Active Props & SFX Posts
How To: Make ripped off skin makeup effects
This is a simple and effective way to get a gruesome ripped off skin look for home movies using toilet paper, liquid latex and make-up.
How To: Make a fake ghost amateur video
This video show you how you can add a fake ghost to an amateur film or home video.
How To: Cut dome holes for your R2D2
This is a tutorial on how to cut the round holes on your R2D2 dome, why? Aren't there enough R2D2s out there? I think there are. But just in case you want to make your own Star Wars film, here you go.
How To: Create a realistic knife throw effect for your film
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!
How To: Fake super powers
Learn how To fake super powers. Helpful for filmmakers on a low budget. Part 1 of 2 - How to Fake super powers.
How To: Make a hidden blade or dart launcher for your film
Adam shows you how to make a hidden blade or hidden dart launcher for filmmakers on a low budget. No, it's not retractable. You'll need metal snips, super glue, scissors, an umbrella, and you guessed it - duct tape.
How To: Make samurai armor and a ninja death star
Adam shows you how to make samurai armor and a ninja death star for filmmakers on a low budget. You'll need spray paint, cardboard, scissors, and masking tape.
How To: Make a stop motion person from junk
Adam shows you how to make a stop motion person for stop motion filmmakers on a low budget. You'll need small shoes, duct tape *(who would have guessed), white tack, metal wire, cardboard, and a little bit of clothes.
How To: Make an eye scanner and an ear piece for your film
Adam shows you how to make an eye scanner and an ear piece on a low budget, for your filmmaking, low or high budget. You'll need scissors, thick cardboard, glass lens, metal, metal snips, screwdriver, duct tape, and a remote control.
How To: Make a low budget samurai sword for your film
See how to make a Samurai Sword on a low budget. You'll need duct tape, cardboard, and silver spray paint. It's pretty simple, indeed.
How To: Create a zero budget sci-fi laser gun
Here's how to make a cool laser gun using some household junk and silver spray paint. It's a Sprite bottle, by the way. It's best if it's empty too. Really.
How To: Make a video carousel from a BBQ rotisserie
Want to video something and show all of it? This shows how to make a video carousel from a BBQ rotisserie.
How To: Apply Halloween blood and latex skin effects
This clip, without sound (boo hoo), shows you how to apply those latex skin fx for the perfect Halloween gushing scar or pinchbeck movie scar.
How To: Make fake skin easily for your Halloween haunting
Make fake skin for your Halloween fun, just like we did when I was a kid! Use it for fake cuts, burns, and other ghoulish fun! Or use it to cover up those ghastly birthmarks.
How To: Rip a heart out of someone's chest for fun - or movies
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.
How To: Build Kano's Mortal Kombat metal cyborg face
Are you a big Mortal Kombat fan? Do you need a cool terminator or cyborg effect? Do you love Hannah Montana? If you answered "YES" to any of these questions then you need to watch this episode!
How To: Build prop break-away furniture cheap
This week on BFX we teach you how to build break-away furniture, because if you break one more real chair over your friend's head, he's never going to act in your movies again!
How To: Design and build cheap demon wings
If you watched the Demon Makeup episode and wanted more, then you really need to see this episode! Erik shows you how to make life-sized demon wings that you can wear. Dust off your pitchfork and press play.
How To: Make an acrylic special effects eye with a mold kit
This short video is on how to use your new Eye Mold Kit from Ken Banks. It's simple and easy, and it makes a great looking acrylic eye for any special effect.
How To: Make things disappear in a video
A short video on how to make things disappear by using a simple editing trick.
How To: Make a cheap lightsaber prop from Star Wars
This video will show you how to make some cheap Star Wars light saber movie props with a few hardware store items such as pvc pipe, pool cues, duct tape, electrical tape, and spray paint.
How To: Make bullet squibbs for film special effects
Check this video to learn how to make DIY squib special effects for your film.
How To: Make digital video look more like film
Digital video image often lacks the tonality of a film image, but there are ways to make videos look more like film. Israel Hyman will show you how in this tutorial.
How To: Build a blood-covered pumping heart for your movies
Are you at the bottom of the donor list? Making a movie that calls for a fake beating heart? Then you need to watch this episode. Erik from Indy Mogul will show you how to make a bargain chest ticker for less then $37 dollars
How To: Make a fake brain
This video from Backyard FX and Indy Mogul shows you how to make a fake brain. Making a brain is not hard but it does take time and creativity. You can make cauliflower brains, gelatin brains or the one I am going to show you out of bread and glue.
How To: Use the speed-up background effect
John demonstrates how to create the speed up background effect which evokes a "calm and reflection in a chaotic world" with this easy effect.
How To: Create ghostly special effects for video
John demonstrates an easy way of creating an out-of-body special effect.
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 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: 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: Create zero budget spurting blood special effects
A quick and easy way to achieve the effect of fountains of the red stuff flowing forth from a zombie-bitten neck. Your film will look so real, for what it's worth, that nobody can deny your greatness.
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: Make a squib with guts
Ben Slotover and Paul Elliott AKA Blunt Productions show how to make your own squib for semi-realistic but very cheap gunshot wound effects on your actors.
How To: Make a massive chest hole special effect
What do you do when you need a "Hole in the Chest" effect? DUH! Build a "GORE BOX"....obviously!!!! I never thought I'd see the day when we'd need something called a "Gore Box" for an effect, but...what else would you expect for a "Hole in the Chest" effect?
How To: Make a blood filled fake hand
For less then $35 Indy Mogul shows you how to make a realistic hand you can chop in half! Make an awesome bloody hand- great for a movie prop!
How To: Build a Snow Machine
Global warming gotcha down? Worry no more! Learn how to make a SNOW MACHINE!!!! Woohoo. Most of the ingredients are junk you can find around the house.
How To: Paint rubber on skin to make fake scars and wounds
Watch this video to learn how to use Skin Tite™ silicone rubber to make fake scars and wounds right on the skin. These are very detailed instructions. This is great for special effects or Halloween!
How To: Make a rubber mask with Slacker Tactile Mutator
Watch this video to learn how to use Slacker Tactile Mutator to soften or deaden platinum silicone rubber for a more lifelike feel in special effects makeup. This is a great technique for making props for movies or for a Halloween costume.
How To: Airbrush on rubber for special effects and props
Watch this visual demonstration for detailed instruction on how to airbrush Psycho Paint brand paint on rubber. This is a great technique to make toys, props, or masks.