In this Ovation TV original special, acclaimed photographer Gregory Crewdson shares with us his insight into his photographic techniques. Like a film, he uses a lot of production, a lot of lighting, a lot of set design. He is an American photographer best known for elaborately staged, surreal scenes of American homes and neighborhoods. Learn how to take pictures like this master artist.
Check out this how-to video from wonderhowto.com to learn how to sew on bias tape all by machine but without the swearing! This bias tape sewing video was filmed all in one take--wow!
See how to use the Sony Hi-Def PMW-EX3 digital camera, with a little help from Philip Bloom. This is a great video to teach you everything you need to know about this high definition camera, perfect for your short film.
Welcome to our Indiana Jones special. This week, we've been challenged by Eric Zala, the director of "Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation" to create an awesome face melt effect for cheap! This is probably Indy Mogul's grossest effect yet, so you better not get nauseous or anything, because you might just want to use this for your film!
In this episode, Steve shares some knowledge he's gained through working on no-budget movies to help keep production smooth and professional. With hits from Jared like "How to Properly Clean Your Lens the Night Before a Shoot", this episode is sure to hit #1 on the Billboard Charts for podcasts! What? Billboard doesn't chart podcasts!?!
This week, Erik shows you how to create the awesome effect of throwing a knife into a person's head! This effect is used in big budget movies like the "Matrix" and we're going to show you how to do it for less then twenty dollars!
Attention Central California Residents: This film shows the actual cutover date from operator assistance to direct-dial (local only) in Fresno and Madera, California.
Scare the crap out of your folks with this one. Or scare the crap out of your audience if you're making a low budget film, because these suckers will impress. Realistic vampire fangs! You can't beat them.
If you've seen Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, you'll know one of the greatest special effects of the film is where Mola Ram rips the heart out of someone's chest. In this episode of Backyard FX, Erik recreates that effect with the help of his family members. Don't forget to check out our previous episode on how to create a fake heart.
As a film extra, you’ll make some easy money, get a chance to see moviemaking up close, and perhaps become immortalized on screen. Here’s how to get a gig.
Check out this video for creating a one piece mold using a repro laminating system. This is a professional video not for beginners. The repro laminating system is ideal for working on medium-sized projects, this process is easier, faster, and more economical than the epoxy laminating system. This process can be used in automotive, mechanical, fine art and film special effects uses.
Check out this video to learn how to make a professional epoxy fiberglass layup and epoxy laminating systems. This process is ideal for working on larger projects, a typical 'fiberglass layup' is a popular process for those who need a large, strong, and lightweight tool.This process can be used in automotive, mechanical, fine art and film special effects uses.
Check out this video for how to create simple one piece silicone rubber molds. This technique is ideal for smaller projects (less than 12" x 12"), this is the easiest process for creating parts, patterns, tools, & molds. We demonstrate creating a silicone rubber mold and then the casting of parts with Repro, epoxy casting resins and polyurethane elastomers. This process can be used in automotive, mechanical, fine art and film special effects uses.
Mark Wallace explains how to set up butterfly lighting (AKA Glamour Lighting; AKA Paramount Lighting)with three light sources. This video shows a nice soft lighting underneath the nose. Used if you want to create a strong powerful look, or if your subject has strong cheekbones or jawline. This type of lighting was used in the filming of "Sin City".
A steadicam can mean the difference between a professional and steady wide shot of Victorian era London or a wobbly, user-generated content-esque portrayal of some old lamps and streets. Having control over how your camera moves is so vital to good film production.
A five minute film on how to make your own edible robot. Edible robotics is an exciting new field of research into robots as food and prey. This research was supported by Robo250, the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, the Mattress Factory and MAYA Design, Inc.
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.
Steve Nelson from Indy Mogul shows you how to create cool falling or jumping from a building effect. Use a combination of camera angeles, green screen, and editing to create this cool action effect for your films.
Do you need that special human touch to your special fx? Indy Mogul's Mike Johnson shows you how to make ballistics gels to create flesh and gore effects for your films.
Looking to create great special FX for you films using a green screen. Steve from Indy Mogul teaches you how to shoot using a blue screen or a green screen and also how to add in your own digital backgrounds.
Erik from Indy Mogul shows you how to make sugar glass for $20. Sugar glass can be used to create breakable or break away glass FX for your films.
Learn how to take photographs without a lens and develop film in your bathroom. Taken from the masters of the "weekend project", Bre Pettis and Make Magazine, you are sure to get some entertainment out of creating a camera and darkroom. Make sure to download the PDF to get all the details.
Natalie Portman's bulging red avian eyes in her new movie "Black Swan" may be scary, but the rest of her makeup is like a work of art. WIth wing-inspired feathery black and white eye makeup and deep blood red lips, she looks every part a girl who's psyche is falling apart and consuming her as well as a beautiful prima ballerina.
