Running over someone's head or burying them alive so that they can rise from the grave are dangerous, and not worth using in filmmaking generally speaking. But yay, there are special effects! Watch this video for a guide to running over someone's head with a car or burying them alive for your film using After Effects and some fun props.
Head wounds are among the very worse types of wound, and as a results are very fun and popular subjects for representation in film. This video will teach you how to create an open gash wound on the head of your actor without taking a bottle to it. The wound looks very real, make sure you don't let your actor get near a hospital!
Directing an actor in such a way that they can deliver the best performance possible is the most important work of the stage and screen director. If you're just getting started and need some tips, watch this video for some basic rules to follow on coaching actors.
Learn After Effects: the best digital motion graphics software programs out there.
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.
The end is near - at least for Harry Potter fans. Spanning ten years and half the actors' lives, the "Harry Potter" movie series is finally concluding with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," part 1 of which comes out in just a few days.
In this video, actress and producer Kathleen Cooke talks to you about how to keep your moral ground in Los Angeles. As a struggling actor you will be offered jobs that may challenge your morals, and by following Kathleen's tips you will know how to deal with them and establish boundaries.
In this tutorial, actor Shaun Pilkington offers his advice for choosing the best acting classes in Hollywood. LA is a town full of actors and there are many resources available, make sure you pick the best classes and become the very best you can be in your field.
Are you trying to make it in Hollywood? You won't get very far as an actor without an agent. Most auditions are limited to those with agents only, so how do you get one? In this clip, actor Shaun Pilkington tells you about the various ways to find representation in Los Angeles. Follow these tips and you will be heading out on auditions in no time.
Indy Mogul Backyard FX is here with an awesome, cheap, special effect build that will have your audience jumping out of their seats. If you're a filmmaker on a budget you've got to watch this video and learn how to make a hole in the chest effect that look exactly like there is a hole in the actor's chest.
In this tutorial, actor Hans Obma give you very important tips on how to practice your skills every day and improve. You will learn how to make acting a daily habit so that when you are in front of a casting director you can stand up with confidence and wow them. Follow along and form some great habits with Hans.
In this clip, actress Julie Crisante explains some of the hardships you might have when you uproot and make the move to Los Angeles. Make sure you are ready for the major adjustment you will be facing. Los Angeles is an incredible city - it is beautiful, the people are friendly and always fun - but moving as an actor can be difficult for some. A lot of actors wind up leaving in their first year when faced with the cost and competition. Stay focused and stay in LA with these helpful tips from ...
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.
The Disney Research Lab is using projector-based illumination to paint actors' faces during live performances. You know what that means? Disney just took Halloween to a whole new level.
Mashed potatoes are a reliably tasty side dish, but they can definitely get a little boring sometimes. So if you're looking for that extra 'oomph' that goes beyond the classic butter and salt seasoning, try infusing your next batch with the flavor of baked potato skins.
I love eating fish at restaurants—the flesh is flaky and tender; the scent, fresh and sweet. Cooking fish at home is a completely different story, though. Even when I do cook successful fish dishes, it often leaves this (for lack of a better description) fishy smell that permeates everything it touches. Monday's salmon becomes Wednesday's odor. It's enough to deter me from cooking fish, period.
In this tutorial, we learn how to simulate teleportation w/ film effects & camera tricks. First, take a shot of your actors moving and doing something active. Then, take a shot of the frame without the actors. After this, go frame by frame masking the actors out of each of the frames. Use radio blur to make them leave the shot, then add in evaporation. From here, you can play the clips of the background on the scene so it looks like the have been sent somewhere else. Smooth out the background...
In this tutorial, we learn how to cut your friends in half with film effects. To do this, you will need an actor, a still frame of blood, and some gory looking meat. Have your wounded actor lay on the floor with another actor laying next to him. Then, have them all leave the frame. Next, bring all the footage in After Effects and bring in the meat picture as well. Add blood and the meat in the pictures and remove the lower half of the body. Play with the colors to make it look more realistic,...
Prepare two video clips which are on entirely the same scene or spot. Shoot the first video clip so that the actor enters and leaves the scene from the left. Then, shoot the second video clip so that the actor enters and leaves the scene from the right. On your Sony Vegas Pro application, layer both video clips together. Create a rectangular mask on the first video to indicate which part of the scene should only be shown. Add a little bit of feather effect so that the first video will blend i...
If you want to have a character get attacked by a predatory land animal in your movie, you are probably going to need to put some claw marks on their body to make it look realistic and visceral. This three-part video will show you how to create a really realistic open claw mark wound on an actor's face, or any other body part. It looks really, really good, now try it yourself and scare your family and friends!
Three disparate but useful indie filmmaking techniques, one video. One stop shopping just in time for the holidays. This video will teach you how to make day into night with editing, normal things giant with filming, and make actors fall from high places without hurting themselves unduly.
Finally, the professionals are weighing in on how to create fake wounds! This video features a makeup artist from the BBC demonstrating how to make a really realistic fake cut on the hand of an actor using theatrical makeup. The plastic pieces from a CD jewel case that resemble broken glass really set this cut apart from the other fake cuts on the site, along with the professionalism of the presenter.
