Hot Props & SFX Posts
How To: Do professional quality Voldemort from Harry Potter makeup
Voldemort, the seemingly unstoppable antagonist of the Harry Potter series played so compellingly by Ralph Fiennes in the films, is one of the best villains in the history of fantasy. If you want to scare the bejezzus out of some children this Halloween or pay homage to Harry Potter in a film, watch this video to learn how to recreate the Voldemort look without makeup and prosthetics.
How To: Make a laser arm blaster prop weapon
The perfect weapon for your low-budget sci-fi action flick is a laser gun… or maybe this laser arm blaster. This laser arm gun is easily made at home with household materials that care cheap and easy to find. So don't throw out tons of money on your indie film… you're not James Cameron… yet. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a laser arm blaster prop weapon.
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: Make a claymore land mine prop out of cardboard and papier-mache
The claymore is one of the most insidious weapons ever devised, responsibile for millions of limbs lost in the Vietnam War. This video will show you how to make a much safer prop version out of cardboard and papier-mache to use in a film that still looks quite realistic.
How To: Make a Necronomicon prop from the "Evil Dead" series
In this video, we learn how to make a Necronomicon prop from the "Evil Dead" series. First, gather all of your materials together so you can make this prop. After this, cut up piece of cardboard into the desired shape, then tape them and make sure it's able to open and close. Next, you will use tape to make it look like creases in the skin and create the face by rolling it together. Use masking tape to connect these and make it look like it's all part of the same skin. Next, mix red, yellow, ...
How To: Create an extreme nose bleed trickle and gush
Here, we unveil a brand new type of BFX episode called "BFX On Location"! We've been invited by directors Giancarlo Fiorentini and Jonathan Grimm to create an extreme nose bleed effect for their film "The Old Man and the Seymour". This movie stars Streeter Seidell, Amir Blumenfeld and a VERY bloody nose. Check out all the action as Erik's skills get a real world test!
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: Make a cardboard replica prop of any gun
Cardboard is not the most sturdy of building materials, but it is cheap, abundant, and somewhat rigid. That's all you need to make this awesome prop. This video will show you how to make cardboard replica or prop of just about any gun, in this case a Glock handgun. It looks surprisingly real and is very cheap to make, so if you need a gun for your film or costume and don't have money or carpentry skills, this gun should fulfill your needs.
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: When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemon Grenades (Portal 2's Cave Johnson Would Be Proud)
Portal has been one of the most critically acclaimed and universally loved games of the last few years, and there's plenty of fan art to prove it. From building a Portal gun, to a gravity defying Companion Cube, and even installing Portal onto a graphing calculator, fans have found some innovative ways to show their love for the games.
How To: Make your own Spider Man web shooters
Are you an enormous fan of Spider Man? So much so you wonder what it'd be like to be him and have his capabilities? In this episode of Indy Mogul's Backyard FX, learn how to make your own Spider Man usable web shooters! Use this prop for a low budget film, Halloween costume, or just for fun and take your Spider Man costume to the next level!
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: Build a fake cardboard security camera
Home security is as important as having a job. You have to protect your family and your valuables. If you can't afford a high tech security system, then maybe a fake security camera will do the trick. This security camera dud is also a cheap alternative for a film prop. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a fake cardboard security camera.
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.
Becoming the Dark Knight: 8 DIYers Show Us How to Build Batman's Belongings
The final chapter of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is here, The Dark Knight Rises, and if you're anything like me, it made you want to immediately don a cowl of your own and run around punching criminals. Don't forget though, one of the most awesome aspects of Batman is his never-ending supply of crazy gadgets. Unfortunately for most of us, we don't have a billion dollars, nor Morgan Freeman, so we'll just have to make do with some good old-fashioned DIY tricks. Read on for a rundown of ...
How To: Build a P-90 prop gun
The FN P90. Everybody wants one, but more than likely, you can't get your hands on one, especially if it's illegal in your area. Designed by FN Herstal back in the 80's, the P90 personal defense weapon is the cream of the crop. It's full name, Project 90, specifies a weapon system of the 1990's. If you want this firearm for a weapon prop or just to have, you can easily build one yourself with household materials, mostly cardboard. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a P-90 prop ca...
