3D modeling tool Mayafrom Autodesk is a monster of a program, able to do SO many things. One of the things you'll need to learn is how to use the CV Curve tool. This will allow you to create objects with curves of any shape or dimension you desire. Let's be honest, most of your models will require curves, so check out this tutorial and find out how to do it. Maya is used in everything from small animation to feature films like Spiderman. If you want to be in the biz, expand your skill set wit...
"Tron" is a very cinematography-heavy film. While the story itself is interesting - Sam being contacted by his father who's stuck in a game he built many years after he's disappeared from the real world - the big draw is definitely the dark, glowing bodysuits and tracks in the game.
This is a fun little Easter egg you can use when you're on the Kino der toten level in Call of Duty: Black Ops. You can teleport around the level and find new film reels that you can run through the projectors.
If you've seen the films "Name of the Rose" and "Kingdom of Heaven", you're familiar with the medieval period, and if you want to create an animated intro in After Effects with a medieval style to it, follow along with Laurence Grayson in this three-part AE tutorial where he creates his own intro title sequence called "The Order". Learn how to quickly create a red wax seal, parchment paper and animated calligraphic text using only the standard toolset in Adobe After Effects (CS3, CS4 or CS5).
"My Heat Will Go On" by Celine Dion made her the biggest artist in the world for a time after the release of Titanic, the film with which it will always be associated. Watch this video to learn how to play the whole song on solo piano, which might be the most romantic thing that you could ever do.
This video gives an awesome makeup tutorial for the Queen of Hearts from Tim Burton's version of "Alice in Wonderland". In Burton's film, Helena Bonham Carter plays the vicious Red Queen, a character not to be messed with. Even at Halloween. Also, you'll get some costume ideas to help compete your Queen of Hearts costume. See how to transform yourself with all of the following products:
If you're looking to learn how to use Adobe After Effects, which for anyone doing film or graphics work, it's important that you do learn how to use this amazing program, you've come to the right place. In this two-part tutorial you will learn the absolute basics of using Adobe After Effects, enough to get you started on doing your own projects!
For the indie film maker, Hollywood graphic artist, or anyone who just likes playing around in Adobe Photoshop, this tutorial shows you how to start with a template and use it to create your own custom movie poster. Use it to advertise anything, not just movies!
Using guns in your independent films is risky business, and expensive to boot. Since you probably don't need to actually shoot anything, you can probably get by with a replica prop gun. If you're gonna do that, why not make it yourself? This video will show you how to make a realistic prop Glock handgun with working trigger, slide and magazine lock.
Want to create a photo effect reminiscent of the film 300 in Adobe Photoshop? This clip will walk you through the process. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular raster graphics editor or a seasoned designer looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of the latest iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this video guide.
Want to play "Tonight You Belong to Me" on your ukulele? Learn how with this free video ukulele lesson from Ukulele Mike. Whether you play the ukulele or bass kazoo, there is no better way to improve your chops than by learning to play your favorite songs. Not only is it more fun and much easier than running drills or memorizing a chord book by wrote, it's obviously also a wonderful way to build your repertory of songs. For more information, and to get started playing this classic song (famou...
Superman and the X-Men all had really cool superpowers that were the basis for their superhero status. Batman, on the other hand, had no superpowers other than a genius intellect and a prizefighter's physique. When he wanted to fly, he had to use a grappling gun he made himself. Livid. This video will show you how to make a prop version of the iconic Batman grappling hook gun for you next film using $30 worth of parts and a little bit of gumption.
Using guns in low-budget films is tough. You probably can't afford a real gun or a replica can you? Especially for more specialized guns. Fortunately, this video has the solution. It will show you how to make a really realistic sawed-off shotgun prop for cheap. You will need some carpentry skills and tools, but the gun looks so cool that even if you don't have those things now, you should probably invest in them. You'll be able to use them to make more props later anyway.
If you are shooting a film with featuring the iconic X-Men team member Wolverine or want to dress yourself or someone else as him for some other reason, the claws are the most important part. They're what makes Wolverine Wolverine, at least externally (he didn't always have chops Hugh Jackman you studmuffin you!) and the ones you use had better look good if your costume is going to be a hit. This video will show you how to make some very authentic-looking Wolverine claws at home out of some s...
When you're shooting a film, being able to see what you're shooting well and adjust on the fly is crucial. With the tiny screen on most cheap cameras, this is kind of a crapshoot. This video will show you a cheap way to solve this problem: converting a car $50 car LCD screen into a portable video monitor that you can attach to your camera and run off of batteries on set. The screen is probably bigger and nicer than the one on your camera, and will improve the quality and productivity of your ...
If you're making films on your own, good on you. Do you ever find yourself without the money or means to get the props that you need? Every day most likely. This video is here to both inspire and provide practical aide. It describes the construction of a really cool sci-fi gun (dubbed the MKX300) that this filmmaker made for his webseries out of mostly old bottles. It was cheap and looks incredible, so watch this video and either make your own MKX300 or apply these lessons to the construction...
Photoshop might be the best software out there for creating effects on text and other still images. This video will show you how to create one really cool effect in Photoshop on a title. The creator calls this a glowing particles dust effect, and that sounds about right. The end result is words that are surrounded by a unique cloud of glowing particle dust. It looks really cool, and should really spice up your website or film titles.
Making titles in After Effects is fun, relatively easy, and sure to make your film make a better first impression. This video will show you how to make a cool light ray text swipe effect with particles, like the one in the thumbnail. This isn't too hard as far as our After Effects titles tutorials, so try it out!
