Hot Film & Theater How-Tos
How To: Do improv warm ups
Struggling with improvisational skills? Looking for some helpful tips and exercises to improve your improv? Learn more than 30 improv warm-ups from a professional instructor in this free arts and entertainment video series.
How To: Build ideas with the “Yes, and” principle for improv
Are you struggling with your improvisational skills? Are you looking for some helpful tips and exercises that will improve your improv? Learn how to use the "Yes, and" principle in improv to build ideas in this free arts and entertainment video series.
How To: Write a play analysis
Analyzing a play can help actors, directors, or scholars to understand everything about a given play. Learn how to write a play analysis in this free theater video from a college professor.
How To: Perform prose interpretation
Prose for performance is different than performing with poetry. Learn about the basics of prose from a communications and public speaking expert in this free instructional video. Perform prose interpretation - Part 1 of 11.
How To: Build a character for actors
Acting requires getting to know a fictional character and becoming him or her, including motivation, status, desires, habits, and more. Learn to act in character from a performer in this free acting video series.
How To: Speak in a New York dialect
Who doesn't want to be able to speak like a New Yorker? Whether for acting, comedy or impressing your friends and family, speaking in a New York dialect will provide you with hours of entertainment. Learn how to speak in a New York dialect in this free video series from communications and public speaking expert, Tracy Goodwin.
How To: Use the Bunraku Puppet's wrist controller
How are puppets controlled? Learn about the function of a Bunraku Puppet Wrist Arm Control in this free puppetry lesson from an expert puppeteer. Use the Bunraku Puppet's wrist controller - Part 1 of 20.
How To: Practice improv with the Alphabet Circle exercise
Practice playing "Alphabet Circle" improv games. Learn how to practice improv with games, warm ups, and exercises in this free acting video. Practice improv with the Alphabet Circle exercise - Part 1 of 15.
How To: Practice improv with the Bucket exercise
How to practice improv with the "Bucket" game. Learn how to play improv games to practice acting skills in this free video on theatre and performance. Practice improv with the Bucket exercise - Part 1 of 15.
How To: Rehearse for monologues
Need practice tips for your monologue? Learn how to tap into your real emotions on stage in this free video clip from a professional theater director. Rehearse for monologues - Part 1 of 15.
How To: Analyze a monologue
Monologues are important to any acting career. Get tips for rehearsing your monologue in this free video clip from a professional theater director. Analyze a monologue - Part 1 of 15.
How To: Find a monologue for auditions
First theater audition? Get tips for picking the right monologue in this free video clip about how to audition with a monologue. Find a monologue for auditions - Part 1 of 15.
How To: Apply fake facial hair for theater
Everything you need for fake beards and mustaches. Learn how to apply fake facial hair for theater makeup and costuming in this free video. Apply fake facial hair for theater - Part 1 of 15.
How To: Apply old age makeup for theater
What makeup supplies are needed to make someone look old? Learn how to apply old age makeup to make someone look like an elderly person with tips and techniques from this free video. Apply old age makeup for theater - Part 1 of 15.
How To: Play improv games
What are some improv games for practicing or improv class? Learn how to play improv games in this free video on theatre acting.
How To: Do improv warm ups and exercises
Get ready for improv class with some warm up games and exercises. Make the most out of theater and improv acting with these free videos!
How To: Do theatrical improv
Watch this instructional video for some theatrical improv tips and techniques. Learn about improv for the theater in this free video series on acting performance.
How To: Perform with a puppet
for kids and adults! Our expert puppeteer will teach you basic puppet performance with expert puppeteering tips in this free online performance video series.
How To: Basic stage makeup techniques
Learn how to apply your own stage makeup including foundation, fake eyelashes, eye shadow, bronzer, blush, lipstick and more with expert makeup tips in this free online theater production video series.
How To: Make fake bruises
Learn how to make easy fake bruises with special effects makeup! Watch how to make the best fake bruises in this free video series on making fake bruises and stage makeup effects.
How To: Start your own puppet company
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 in this free video series.
How To: Throw your voice for dummies
Watch this instructional voice video for dummies that breaks down the basics of throwing your voice. This humorous tutorial reveals the ancient secret techniques you will need to be able to throw your voice. Fool your friends into believing your hand can talk. This video is great for aspiring ventriloquists and puppet enthusiasts.
How To: Make shadow puppet joints
Check out this instructional puppetry video that explains two methods to make shadow puppet joints. You can use any puppet pattern. Using the Mr. Stripes puppet as an example, this tutorial video shows how to create shadow puppets with joints. Beginners will enjoy this shadow puppet video demonstration on how to make joints.