How To: Make a cheap corpse head prop for Halloween
Dr Kreepy, Halloween crafter, shows how to obtain a rotting head without killing someone! For this project, you will need a skull, paintbrushes, liquid latex, black spray paint, brown paint, and cotton balls. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to make a cheap corpse prop head for Halloween.
How To: Make hard molds for creating fake wounds and scars
This video gives incredibly detailed visuals and instructions on how to cast hard molds for creating fake wounds and scars. Great for movie special effects!
How To: Make a movie prop grenade
A grenade is the best way to make your indie action war flick more realistic, but anyway you try it, it's not going to be completely "realistic". You need a prop grenade, and you can eerily make it yourself out of cheap household materials. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a movie prop grenade.
How To: Build a DIY reverse flow coffin fog chiller for Halloween or a film
Spooky fog-emitting items like coffins and cauldrons are iconic parts of many haunted houses, but are terribly expensive to buy premade. If you're got some DIY know-how, watch this video for a guide to building a coffin fog chiller for your fog machine yourself for a Halloween display, horror film effect, or just because you like foggy coffins. This thing is a BEAST, it will cover your whole lawn if fog by itself.
How To: Build a robotic articulated hand prop for your film
If you loved the look of the robot hand from the Terminator movies, or the look of Hell Boys hand of doom, then you probably really want to be able to have one in your movie! In this video you will learn how to make a robotic hand on a low budget with moveable fingers using some pupeteering techniques.
How To: Build a smashable guitar prop
You're not really going to smash that guitar are you? It's a piece of art. Parker put together this tutorial to show how to build a prop guitar you can smash and let out all that rock and roll angst. You will need a glue gun, chess pawns, cardboard, duct tape, a gift box, glue, a garbage can, paper, paint, string, and a ruler. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to build a prop guitar for smashing.
How To: Make a prop movie bomb
Dynamite your way to movie success with an explosive bomb. A fake explosive bomb, of course. TNT on a timer is a great movie effect for you action flick. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a prop movie bomb.
How To: Make a Bigfoot costume for film or Halloween
This fun video shows you how to make an inexpensive Bigfoot costume for Halloween. You will need an old pair of shoes, an old wig, a bald cap, brown makeup, crepe hair, old newspaper, a foam head, a few spray paint lids, a bottle of spirit gum, liquid latex, and modeling clay. This should cost you less than $30. First build up the shape of the face on the styrofoam head with clay. Make sure to add ugly details to your face like a large nose and brow ridge. Next, add seven to ten even layers o...
How To: Paint a prosthetic wound
This video describes the coloring techniques to make a realistic gelatine prosthetic wound. The presenter chooses to use grease paint as it applies easily to the rubber gelatine wound mold. First, apply a base color to mimic that flesh tone around the wound and blend it until it matches the skin tone. Next the presenter applies red and pink tones to the wound, the idea is to mimic the color of raw meat. Highlights are then applied inside the wound to simulate fat underneath the top layer of s...
How To: Construct a laser gun prop out of PVC pipe and an old handsaw
Grab some PVC pipe, random bolts and screws, and an old handsaw and get ready to build a realistic looking laser gun prop. While this guide does help you learn how to make a laser gun, you can feel free to stray from it a bit if you want to get more creative.
How To: Make a slit wrist wound for film or Halloween
Wrist wounds are some of the scariest wounds that a person can get because they are so associated with suicide. This video will teach you how to make a cool fake slit-wrist wound using some prop stuff and makeup. It looks very real, but don't let your parents see it or they'll ship you off to therapy.
How To: Create a slit wrist effect using household items
In this clip, learn how to use corn syrup, food coloring and a baby bulb syringe to fake slit your wrists. You will also need a razor blade. Use this trick if you are feeling super emo, or need a special effect for a movie you're making. This trick will totally freak out friends and family - it looks so real! Have fun and be careful!
