. This series of tutorials is aimed to introduce both the fundamentals and advanced techniques of WoW machinima-making. Use Adobe Premiere to model machinima and create proper machinima or video game films. Change the lighting to diffused, specular or ambient lighting.
How To: Cross one eye or speak with an ech-ech o-o
Want to learn a valuable skill? Well, just watch this video tutorial to see how to cross one eye or speak with an echo.
How To: Edit your first movie
How do you edit a low-budget flick to look like an Academy Award-worthy film? The same way you get to Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice editing. Fun filmmaking tutorial for first time filmmakers. This how to video will help you avoid beginner mistakes when editing your first movie.
How To: Shoot your first movie
Shooting will probably be the most exciting part of making your first movie, and possibly the most challenging, too. Follow these steps to make the best use of your cameras. Fun filmmaking tutorial for first time filmmakers. This how to video will help you avoid beginner mistakes when shooting your first movie.
How To: Record audio/sound for your first movie
You may be tempted to skimp on audio quality in your first movie. Don’t—a single garbled conversation can drive an audience to the exits. Learn how to record perfect audio with this filmmaking tutorial for first timers.
How To: Become the Joker, a vampire or a zombie for Halloween
Leah D'Emilio from Mahalo Daily meets up with Maurice Stein, founder of Cinema Secrets in Burbank, CA to learn a few tricks of the trade for Halloween makeup. This video tutorial will show you how you can do three awesome looks for under twenty bucks from makeup artist, Taco: Vampire Kiss, Zombie, and the Joker.
How To: Become Heath's Ledger's Joker with makeup and latex
And... here… we... go! This Halloween you'll be the Joker, the wry character Heath Ledger revitalized in the film "Dark Knight," but how? This video tutorial will teach you all of the little tricks to becoming Heath Ledger's Joker with simple makeup.
How To: Turn in to Heath Ledger's Joker with Halloween makeup
"It's a funny world we live in. Speaking of which, do you know how I got these scars? " - Heath Ledger's Joker in "The Dark Knight"
How To: Do a nail through the finger halloween special effect
How to make scary finger for Halloween! This special effects video will demonstrate how to make a convincing nail through a bloody finger. Cool trick for halloween or your next slasher movie!
How To: Cast your first movie
Good casting can bring a script to life. The trick is knowing where to look for the best people. Watch this filmmaking how to video to learn how to make your first movie (and not make any casting mistakes).
How To: Write your first screenplay
The screenwriter Gene Fowler once said, “Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” Here’s how to make the process of writing your first screenplay a little less painful. You will need a formatting guide, a realistic set of expectations and source material. This video provides general knowledge on screenwriting.
How To: Make unzipped eyes with makeup
Apply the zipper eye makeup Halloween costume look by gluing real zippers below your eye. This gives a really creepy, skin opening look. Make it more gruesome with fake blood and darker eye makeup. It's originally a MAC makeup look, but many use it for scary costuming or an industrial zombie look.
How To: Build a steadycam for small hybrid digital cameras
Need to shoot a film for class and realized you don't have a Fisher Dolly and your cinematographer's hands are a little to shaky for what you would consider good filmmaking? Well, this video tutorial will show you how to make your very own steadycam. Check out how a nautilus design transforms into a more suitable steadycam; the gimbal is the key, and gimbals are very hard to find, especially the right one.
How To: Build a homemade film steadycam for cheap
In this video tutorial, Wess does some research and builds a steady-cam for under fourteen bucks. Hooray for no more motion sickness!
How To: Make a straitjacket for your movie or for Halloween
Are you going INSANE cause you don't have a costume yet for Halloween? Worry no more, because this video tutorial from Thread Banger, Rob shows us a crazy tutorial on how to make your very own straitjacket.
How To: Make a blood spurting knife wound
It's time for Halloween, maybe it's time for your ultimate independent horror movie you've been dying to make, whatever the case may be, you're going to need some blood, you're going to need some weapons... you're going to need a bloody knife wound.
How To: Make cheap moving dragon wings controlled by the body
Check out this video tutorial on how to make cheap dragon wings, controlled by body posture. You can do this project for $18 if you use plastic garbage bags and Scotch tape for the membranes. You'll see how to make very light and strong costume wings. How strong? That strong.
How To: Make glowing LED creature costume eyes
By using LEDs that only put out a little light the eyes can be lit in dim room light but still appear white, the moment the eyes are in shadow they glow bright red. Watch this video tutorial to see how to make glowing LED creature costume eyes for your film or costume project.
How To: Make a creature puppet that bites and wags when held
If you're in the mood to make a horror movie, complete with creepy creatures and all, then you could make your dreams come true. Just check out this video tutorial on how to make a creature puppet that bites and wags when held. You can make this mechanism using string, craft wood, and hot glue, the action can be controlled with one finger, so the puppet appears to be alive when cradled in your arms. A nifty horror prop for a "pet monster."
