During the age of silent film and film noir film was limited to only variations of black and white. While this aided greatly to produce scenes of dire intensity (a starkly lit shot of a man in an alleyway, for instance), this also meant that actors and actresses had to wear tons of makeup to make their makeup show up on screen.
Have you ever wondered how all of the blood and dust that flies from wounds and bullet holes in Hollywood films gets shot through the air so convincingly? The answer is a pneumatic dust system. This video will show you how to make one yourself for almost no money, allowing you to achieve all sorts of cool special effects without any expensive digital technology.
Inception might be the most anticipated movie of the summer, and now that it's out and you've had the chance to bask in it's majesty, you may be wondering if you can use any of it's magic and trickery in your own films. You can! This video will show you how to create the titles like the ones from the Inception trailer using After Effects. It's clean and simple yet dynamic, and sure to make your next film's intro much more appealing.
This video is a 2-for-1 special. It will teach you how to make not one, but TWO cool props for a film or costume. They are, in no particular order, a gas mask / ventilator and a laser pistol. Both look very cool, require some materials and carpentry skills, and are sure to make your next sci-fi film much more realistic and enjoyable to watch.
In this video, we learn how to film skateboarding. First, get a camera that fits your price range and you will be ready to start filming. Next, use a long lens so you capture the best shots of people on their boards and in motion. Next, make sure you capture the lines that the skateboarder is skating on. Use different angles to get the best shot possible. You want to get close to the action, so you will need a fish eye lens. Use your skateboard to follow the skater around. Using these simple ...
Super heros' secret identities are their most guarded secrets. Many choose to protect them with masks, but how to make your mask if you're a new superhero or a filmmaker trying to simulate a super hero? This video will show you how to make your own cheap superhero mask at home, which will be a great prop for your next film or Halloween costume.
If you've ever played through Valve's amazing first-person puzzle game Portal, you probably have dreams and nightmares about orange and blue portals appearing in the walls around you. Do you want to recreate the effect in a film? This video will show you how to create your very own colored wall portals on film using After Effects.
The film Jumper may not have been critically acclaimed, but few can argue with how awesome the special effects that allowed the characters to teleport at will are. They looked great and were applied with great aplomb. This video will show you how to mimic that effect in After Effects, allowing you to make your own teleportation-happy films. I bet you can make one better than Jumper!
Film and television cinematographers love sliding camera shots, especially since ER made them a standard device for television dramas. A professional sliding camera setup is expensive though. Why not make one yourself? This video will show you how to turn $20 into a high-quality filmmaking tool that you can use to give your films some very professional-looking shots. Now get out there and follow that gurney with the camera!
Kevin Hnatiuk (the Digital Dad) shows you how to convert your old Super 8 film reels to DVD, easily at home. Knatiuk goes over how to get started, what you need, and what to expect when digitaizing your super 8mm movies.
This is a great tutorial on making wonderful little artsy butterflies with your own two hands! They're sparkling butterflies, which you make with fantasy film, a butterly image, permanent ink that dries on non-porous surfaces, craft iron, acrylic stamps, and a non-stick craft mat.
Bring a little life to your films, or maybe a little "light". Watch this video to see how to make your own 400-watt video light for film or photography. You can make this video light with mere parts from the local hardware store, such as plastic paneling (which is cheap, easy to cut and non-conductive), zip ties, 4 plastic bulb sockets, lamp cord (like Romex), a cheap plug, and good and cheap diffusion. With all of these materials, you'll have your own homemade light for any film or photo pro...
When choosing camera film, use slow film for bright day light, medium speed film for a cloudy day and high speed film for low light conditions. Choose the right speed of film for a particular camera with the tips in this free instructional video on photography tips from a professional photographer. The speed of the film is essential in determining what type of environment you will be taking pictures, so listen up!
If you have ever wondered about the functionality of slating during a film shoot, what a shooting script or line script is and how to keep a shot log, then this may be the perfect video tutorial for you, in two parts.
Become a more complete photographer and save money at the same time. Learn how to develop and print your own film in this free darkroom tutorial from a professional photographer.
In this photography tutorial, learn the developing process of black and white film. Jim Talkington guides you through the steps in this instructional video. A good way to start developing your own black and white film photographs.
This is a great tutorial on how to use Sensor-Film to clean a DSLR camera's sensor. You won't believe how easy it is and how clean the sensor gets. Everyone should do this for clear and pristine photos.
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!
This is an Indiana Jones special that shows you how to make your very own crystal skull. You can't miss this episode! Erik dressed as professor Indy, test film by Waverly Films, and much more!