How To: Make a sailor fuku, school uniform for cosplaying
Watch this step by step costume making tutorial to learn how to make a cool Japanese sailor styled school uniform. This video is suitable for numerous characters like Sailormoon, Suzumiya Haruhi, Azumanga, and more. This how to video is great for costume designers, cosplayers, and anime enthusiats.
How To: Make a Suzumiya Haruhi skirt for cosplaying
Watch this step by step costume making guide on how to make a Suzumiya Haruhi skirt for cosplaying. This tutorial is great for anime enthusiasts, designers, and do it yourself fashion aficionados. Learn the necessary steps of designing a Suzimiya Haruhi skirt for cosplaying.
How To: Make your own steadicam
Steadicams are mounts used in film making that helps the cameraman capture smooth shots independent of his body's movements. Unfortunately, this equipment can be very costly. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to make your own steadicam for approximately 9.50 pounds.
How To: Build your own camera stabilizer on a low budget
Need a camera stabilizer? If you're worried about your wallet, watch this tutorial and learn how to build your own for a relatively low cost. This instructional video also includes a review on the U-Flycam.
How To: Make a boom pole on a low budget
Need a boom pole for your project? Take a look at this instruction video and learn how to build your own boom pole on a low budget. The relative cost of all these materials to construct the boom pole is approximately fifteen pounds.
How To: Make your own low budget camera dolly
Can't afford a camera dolly? Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to make your own low budget camera dolly. The materials you'll need to construct this dolly are:
How To: Improvise your own camera dolly
Need a camera dolly but don't own one? Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to improvise your own camera dolly with just some household items at your disposal. To use this makeshift camera dolly, you'll need a tripod with supports.
How To: Pan using a timelapse motor controlled hacked clock
Watch this instructional cinematography video to learn a cheap and easy method of creating your own time-lapse footage with a motor controlled hacked clock. This is an excellent way to generate fast forward effects in film (think of the famous scene in Garden State). This is a great effect for filmmakers on a budget to simulate.
How To: Make a fursuit mask head base using foam
This instructional costume making video shows how to create a fur suit mask head base with foam. Just follow these three simple steps for your fur suit mask: make the base of the mask, make and attach the ears to the base, and make and attach the muzzle and jaw. Watch this fur suit costume making tutorial and you'll soon be ready to start roleplaying.
How To: Use basic three point lighting
This instructional lighting video produced by CMP students at Seneca College demonstrates the basics of three point lighting, the arrangement of the shooting space, organization of gear, and safety on set. This video is great for students learning the ropes of cinematography and lighting basics.
How To: Use 3 point lighting
This lighting tutorial video explains the basics of lighting a scene using the 3 point lighting scheme with a Lowell light kit and various essential equipment. Using the back light, the fill and key light, three point lighting will produce a properly lit subject. This video is great for lighting designers and cinematographers alike.
How To: Build a green screen
This instructional special effects video uses fast-forward action to quickly display how to construct a green screen from scratch in an empty room. Watch this video if you are a visual learner or someone who learns by observing others in action as a team builds a green screen set.
How To: Make squibs to strike the walls
Watch this instructional special effects video on how to make a squib to simulate fired bullets striking a wall. This squib making process will not work for contact on people. Follow the step by step procedure by watching this instructional video to produce realistic special effects for your film.
How To: Setup the Redrock microShouldermount
This cinematography tutorial explains how to setup the Redrock mircroShouldermount for the first time. The video covers two basic configurations: for a stock video camera and for an existing camera setup. The Redrock shoulder mount is a modular system designed to meet an individual's customizable needs.
How To: Readjust microFollowFocus gear if too loose
This instructional cinematography video provides troubleshooting alternatives to adjusting the focus gear on a Redrock microFollowFocus should it become too loose. There are several adjustment capabilities built into the Redrock microFollowFocus and can be tightened by watching this video. This instructional video is interesting for cinematography aficionados.
How To: Discover claymation stop motion animation
Making an animated film? This short and easy animation tutorial provides beginners the bare minimum to begin creating a claymation or stop motion animation film. This instructional video shows how to move claymation characters, how to control the lighting, and how to create a visually interesting set with props. This claymation video also compares the different results when you vary the frames per second.
How To: Make a Mamshmam's claymation character
This quick instructional claymation video reveals how to make a Mamshmam claymation clay person for a stop motion animation video. Follow these simple steps to create a Mamshmam claymation character: roll into a ball, pinch the top to create the head, push the middle to make the stomach, squish the sides to create arms, push down clay to finish legs, and smooth him out.