There is not limit to the amount of cool title effects that you can create for you film using After Effects. This video will show you how to create a cool digital futuristic title effect by making use of a plane of particles animated based on your audio levels with the Fractal Field options.
Very few effects can be considered standard in After Effects, many are unique creations made by combining After Effects many tools. This video will show you how to create one such effect, an audio particle spray that will looks very cool in either titles or ending credits for a film. It is pretty easy to make and looks very, very cool.
After Effects contains all manner of cool tools that you can use to create really appealing title effects for your films. This video will show you how to create one quick easy text effect in this powerful software suite by using a camera, null object, 3D text layers, and a particular background, all keyed to the music levels. The result is very cool and sure to impress your audiences.
Making really attractive titles for your films is just one of the way that you can dramatically improve them using After Effects. This video will help you make them by showing you how to create a pulse or pulsating wave effect from whence your titles can emerge. They look great, and will make your movie (especially horror or sci-fi movie) look much more professional right from the beginning.
If you've ever wanted to make an even slightly fantasy-flavored film, you've probably wanted to make one of your characters fly. Unless you're working with a bird or some really crazy rigging, you're going to need to make this special effect happen in After Effects, or whatever compositing software you use. This video will show you how to create a flying effect with a sonic boom on takeoff in After Effects, and following it's instructions will help you learn a lot about how to use After Effec...
Photoshop is the photo-editing software of choice for just about everyone these days. It is very complex; but you're in luck! We have many videos here on site dealing with how to use Photoshop's many functions. This video will teach you how to display a picture inside of text by using masking. The effect is very cool, and sure to zest up your website or film.
This gorgeous '60s hairstyle was inspired by the Audrey Hepburn film "Breakfast at Tiffany's." This look is quite elegant and suitable for formal events. Most importantly, it is very easy to create.
Making fake wounds is an art form, and this girl is, if not a master, at least a very accomplished journeywoman. In this video she teaches us how to create a realistic-looking fake wound using only liquid latex, facepaint, and other simple materials. The end result is creepy and gross, and will make a perfect addition to your next Halloween costume or hot date.
In a smaller interview setting, the lighting will be much different than a bigger scene. You will need to have a good focus on your subject's face and body as well as a clear background so your viewers don't get tired. In this tutorial, learn exactly how to set up your lighting for a smaller setting such as an interview while using a Canon EOS 7D camcorder. This clip will take you through a total step by step lesson so you can get started making great films at home.
This video shows you how to dry-mount a painting done on rice paper with silicone release paper. This method is to transfer the silicon adhesive film to the backing material first, then take the release paper off and mount the painting on. Artist, Henry Li gives you everything you need to know to properly mount your beautiful painting on the silicone to transfer as you please.
If you’re into cinematography try creating your own dolly camera platform to get those seamless tracking shots. This is a fun project that will allow you to take your film to the next level, or at least get the shot you want.
You can use the Canon EOS 7D to shoot digital video at a variety of frame rates and resolutions up to full HD. In this video, see the basics of movie mode and how to use it. This is the best digital SLR camera to film video with.
In video shooting, it's always best to select manual focusing on the Canon OES 7D digital SLR camera. If you need to adjust focus during filming, then you can manually refocus when needed, but there are also powerful autofocus options available. Watch this to see how to change the movie mode settings for your needs.
brusspup has tons of ingenious tips and tricks for everybody! In this video tutorial, he shows you how to simulate a dolly shot with just a camera tripod.
This is a LEGO Indiana Jones walkthrough on how to unlock the secret level. What you basically need are most of the characters and at least one level in each chapter having 10/10 artifacts. You might not need all of the artifacts to play the Young Indy and Ancient City level, but you will definitely need them to play the last level though.
In this video tutorial, Creative Cow leader Michael Park shows you how to recreate the opening gun barrel sequence from the two newest James Bond movies in 3d Studio Max using the default scanline renderer, minimal modeling, and only standard materials.
Simon King, one of the Hairy Bikers falls off the dock in Vietnam during filming leaving Dave Myers alone to cook a delicious crispy beef recipe. Great idea for dinner from BBC cooking show 'Hairy Bikers Cook Book'.
It's time for Halloween, maybe it's time for your ultimate independent horror movie you've been dying to make, whatever the case may be, you're going to need some blood, you're going to need some weapons... you're going to need a bloody knife wound.
Check out this cinematography tutorial video that demonstrates how to use your professional JVC DR-DV5000 Direct to Edit (DTE). The DR-DV5000 is designed to mount directly to your JVC GY-DV5100 and turn it into a DV-Disk recording solution. It becomes possible to shoot directly to disk or simultaneously to tape and disk. The DTE capture files are a mirror image of what's recorded. Learn everything there is to know about the DR-DV5000 with this instructional cinematography video and start usin...
This video tells you how to make a Lego stop motion animation using Windows Movie Maker. The tutorial focuses more on how to create a stop motion film with Windows Movie Maker as the tool, and assumes you have basic knowledge of how to use Movie Maker already.
This tutorial video will teach you how to make a camera dolly that is extremely affordable. This camera dolly is great for amateur film making and other purposes.
It's summertime and blockbuster films are everywhere! In anticipation of the new Dark Night movie, Erik is showing you how to recreate some serious chemical burns on your face! With the help of this tutorial video, you will look just like Harvey Dent aka Two Face!
