Hot Props & SFX Posts
How To: Create ghostly special effects for video
John demonstrates an easy way of creating an out-of-body special effect.
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 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: Set up and light a green screen
Andrew shows you how to set up and light a green screen for special effects.
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
News: The Eliot Spitzer Memorial How-To: Part II
Duhhhh. How to disguise that Spitzer face. Hell. Spitzer used an alias of a hedge fund buddy George Fox. Eliot should have gone one logical step further. Make a compelling disguise.
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 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.
How To: Make fake breakaway glass using SMASH plastic
Watch this video to learn how to make your own professional fake breakaway glass, using SMASH plastic. This glass is great for special effects and pranks!
How To: Create force jump effects for your movies
How to make Jedi force jump effects as seen in the Star Wars movies for your own films using Effects Lab and Windows Movie Maker.
How To: Make a fake cut throat with special effect make up
Make a fake cut throat with special effect make up. Great for Halloween or making movies!
How To: Create fake slit wrists with special effects make up
Learn how to use make up to create a fake slit wrist for Halloween or making movies.
How To: Make cheap vomit effects
Ben and Paul of Zero Budget studio Blunt Productions demonstrate their way to do vomit effects on the cheap in the first of a many part series.
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 cheap squib
This is an informational video for people that want to have some action in their movies but have a small budget. Each squib ended up costing us about $0.78. These are for fake gunshots.
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 gun shot wound FXs with wax and bubble gum
Special effects is swell, especially when it utilizes the wonderful ubiquity of wax and bubble gum to make wounds look unbelievably believable. Ewww gun shot wounds.
How To: Make an Evil Dead chainsaw arm
Do you love the "Evil Dead" series? Do you need a prop chainsaw so you can dress like Ash? Do you have $30 burning a hole in your pocket? Erik from Indy Mogul shows you how to make a bloody prop chainsaw arm just like Bruce Campbell's in the movie.
How To: Build a prop retro-style ray gun
Indy Mogul shows you how to build retro ray gun prop for your next sci-fi epic!
How To: Make yourself a movie giant using special effects
Indy Mogul shows you four ways to create movie effects to make yourself look like a giant both with and without a green screen.
How To: Create a movie swamp monster
From the dark depths of your local swamp, and by swamp I mean Indy Mogul, comes the SWAMP MONSTER!!!! For under $35, you can make your lead actor so ugly that you'll be able to steal his girlfriend.
How To: Create advanced zombie makeup and fake guts
In this episode of BFX, Erik from Indy Mogul takes Zombie effects to the next level. If an exposed skull and yummy non-toxic guts are what you dream about, then you're a sick person. However you should still watch this episode in all it's "gory". Also seek mental treatment.
How To: Make things disappear on camera
An Indy Mogul viewer shows you a simple editing trick for making objects and people disappear in your movies.
How To: Shoot stunt falls in your movies
Jennifer and John from Video Maker magazine showing you realistic ways to fake a fall and some of the props and skills you'll need to pull them off.
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: Do the sword stabbing effect with a harness
Have you wanted a cool stabbing effect without doing the cheesy "hold-the-sword-in-your-arm" routine? Well, thanks to Langaman26, who submitted this awesome tutorial, you now have one!!! Build this awesome harness from things found around your house.
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: Do makeup for bruises, black eyes, and missing teeth
The guys from Indy Mogul show how you to make beat up fx for your films. Learn how to make bruises, black eyes, and missing teeth to make your actors look like they've really been in a fight.
How To: Create a cloning effect
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.
How To: Make fake heads
To make fake heads you will need Styrofoam head, flesh color spay paint, make-up kit, a wig, glasses, mustaches, fake blood and liquid latex.
How To: Create fake puke
Learn a recipe for fake vomit that you can use for puke in your films.
How To: Create a really cheap blood splatter effect
Keir MacDonald shows you a cheap technique for making a practical blood-splattering effect for gunshots and other special fx in your films.