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 your own green screen for a Chroma Key test
This tutorial shows you how you can make your own do it yourself green screen out of a bed frame, some hardware (a staple gun is key) and a green blanket (or any large length of appropriately colored green gabric).
How To: Create a rotten diseased flesh effect for Halloween
If you want to make a movie with zombies, or the apocalypse, or the apocalypse and zombies, then you are going to have to learn how to create a really haggard-looking, disease-ridden face out of makeup. This video will show you how to do it using Rice Krispies, among other things. The end result is terrifying, and sure to scare your audiences or trick-or-treating targets into doing what you want (buying theater tickets or giving your candy, respectively).
How To: Make the Hellboy II gun known as the "Good Samaritan"
Do you need an awesome costume for Comicon, or do you just need a giant prop revolver? Either way you can't miss with this episode. Erik shows you how to make your very own "Good Samaritan" revolver from Hellboy! This video will give you tips and tricks for making a great looking Good Samaritan for cheap.
How To: Build your own Iron Man Repulsor Arm
If you love Iron Man 2 and wish you could have his gadgets or want to have a cool costume for Halloween, you too, can be Iron Man once you're done watching this video. This tutorial will walk you through the steps needed to convert household materials and inexpensive items you can find at virtually any store into an Iron Man suit repulsor arm.
How To: Give yourself a black eye using just a newspaper
In general, no one actually WANTS a black eye. But if you're filming a movie, in a play, or just want to freak out your mom and dad or friends, it's nice to know how to "put on" a fake one.
How To: Make a fake cast
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a fake cast. You will need: thin cardboard, old sock, duct tape, white toilet paper, and paint. First, place the sock over your arm and then cut two holes on the front of the hand and the thumb. Then duct tape the cardboard around your hand and arm and fold the bottom of the sock on. Now make paste on the cardboard and start to layer on the toilet paper to the paste and cardboard. Next, use scissors to make a cut in the cast. Then make paste on the edges...
How To: Build your own prop shotgun
In this tutorial, we learn how to build your own prop shotgun. To make this, you will need: one 2x6 that is 2 feet long, one 1x3 eight inches long, two 8" diameter PVC piping 2 feet long, two one inch PVC end caps, picture hangers, assorted nuts, bolts, and crews. First, draw on the shape of your gun on the pieces of wood, then cut them up with a saw. Then, cut out a prong shape in the front and stain the gun to your desired color. Next, connect all the pieces together and attach the wall han...
How To: Make a cardboard sword for Cosplay
Check out this step by step instructional video to learn how to make a Cosplay Sword from cardboard and wood! Make sure you have all of the following materials to start making your Cosplay sword: spray paint, hard cardboard, wooden dowel, bendable metal wire, silver colored tape, embellishment, super glue, hand saw, paper clay, masking tape, scrap papers, pen knife, and a PVC pipe. Watch this Cosplay video and enhance your role playing with this tutorial!
How To: Make realistic looking prop swords
So you want to make a film, and in that film you want to have a sword, but you can't buy one, not to mention real ones are pretty dangerous. Your insurance costs will go through the roof! Well, here's you solution. Check out this helpful two-part video tutorial on how to make your own prop swords, which means less dangerous swords. Actually, they're made out of metal, so you still might just somebody with them yet.
How To: Make a fake cut with theatrical makeup
Finally, the professionals are weighing in on how to create fake wounds! This video features a makeup artist from the BBC demonstrating how to make a really realistic fake cut on the hand of an actor using theatrical makeup. The plastic pieces from a CD jewel case that resemble broken glass really set this cut apart from the other fake cuts on the site, along with the professionalism of the presenter.
How To: Build awesome Sci-Fi armor for less than one hundred dollars
Looking to create the look of a blockbuster Sci-Fi epic, for the price of a student film? This Indy Mogul Backyard FX video will show you how to build incredible looking science fiction armor out of foam for about eighty dollars. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully and be patient.