Active Props & SFX Posts
How To: Set up a hot chick bloody gun shot stunt double
This Kipkay video shows you how to make a squib for a perfect bloody gun shot effect. This Special FX howto will make your gorey bullet hole movie so much more realistic. You need a garden hose valve to build this movie effect.
How To: Build a laser gun prop and create laser effects
Check out this video from Chemical Reaction Tutorials (CRTutorials). If you love filmmaking, prop making, editing and everything else that goes along with making movies, then you'll want to see what Adam has to say about laser guns.
How To: Build two lightsabers, make effects, and use the force
Check out this video from Chemical Reaction Tutorials (CRTutorials). If you love filmmaking, prop making, editing and everything else that goes along with making movies, then you'll want to see what Adam has to say about lightsabers.
How To: Create easy special effects
This week Brandon demonstrates how to perform a few special effects that can improve the visual dynamics of your videos. He explains special effects such as projector feedback loop, levitation camera trick, "use the force" trick.
How To: Create a falling effect
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.
How To: Create fake puke
Learn a recipe for fake vomit that you can use for puke in your films.
How To: Make Dark Knight Joker makeup
Want to make makeup like the Joker? Watch this how to video. Products used:
How To: Make a squib with a firecracker
Here's how to make a fake blood packet, or squib to make it look like somebody got shot. It will explode when the bullet would hit. Cool special effect.
How To: Make a robotic arm and make cheap lighting for shoots
This video tutorial from IndyMogul shows you how to make a robotic arm and create cheap lighting for shoots.
How To: Create a hand stab effect and Halo Portal Gun
This video tutorial from IndyMogul shows you how to create a hand stab effect and Halo Portal Gun.
How To: Use liquid latex to do Phantom of the Opera makeup FX
Video tutorial on how to use liquid latex to make yourself look like a character of some kind, in this case Erik, the Phantom of the Opera. This is a four part video on doing Erik Phantom of the Opera facial makeup. This is a pro FX makeup lesson. SFX is pretty easily, but follow along.
How To: Do a nail through the finger halloween special effect
How to make scary finger for Halloween! This special effects video will demonstrate how to make a convincing nail through a bloody finger. Cool trick for halloween or your next slasher movie!
How To: Make fake intestines
Gross out—and fake out—your friends by making some frighteningly, disgustingly real-looking intestines. Inspired by the Instructables project: http://www.instructables.com/id/Great-looking-disgusting-intestines-for-horror-f/
How To: Build a fun foam boffer sword
Watch this video tutorial to see how to build a fun foam boffer sword! These boffer swords for any of your larping needs!
How To: Create realistic wounds and stitches
In this episode of BFX, Erik shows you how to create a gross and realistic gash that you can stitch up. It looks so good you can even stitch it up on camera! Plus Gary eats a sandwich and an homage to the Simpsons! What else could you want?
How To: Create a giant spider web with rope and bolts
Watch this video tutorial to see how to create a giant spider web with rope and bolts. To make this giant Halloween spider web effect, you'll need a bunch of rope, a frame and 24 eye bolts. You can use this technique to weave a spider web at any scale, as long as you have an even number of at least 24 points to fasten to, around four sides.
How To: Make your own Harry Potter magic wand
In this video tutorial, go into the world of Harry Potter and learn how to make your own Harry Potter magic wand. For this magic wand project, you'll need an LED, copper wire, colored markers, plaster, and a straw. Sure, it's not the best magic wand ever, but it's nice and cheap and easy to make... a good project for the kids.
How To: Make your own green screen studio and key it out
Want to learn how you can make some awesome YouTube videos of your own? Maybe your own Internet show or maybe even a short indie film... well, one way to make things easy is a green screen. This two-part video tutorial will show you how to make your own green screen studio and key it out. With a green screen, a YouTube show with special effects is easy!
How To: Make a prop pen flashlight powered Star Trek phaser
This is a tutorial on Halloween costumes prop construction. Follow these easy Star Trek Phaser construction directions. Spocks costume needs a phaser. The phaser laser beam is simulated by a pen flashlight.
How To: Apply zombie makeup and make zombie clothes
Get your Halloween on zombie-style! Watch this ThreadBanger video tutorial to see how to apply zombie makeup and make zombie clothes. Becoming undead is perfect for Halloween parties, but you can't do it without a little help. Get a makeup tutorial from the creators of Zombie A GO GO plus a lesson on how to zombify your clothing. This will also be helpful for all of you amateur filmmakers out there looking to make the next horrific horror movie for the undead.
How To: Build a blue Eryndor boffer sword
All you LARPers out there, watch and see how you can make a blue boffer sword for LARPing. This weapon passes all weapons specs as of Ragnarok XXI War Council for Eryndor.
How To: Make an Amtgard-style boffer sword
It's time for some LARP! Get your Amtgard LARPing on with this easy to make faom boffer sword. Just watch as Harkael explains how you can make an Amtgard-style boffer sword. This isn't the only way to make a foam sword, but if you know nothing about making swords for live action role playing, this is a great place to start.
