Hot Film & Theater How-Tos
How To: Create ghostly special effects for video
John demonstrates an easy way of creating an out-of-body special effect.
How To: Create easy special effects
This week Brandon demonstrates how to perform a few special effects that can improve the visual dynamics of your videos. He explains special effects such as projector feedback loop, levitation camera trick, "use the force" trick.
How To: Shoot video in the snow
Brandon goes into the wilderness to shoot video in the snow. He demonstrates which situations to avoid and which provide ideal opportunities for great looking winter videos.
How To: Record your own soundtrack to your video
This week Brandon gives a live demonstration on recording an instrument directly into a computer's music creation software, and then create your own soundtrack for your video or film.
How To: Shoot sunrise or sunsets on video
It's very hard to capture a sunrise on camera. Yes, you can get a general feeling from a single shot: the hazy, blue-orange rays of light peeking through the clouds in a sunrise or the crimson red streaks of sun dappling darkening skies in a sunset. But to truly capture a sunset or a sunrise, you have to experience them.
How To: Create cheap fake blood for film
Brandon shows a cheap and easy way to create a fake blood special effect for your video.
How To: Create different shot types with your video camera
Issac explains what different shot types are: from the establishing shot to the extreme close up, and how they can be used to enhance your videos.
How To: Record ambient noise for your video
Brandon discusses the audio technique "capturing ambient noise". He describes how to do it and why it can improve your video's overall sense of depth and appeal.
How To: Record a voice over
Brandon explains how to record a voice over audio track to improve the quality of your videos.
How To: Cast shadows with cookies for your video
Jennifer shows how to spice up the background of your video using cookies (aka cucaloris or cucalorus). Cookies are lighting accessories that are cut out shapes that cast a shadow.
How To: Shoot landscapes on film
John talks about some techniques that are used to capture vast landscapes in a small frame.
How To: Create a "natural wipe" in film
Jennifer talks about the technique known as "Natural Wipes". She gives several examples of these types of "in camera" transitions and how they can be used to create better videos.
How To: Create a split-screen effect in your video
Issac talks about the split-screen effect: what it is and how it works. There is also a quick demo on how to perform a split screen edit in Final Cut Pro.
How To: Stabilize your video filming with a wheelchair
Issac shows another way to create better-looking videos using a wheelchair and a friend to create steady shots.
How To: Use a "pan" and "tilt" when filming
Issac demonstrates what a "pan" and a "tilt" are and how they can improve the quality of the shots in your videos.
How To: Create cheap outdoor lighting for filming
Issac demonstrates a couple different outdoor lighting techniques and how "good" outdoor lighting can improve your videos.
How To: Avoid making the 7 biggest mistakes in camera work
Videomaker demonstrates the 7 biggest mistakes made when shooting video and how to avoid them.
How To: Use transitions in film
Brandon Pinard discusses the most commonly used transitions in television and film: the Cut, the Fade and the Dissolve. He covers the basic definition of each of the three transitions, how they are most commonly used in the film and television industries, and how anyone can improve their own videos with the proper understanding of these transitions.
How To: Set up and light a green screen
Andrew shows you how to set up and light a green screen for special effects.
How To: Shoot underwater video
Here's a short tip from Videomaker magazine on how to shoot underwater video without having to purchase that expensive underwater housing. Go get wet!
How To: Use the "180 degree rule" in filming
Also known as the Line of Action, the 180 Degree Rule is an important fundamental to communicating the action through careful camera positioning. Jennifer O'Rourke walks us through it.
How To: Steady your video camera
Isaac gives some helpful tips on keeping your camcorder steady.
How To: Use Chromakey to enhance your videos & photos
See how to use Chromakey to enhance your videos and photos. Chromakey is the process of removing one color and replacing it with another but it most often refers to removing green screen or blue screen backgrounds and replacing them with composited videos or images. This lesson uses Pinnacle software for the final video editing, but any editing software can be used - it's more about the principles of the process and setting up the cameras that you'll learn from this video.
How To: Apply burn scar makeup SFX to the face
This video shows you how to apply a makeup prosthetic made of gelatin that gives a horrific burn and or scar effect. You can easily do this at home for a great effect
How To: Make a video camera stabilizer
This is sort of like a homemade steadicam without the harness and everything that makes it keep the camera straight. This is kinda just a stick you attach to the camera.
How To: Shoot in extreme weather and rain
You need a rain barney among other items before you go out there and record the world's end. Shooting in extreme weather conditions? Heavy rain or snow and high winds can pose quite the obstacle, but with a little bit of foresight, a few tips from Matt, and the right equipment, such as a rain barney and woolie, your show will go on!
How To: Make a underwater video housing
Make a underwater video housing for less than $20.
How To: Establish the main character and the inciting incident
Watch this video to learn about screen writing and story structure in order to make your own movie. The "Inciting Incident" is explained— the moment in the first act that propels the rest of the story into motion. As an introduction into creative storytelling: Don't ever allow the inciting incident to be boring.
How To: Install a vario-switar 16-100m lens battery
Watch this video to learn how to change the power zoom battery in this legendary Bolex camera lens.
How To: Shoot day for night and night for day for movie making
The sun can change positions during a shoot. It's pretty annoying. But don't worry, you can shoot at night and make it look like daylight, as well as shoot during the day and making it look like night. Here are some helpful tips.
How To: Make a puppet from stuffed toys
Watch this video to learn how to make puppets from stuffed toys. In this video, Barbara Dewey converts Pink Panther, Bugs Bunny and several others into ventriloquist figures. Barbara also gives some tips for caring for your puppets and some ideas for modifying them. Stay tuned for the amazing performance in the last video of this three part video series!
How To: Make eyes for clay animation puppets
This tutorial teaches you how to modify delrin balls using a pin vice and 1mm drill bits. The end result is a really nice set of eyes that you can insert in your clay puppet for animation.
How To: Make a simple wire armature for a stop motion puppet
Watch this great stop motion animation tutorial to learn how to make a wire armature for a stop motion puppet. Also, learn some tips on adding clay to the armature and animating the puppet.
How To: Create a zero budget plank camera
We love these guys because they do it for the love of it. How can you get those smooth tracking shots that glide over obstacles without track, steadycam, jib or all those other expensive pieces of equipment? Find a plank!
How To: Storyboard your movie on the cheap
Ben and Paul demonstrate the important process of storyboarding as a tool to plan your film.
How To: Build a camera jib crane
In this DIY video, we show you how we built our camera crane. This was all done with a table saw, drill and hack saw.
How To: Use a computer for zero budget special effects
For those who want to make zero budget films with special effects, there's only one way to go these days... with a computer. They may look like crap, but they're cheap!
How To: Shoot Kung Fu fighting scenes backwards for SFX
Ben and Paul demonstrate the power of backwards running video when shooting a Kung Fu fight scene.
How To: Build a radio controlled camera pod
Watch this video to learn how to make a radio controlled camera rig that can tilt and pan like an expensive security camera. This is an amazing tool for movie making! Stick to your budget.
How To: Storyboard when making a movie
Storyboards are like blueprints for your movies. And the bigger your production, the more important they become. Making a movie without a storyboard is like throwing your money into a bottomless pit. Watch this video and learn how to make your own storyboards!