How To: Setup and configure the Brevis 35mm Lens Adapter
This is a hands-on video tutorial that addresses the basic setup and configuration of a Cinevate Brevis 35mm Lens Adapter. We demonstrate this using the Brevis on a Panasonic HVX200 mounted on Zacuto rods and baseplate.
How To: Distribute a film and avoid the pitfalls of contracts
FreshDV had the opportunity recently to speak with Jerome Courshon on the marketing and distribution of movies and films. Jerome offers a full course in the “Secrets of Distribution” . If you are a filmmaker of any kind you owe it to your crew, your cast and yourself to watch this segment. From contracts, residuals, and pitfalls to avoid Jerome covers the 101 basics of film distribution and helps prepare you for what you need to know once the ink dries on the DVDs. In Jerome’s words:
How To: Use a light meter to properly light a digital film
A light meter can prove to be an invaluable tool on any film set, allowing you to quickly and efficiently set lights and know the correct exposure values of those lights. Light meters were initially designed for still photographers and cinematographers can easily calibrate them to a given film stock speed for shooting film. But what about today’s digital cinematographer? I’m glad you asked. In this video tutorial you'll see how you can use a light meter to quickly and efficiently light a scen...
How To: Slate a film, read a line script and keep a shot log
If you have ever wondered about the functionality of slating during a film shoot, what a shooting script or line script is and how to keep a shot log, then this may be the perfect video tutorial for you, in two parts.
How To: Make a homemade electric chair
Whether you’re pro or con on the death penalty issue, there’s nothing more terrifying than having a real live electric chair in your own home! So you should probably just use these simple steps to create a mock-electric chair to “shock” your guests! This Fear.Net Halloween video shows us how to make a homemade electric chair to frighten the Trick or Treaters this holiday season! Make a homemade electric chair.
How To: Make up a bloody gauged eye for Halloween
Even if you’re a Cyclops, you can’t expect to turn a blind eye to the most authentic Halloween make-up! Be part of the cringe-worthy fun and try our gauged eyeball make-up, brought to you by the pros. Make up a bloody gauged eye for Halloween.
How To: Make a music video
A good video can turn a mediocre song into a smash hit, while a bad video. Well, that's just embarrassing. While MTV doesn't really play music anymore, the internet is flooded with good old fashioned music videos. This how-to video will offer some tips for making yours stand out of the crowd. You don't need to be too literal, but try picking a style. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to make a music video.
How To: Build a character's objective for acting
Actor and teacher Benson Simmonds speaks on the actor's process that he teaches in this how-to video. This video acting lesson is about objective and obstacle. In addition, he remarks on the importance of the action. Whatever the objective, the actor needs to be able to translate that into a need and to express that feeling. Watch this video acting tutorial and learn how to build a character's objective.
How To: Build a breakaway tombstome prop
Are you doing a graveyard shot and decided it would be cool to throw someone through a tombstone? This video tutorial will show you how to make a breakaway tombstone. It can also be used to make a cool fake graveyard. You will need foam insulation, a tape measure, sand paper, a utility knife, a marker, string, and paint. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how make a breakaway tombstone for your next scary movie.
How To: Build a sci-fi cryo containment chamber
Making a prop for a science fiction movie? This how-to video dives step by step guidance on how to build a super cool, futuristic, sci-fi, cryo containment chamber. You will need a cylindrical object, craft foam or sytrofoam, a hot glue gun, plaster of Paris, aquarium line tubing, and paint. Check out this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to build a great sci-fi like cryogenic containment chamber.
How To: Make a Spiderman gun for Halloween
Modify a hot glue gun and shoot streams of sticky web goo all over your haunted house with the Spiderman gun in this how-to video. Add a little extra something to your Spiderman costume, to impress while trick-or-treating or at a Halloween party. You will need a hot glue gun, an air-compressor, air-compressor tubing, and copper fittings. Watch this video Halloween tutorial and learn how to make a Spiderman gun.
How To: Make a Gatling gun arm costume
Backyard FX is back just in time for Halloween with this video tutorial. This how-to video shows you how to replace your an arm with a motorized gatling gun! Make a cool movie or the best Halloween costume in town! All for less then $35 dollars. You will need six cardboard shipping tubes, a sheet of scrap foamcore, a cordless screwdriver, a film canister cap, an L-bracket, plastic tubes, a plastic bucket, a roll of friction tape, a 1" by 3" scrap of wood, a scrap of wooden dowel, and a skateb...
How To: Build a bass or sound trap
Halfed Ass Construction presents how to build a Bass / Sound trap in this home audio tutorial. This how-to video goes over the step by step instructions for how to build a frame, the materials needed the process of building the bass or sound trap. A bass trap acoustic panel will help capture low frequency sounds specifically, but will improve the sound quality of all levels. Turn your home into a sound studio or set on a budget. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to build a bass or sound...
How To: Be a puppeteer
Want to be a puppeteer when you grow up? Watch this how-to video and learn as our host John Kennedy gives insider tips on how to develop your puppet character, make your puppet move and perform in front of an audience. All you need is a puppet, a huge imagination, and the helpful tips in this video tutorial. Be a puppeteer.