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: 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: 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 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: 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: Fix a broken armature puppet for stop motion animation

In this puppetry tutorial, learn how to fix a broken stop motion animation armature that suffered massive limb loss. This how to video is done by an amateur for amateurs who need help repairing their damaged armature. Instead of rebuilding from scratch, watch this video and fix your armature puppet to continue filming your stop motion animation piece. Don't forget your your eye goggles!

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: Simulate a gun shot wound special effect

Watch this short tutorial on how to make a realistic bullet hit to simulate an actor getting shot by a gun. Materials needed include a pressure sprayer, clear tubing that will fit on to the hose of the pressure sprayer, a small Translucent PVC elbow, fake blood, duct tape, a funnel, a shirt you don't mind damaging.

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.