In this clip, learn how to raise a family and have happy relationships in the fast paced world of Los Angeles. The lives of those in the entertainment industry are often hectic and involve odd hours, so keeping strong bonds is hard. Check out these tips from Kathleen Cooke and keep a happy and healthy life amidst the chaos.
Learn how to knife someone in the face without using digital effects with this video tutorial. You will learn how to perform this effect without needing a computer and without actually hurting someone. You will need a hat and two identical knives. Cut the blade on one of the knives very carefully. Next, affix the knife to the hard hat or whatever hat you are using for this trick. The actor throwing the knife should pretend as though he is throwing the knife, but he won't actually be doing it....
Make sure and watch this episode as we tackle another heavily requested effect... making someone look blown in half! Jam packed with cheap special effects, Frisbee fun, and a Test Film guest directed by Maniacal Rage!
Send in the clones! Steve Nelson teaches you how to create a digital cloning effect for your films. Create duplicates of your actors on screen.
In this tutorial, we learn how to break an arm in half & blow up a head in film. To do this, you will need: a tripod, after effects, and actors. First, you need to record a shot with the background and the person whose head you want to blow up. After this, put the clean plate clip over the head of your actor. Now, you will be able to clear out the person and add a mask that is exploding in the frame instead of the head. Add in some fake blood and sound effects, then you will be finished with ...
As an actor, finding a roommate is important. Chances are, you will not be making much money right away and will need to save on the rent and bills. Also, having a roommate means you will have a built-in friend when you first move, as well as an (often) already furnished house to live in.
In this tutorial, we learn how to knife someone in the face with film effects & tricks. This effect is mostly done in the camera and not in computer software. First, get two identical knives and a hat you don't mind ruining. Then, remove the blade from one of the knives and fix it to the hat. Once you have the knife set up, put your actors in place. When you do this part, use caution to make sure you don't throw the knife at anyone. Throw this into the air, then take the shot to the person wi...
In this video we learn how to get your heart torn out with film effects. First, go to the butcher's section of your market and find a gross piece of meat. Then, cut a hole in your shirt and grab some fake plastic blood. Soak the meat in the blood and then place it into the shirt. Have one of your actors push their hand into the shirt and act like they are tearing a heart out. After you do this, have the other actor act like they are in severe pain. This will finish our your heart torn out fil...
In this video, we learn how to make someone burst into flames with After Effects. You will first need Fire Assets from Action Essentials 2 or from somewhere online. Know which you are going to use before you shoot so you can get the right angle. Then, bring your shots into your software and position the fire above your character. Change the size and shape the match your actor. Then, track your footage by clicking on track motion and continuing forward. To make this look more realistic, change...
Know a little bit about film lighting, but can't quite grasp the concept of using light meters to measure light for proper exposure? You can't rely on your video camera to accurately capture what you see, so you need light meters to properly and accurately capture what you have created on set.
This is a video by Indy Mogul. For making a script or screenplay, first write a short heading about the situation and where the characters are to be at that time. Then write the actions the character must do. Then the dialog the actor must tell along with the emotion. Now write the dialog the another actor must say. Like wise write all the dialogs. Time must be ascertained for each dialogs. Dialogs must be written according to the time.
Backyard FX show host Eric has an awesome new tutorial for all you aspiring film makers. He is going to teach you how to make your own fake glass bottles out of household products such as sugar, corn syrup and cream of tartar. This is generally for scenes where a glass bottle needs to be broken over an actor's head. This method is incredibly safe and won't cost very much to make either. Be sure to follow his tutorial closely because you may be forced to have to start over again if you skip a ...
Tests can be anxiety provoking even when you are confident on the material. Try to relax and further put your mind at ease by having a good strategy for dealing with a multiple choice test . With a little bit of practice you’ll by acing tests in no time.
In this video series, our expert Tim Kimmel will show you ho to do a non-fiction book proposal. Mr. Kimmel will teach you how to write a title page, a table of contents, and a synopsis for a book proposal; all in the way the publishers like to receive them. Tim will also teach you how to write an author's bio, and tell you a bit about market strategy so you know your words are reaching the right ears.
No matter how desperate they are for work, most actors will not let you crush their heads for your film. The potential for career development afterwards would be limited. This video will teach you how to crush a head with special effects for a film and then how to use three-point lighting to make your films look more professional.
In this tutorial, learn all about headshots from producer and actress Kathleen Cooke. Kathleen will tell you all about what you need for a great headshot that will work in Los Angeles. From what to wear to how to pose, Kathleen will get you started. Chances are the headshots you have from back home won't cut it in LA, so make sure you have a great set and carry them with you - always!
There are many different acting classes available in Los Angeles, so how do you know if you are taking the right type? Don't get stuck with a bad teacher, or learning the wrong method for your chosen field. This tutorial, hosted by actor Shaun Pilkington, will walk you through a few insider tips for choosing the right mentors. Follow along, practice your skill and make your Hollywood dreams come true.
In this tutorial, learn how to make fun kid's crafts by recycling items that you would normally throw out. You will learn how to save things like cardboard, paper, old books, dirt and even an old shoe! Turn these items into something fun and educational for your little ones with guidance from beloved actor, John Lithgow.