In this tutorial, we learn how to splatter blood & make a muzzle flash in film. First, you will need to grab a starter pistol for anywhere on the internet. Then, take a shot of your shooting the gun and someone else pretending like they are taking the bullet. Then, load this clip into the software you use and place a light coming from the end of the gun to make it look realistic. When you are finished fixing the lighting with this, you can edit and then you will have a finished product! Save ...
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 ...
In this video, we learn how to use food for special effects film makeup. Using familiar ingredients you find in the kitchen, you can make a scene from a movie that looks real! Food can be made to look like really gross things in movies, using the right colors and consistencies. Gelatin can be used on the face to create something that looks like scabs and a raw burn on a face. Corn flakes can also give off the scraped face look. Barbecue chicken skin can be made to look like a black cut on the...
In this tutorial, we learn how to film realistic and bloody gun shots. You will first need to gather up all the materials you need to make this happen. Once you have everything ready, set it all into place. Make sure you have the fake blood placed in the shirt where the person is pointing the gun, and also make sure you have a good actor. After this, use a firecracker to make the sound of a gunshot. As soon as this goes off and the person pulls the fake trigger, have the other person push on ...
Looking for a quick overview of how to take advantage of the AE presets included with Vintage Film for Looks? Look no further. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
In this tutorial, we learn how to covert a matchbox into a camera. First, take your matchbox and cut out the bottom, then cut out a square piece. After this, paint the inside of it black with a marker. Next, cut a small hole in the top of the box. After this, cut a small square out of a soda can and hammer a small hole in the metal square. Now, tape the metal to the match top box, then cut the excess tape off. After this, take the bottom off of the top and place it over the metal hole in the ...
The rain of neon-green computer code that makes up the matrix in the iconic film The Matrix is a familiar image to anyone familiar with the film. Now you can make it yourself! This two-part video will teach you how to create this awesome effect using the Adobe Premiere Pro video editing suite.
Sin City used some of the coolest visual effects of any recent film. This two-part video uses a clip from the iconic film as an canvas to which we can apply some other editing effects using Adobe Premiere Pro. Specifically, the first part covers using color passes to absorb colors and adding a mask to focus the color spot. The second covers animating a garbage matte with keyframes and other topics. Unfortunately there is no link for downloading the Sin City clip from the video, so you are goi...
In this video from FiveSprockets we learn how to light an interior space while filming on a budget. For this you need two Chinese lanterns which he found for $2.95 each. You need 2 light bulbs which he found for $3.95 each. Make sure you get extra ones. Then get a couple of pan lights. They are day light and mood light. They were $7 and $5. You also need a multi colored gel pack which is $6.00. He uses C-stands to hold the lights up but he suggests coming up with other ways if you don't have ...
For various reasons — ranging from lens type to the frame rate to the storage medium —, footage shot with a camcorder doesn't really look anything like what one would see in a Hollywood film. However, with a little bit of work and a touch of post-production, you can make your consumera camera footage look a lot more like a commerically shot project.
In this video, learn how to set-up a Canon EOS 7D camera for slow motion. Learn about the settings you need to use to prepare to shoot in one of the high speed modes. To see more of the videos on this subject, check out the parts below, especially on processing the slow motion film.
A great special effect for any film or movie is the space warp effect, like this bleach bypass effect. It's a little tricky to make, but once you know, fairly simple. Learn how to create a bleach bypass effect in Sony Vegas.
What every indie filmmaker needs is a little program called After Effects. After effects does wonders for any film requiring a little special effects that would normally be too expensive to make "real". Like this glowing eye effect. See how to make an eye glowing effect in Adobe After Effects.
The FN P90. Everybody wants one, but more than likely, you can't get your hands on one, especially if it's illegal in your area. Designed by FN Herstal back in the 80's, the P90 personal defense weapon is the cream of the crop. It's full name, Project 90, specifies a weapon system of the 1990's. If you want this firearm for a weapon prop or just to have, you can easily build one yourself with household materials, mostly cardboard. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a P-90 prop ca...
It's medieval mayhem and you need a sword prop. Maybe you're larping, or maybe you just need a fake, dull movie prop blade for your action epic. Either way, this is a great weapons build project for a cool replica wooden sword. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a fake sword prop.
Adam from Chemical Reaction wants to show you a little movie magic. This video tutorial will show you how to make an Assassin's Creed hidden blade prop for your homemade film. If you're a fan of the Assassin's Creed video game, then you can't not make this hidden blade. This is a great prop for anybody wanting to recreate it for a fan film. It's cheap and quite easy and works pretty well.
Learn how to apply zombie makeup as a Halloween costume. Mike the How-To Guy shows you how to put on the makeup for that ghoulish holiday, or for any other reason, like a short, low-budget independent film.