Watch this two part video series to learn how to convert a polaroid super shooter or colorpack camera into a pinhole camera. This video demonstrates how to strip the camera down and make a tripod mount. This is for the 3.25x4.25 pack film cameras: Polaroid 667, 672, 664, 690 and Fuji film FP-100, FP-3000 instant films. The 80 series/square shooters will not work. To determine if your camera will work, measure lengthwise across the back. 17 cm will work, 15 cm will not.
This film was awarded the Green Ribbon in Itami Film Festival, 1993. Learn how various techniques of animation work and see some amazing examples- including an animated pin up girl! The film is in Japanese dialogue with English subtitles.
Erik from Indy Mogul teaches you how to build a miniature space ship for your films for under $20. Also covered, are using green screen to create background effects for your UFO film.
Low budger project? NO budget project? Lighting is a key part of any film, so you don't want to skimp on it. This tutorial shows you how to set up some inexpensive lighting systems when you're filming a documentary or interview.
The ability to see through clothing has been pursued by voyeurs for millenia, and today with the help of cheap video cameras we are closer than ever. This video will show you how to use a piece of blank developed film and IR to see through different types of shirts and other clothing. It also covers the effects of different colors and fabrics on the technique's effectiveness.
Turn your digital footage into something that looks more like film! Set your frame rate to 24 and shoot with a low depth of field to mimic the look of a film camera. Also make sure you pick the right aspect ratio, resolution and use a tripod!
Frosted glass windows are perfect for bathrooms, allowing light to pass through while giving you privacy. "Wallpaper for Windows" is a useful window film that you can use to create the frosted glass windows without having to replace or remove your windows. First, you should measure out the size of the window that you plan to cover and clean the glass thoroughly. Also wash your hands to avoid oil getting on the glass. After spraying the window with soapy water, peel the backing off the film an...
In this video, learn how to process slow motion film from the Canon EOS 7D using Sony Vegas and After Effects. (This information is helpful for other cameras as well.) Create slow motion video from high speed film with help from this video.
Interested in vintage cameras, projectors & film? In this video, get a demonstration of how to transfer 88mm film using the Tobin TVT-8 telecine machine.
Are your electrical switch covers in your home just too boring for you? Tired of all those receptacle covers just being plain, old beige or white? Then a little arts and crafts project and some fantasy film might be your answer.
We all know that movies now-a-days don't use real rocks, but fake rocks for their film sets. Why? Because it's safer, lighter, easier to movie, and you can design them exactly how you want them. So if you need a rock for your indie film project, make it yourself. There's nothing better than imitation. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a fake rock movie prop.
It's easy when Jamie-B from Total Recall Films takes an in-depth look at filming and editing techniques you can easily use to make your next film look and feel professional using a well know technique called "tricking the camera" -- and the viewer. Watch to see how to make a one-camera shoot look like multi-cams.
Silent films went out of style just as soon as it became possible to give a film a soundtrack. This Indy Mogul Backyard FX video will show you, for only forty dollars, you can make your own Boom Pole for rigging a mic to capture sound.
The Bolex is an amazing professional quality camera. This is quick tutorial that shows you how you can load film into one, and a few more basic features that you can take advantage of to get the best film quality possible for your projects.
What's the best film adaptor for your digital camera? Digital cameras are great, but they dont' always get the right 35mm film look you want. This tutorial shows you how to pick just the right adaptor for your project and camera.
Take a thoroughly modern clip of digital film, and then send it back in time! This tutorial shows you how to use the Aged Film plugin for Adobe After Effects to make your clip look like it comes stright from the 1970s.
How to film an interview properly? This tutorial shows you everything, from tripod to audio to accessories, that can maximize effectiveness when you're filming an interview. This is a top-heavy rig, so is really idea when you don't have to move it.
Your Canon 7D camera can film in video as well as take still photographs, however, the settings will be different. To get the best picture quality possible, here is how you can set up your camera's presets when filming in live action.
The Western film, once the end all be all of great American filmmaking, is now rare to behold at all at the movie theaters. Whereas in the old days directors made the films about true American gung-ho spirit and handsome, stoic John Wayne cowboys championing the greater good, these days the genre gets ruined by CGI and other absurd additions.
In this video, we learn to heat shrink a rear window tint. First, prep your window using soapy water. Next, rinse with car with a soapy cloth and spread on the lather. After this, let it dry and cut the film around the pattern. Next, create an anchor by dampening in an 'h' shape. Next, lay the window film down with the liner side up. Anchor the film onto the window along the 'h' shape. Make sure your fingers are vertical, then heat the film until the lines react. Then, smooth on with the hand...
Marvel's recent string of wildly successful films based on its wildly successful comics have ushered in a whole new era of comic book films. All of the Marvel films have a very cool Marvel logo effect during their opening credits. This video will teach you how to create the same effect for your logo at home using Flash CS3. Now your superhero movie will look much more authentic and professional.
