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Hot Film & Theater How-Tos

iOS 18 Tips, Tricks, How-Tos, News

How To: Find sound effects on the Internet for your film

If you need some sound effects for your upcoming film, you better watch this video! After principle photography in production, you have to get into the editing process in post-porduction, which leads to sound department for ADR, Foley, Sound Effects and Sound Design. If you can't afford a professional sound designer for your movie, you can do it yourself, and this video will help you find sound effects on the Internet for your film.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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 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: 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: 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 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.