How To: Create the wall cut with your camera and Sony Vegas
The wall cut is a very cool transition, where it looks as if the scene appears on the other side of the wall. You can do this with steady hands to hold that camera, and any editing platform with a linear wipe transition. Here, you'll see it done with Sony Vegas.
How To: Pass through a wall using your camera and Sony Vegas
This tutorial shows you how to "pass through a wall". It's a really neat editing trick, so use it wisely. Don't overdo it, or it will just look cheesy, not that cheesy's bad or anthing.
How To: Make a whip cut with your camera and Sony Vegas
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.
How To: Pass through a keyhole with your camera and Sony Vegas
This tutorial shows you how to make it seem as though you pass through a keyhole. All you need is a camera and an editing platform with chroma keying and keyframing. This video uses Sony Vegas to demonstrate, but you can use any program you like. Yes, that's right, any (almost).
How To: Make convincing fake bruises
Ever wonder how actors get bruises that look so real? Learn how to make these bruises and start your own visual effects for movies. Perfect for beginners or advanced make up artists, create real looking bruises for your next Halloween costume. Make convincing fake bruises.
How To: Stunt fight Kung Fu style
In this week's episode of Backyard FX, Erik visits the Indy Kung Fu Masters of West Haven Brook to learn some awesome tips for movie fight scenes. They talk about the counting, sound effects, pull backs and camera movement necessary for orchestrating a great fight scene.
How To: Build a fake wall that you can smash
This video will give you tips on how to make your very own fake wall that is perfect for smashing, thrashing, or just plain old throwing people through. This backyard special effect should really spice up your amateur film making. Just be careful, this fake wall can sometimes look like a real wall.
How To: Make a gaseous and bubbling pumpkin
Dr. Diana teaches you how to turn your "hum drum" pumpkin into a gaseous, bubbly pumpkin using dry ice, warm water and soap for your Halloween party. For another tutorial on this same dry ice and pumpkin principle, check out "How To Use dry ice for halloween special effects." Between these two videos, your halloween party will be the talk of the town.
How To: Transform into Heath Ledger's Joker for Halloween
Since "The Dark Knight" is basically the biggest movie of all time, and with Heath Ledger's unfortunate death, the Joker is going to be a pretty hot Halloween costume this year, and for years to come. Fortunately, the Joker's makeup can be pretty easily recreated at home.
How To: Become the Joker, a vampire or a zombie for Halloween
Leah D'Emilio from Mahalo Daily meets up with Maurice Stein, founder of Cinema Secrets in Burbank, CA to learn a few tricks of the trade for Halloween makeup. This video tutorial will show you how you can do three awesome looks for under twenty bucks from makeup artist, Taco: Vampire Kiss, Zombie, and the Joker.
How To: Become Heath's Ledger's Joker with makeup and latex
And... here… we... go! This Halloween you'll be the Joker, the wry character Heath Ledger revitalized in the film "Dark Knight," but how? This video tutorial will teach you all of the little tricks to becoming Heath Ledger's Joker with simple makeup.
How To: Make tentacle face costume makeup for cosplay
James St. James, author of Party Monster, teaches you how to make a tentacle face makeup prosthetics...out of cereal! Your host for the show is Lenora Claire. Perfect tutorial for those interested in cosplay. Use liquid latex, which you can get at any theatrical supply store.
How To: Make a straitjacket for your movie or for Halloween
Are you going INSANE cause you don't have a costume yet for Halloween? Worry no more, because this video tutorial from Thread Banger, Rob shows us a crazy tutorial on how to make your very own straitjacket.
How To: Make glowing LED creature costume eyes
By using LEDs that only put out a little light the eyes can be lit in dim room light but still appear white, the moment the eyes are in shadow they glow bright red. Watch this video tutorial to see how to make glowing LED creature costume eyes for your film or costume project.
How To: Make a homemade electric chair
Whether you’re pro or con on the death penalty issue, there’s nothing more terrifying than having a real live electric chair in your own home! So you should probably just use these simple steps to create a mock-electric chair to “shock” your guests! This Fear.Net Halloween video shows us how to make a homemade electric chair to frighten the Trick or Treaters this holiday season! Make a homemade electric chair.
How To: Make up a bloody gauged eye for Halloween
Even if you’re a Cyclops, you can’t expect to turn a blind eye to the most authentic Halloween make-up! Be part of the cringe-worthy fun and try our gauged eyeball make-up, brought to you by the pros. Make up a bloody gauged eye for Halloween.
How To: Recreate the Joker's makeup from the Dark Knight movie
This video series demonstrates a take on the screen accurate Joker from "The Dark Knight." The materials and makeup used are all from a company called Mehron, specifically the Extra Flesh that used for the scars, the Liquid Latex, the Spirit Gum, and the Fantasy F/X Tube Makeup. Watch this video special effects tutorial and learn how to do the Joker's makeup from the Batman Dark Knight movie for a Halloween costume or a new life as a sociopath.
How To: Create the Indiana Jones face melt effect
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!