Hot Film & Theater How-Tos

How To: Learn about set design

This video sequence will teach you the basics of set design. It will teach you how necessary the overall theme is to keeping the director happy and unfolding the stage design. After watching this video, you will learn how to design a set so that everyone will love you.

How To: Hide a Lav Mic

The only way to get great sound is to get the microphone as close to the talent as possible. This video tutorial will discuss the dark art of hiding a microphone in someone's clothing or elsewhere. These tips will help you keep your mics hidden and heard.

How To: Record foley sound basics

This video covers the basics of recording Foley sound. Foley was a sound technician at Universal studios who invented a new sound effect method. This video will teach you how to use his method to get great sound effects.

How To: Record good interview audio

This sound video demonstrates some techniques for getting good sound during an interview. It covers various types of mics and what you can use them for. Pretty soon, you'll be rigging up interview audio for important shows like Oprah or Good Morning America!

How To: Record Outdoor Audio

Sometimes, we need to record outdoors for our film making. Perhaps we need an audio clip of a babbling brook, or perhaps just ambient noise. This instructional filmmaking video covers some tips for capturing good sound when shooting outdoors.

How To: Shoot Macro Video

The advantage of the camcorder is that sometimes, it can see more than the human eye when put close up to something. This cinematography video should help you make interesting shots as well as get really good extreme close-ups.

How To: Make realistic looking prop swords

So you want to make a film, and in that film you want to have a sword, but you can't buy one, not to mention real ones are pretty dangerous. Your insurance costs will go through the roof! Well, here's you solution. Check out this helpful two-part video tutorial on how to make your own prop swords, which means less dangerous swords. Actually, they're made out of metal, so you still might just somebody with them yet.

How To: Build a small and movable stage

In this stage design and construction video series, learn how to build one of those small “portals.” Our expert—a director, actor, and producer himself—will show you tips and techniques for building a small, mobile stage that can be set up anywhere you or your acting troupe decide to give a performance. This step-by-step guide to stage construction includes clips on what tools and materials to use, how to measure and cut the frame, what type of bolts to use for ease of tear down, and how to b...

How To: Make a motorcycle camera mount

Make your own motorcycle camera Mount for less than five bucks! You won't believe how easy it is. This video tutorial will show you how to make one hell of a motorcycle mount. I wouldn't put a Canon XL2 on this or anything, but it's sure good enough for you palm-sized digital cameras, for a cheap look and feel to your new motorcycle gang film.

How To: Look masculine with makeup for cosplay

This is a video tutorial made to help out all those cosplayers on how to look more masculine using make up. This was originally made to help out guys who are pretty new to make up, but need to learn it for photo or cosplay purposes, and for girls who are trying to crossplay a male character and need to look more masculine. So, live anime and manga... cosplay it out with costumes and wigs and makeup and everything else.

How To: Use makeup for flawless cosplay skin

This is a video tutorial made to help out all those cosplayers on how to achieve that flawless photoshopped looking skin by just using makeup. This was originally made to help out guys who are pretty new to makeup, but need to learn it for photo or cosplay purposes. So find your favorite anime or manga character and cosplay with a costume, a wig, and some flawless skin.

How To: Make folding wings for a cosplay costume

DISCLAIMER: You could get hurt doing this. There's scars to prove it. This five-part video tutorial is on how to make folding, feathered wings for a Van Fanel cosplay costume. So if you're a fan of anime or manga, and you love cosplay, why not try and make this cool wings? Just be careful of those feathers. This is an art, not a science, need I remind you?

How To: Do makeup to match your cosplay costume

TheTribalButterfly fulfills your request to give a video tutorial on how she does her cosplay makeup, and this is it, in two parts. Anime and manga costumes are hard enough to make, and then there's the makeup. You just don't look right without it. Cosplay is no joke, it's an art, and you need to look good!

How To: Make a cosplay costume, step-by-step

TheTribalButterfly talks all about how to make some wicked anime and manga cosplay costmes. This video tutorial takes you step-by-step through her process of making cool cosplay outfits, with the fabrics, the makeup, the etc. Perform as your favorite character with grace as you make the proper and coll costume for it.

How To: Read patterns and cut fabrics for cosplay costumes

TheTribalButterfly is here to teach you how to read, understand, and cut patterns and fabrics for cosplay costumes! So, if you just can't get enough of your anime or manga character, then why not become them. Make your won manga costumes and act accordingly. Just watch this three-part tutorial to perform the fabric task at hand. Read patterns and cut fabrics for cosplay costumes - Part 1 of 3.

How To: Make a Japanese gi costume for cosplay

Anime and manga are your life, and so is cosplay, so why not watch this video tutorial? This is a step-by-step guide on how to make a Japanese gi top, suitable for characters like Bleach, Kenshin, Inu Yasha, Shinsengumi and many more! You can even use this for your judo and other martial arts. This costume will be the best of the best for cosplay, because it's not only fun, it's art.

How To: Boffer sword fight with the Knights of Gray

Check out this video from the Knight of Gray. If you are a LARPer, and are art of a LARPing association, then you must check with your league to see if you can even use these boffer fighting techniques. The Knights of Gray do not teach for live action role-playing, they teach for combat. You must be aware of this.