Hot Props & SFX Posts
How To: Create a black eye with cinema makeup
In this video, we learn how to create a black eye with cinema makeup. First, you will need black makeup, black eyeliner, and a sponge. Start out by applying purple shadow with a flat brush on the sockets on the bottom of the eye. Apply this down until you reach the top of the cheekbone. Start to pat on a light dusting of black eyeshadow on the same area. After this, start rubbing purple and pink colors into the cheek area and dark brown on the top of the eye. After this, rub the purple on the...
How To: Build a "Ghostbusters" Ghost Trap Prop
What's a proton pack without a ghost trap? Useless, that's what. Don't pay megabucks for some fake Ghostbusters costume when you can build your own with household materials.
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: 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 things disappear in a video
A short video on how to make things disappear by using a simple editing trick.
How To: Use video effects to clone yourself
Step 1: Film yourself in the first position which you want your audience to see. Step 2: Film yourself in the second position you want your audience to see.
How To: Build a breakable iPhone movie prop
It's time to smash that iPhone, but wait… you don't really want to break your iPhone, do you? That's were a fake iPhone prop comes in, perfect for any homemade movie. Just make this, and switch it out with the real one during the anger attack. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a breakable iPhone movie prop. Also works with a fake smashable iPod.
How To: Build a flamethrower movie prop
Make monster flames with this homemade flamethrower. With some materials from your local hardware store, you can make this PVC flamethrower in no time. It's perfect for your big blockbuster movie (or to just scare your friends to death). Just make sure you don't leave a fire trail behind you as you set fire to the sky. Actually, this flame maker doesn't shoot real flames, it's just a prop. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a flamethrower movie prop.
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: 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 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 a telekinesis effect
Indy Mogul shows you how to create telekinesis special fx for your films with just some simple video editing software.
How To: Make fake blood with household items
In this tutorial, we learn how to make fake blood with household items. You will need: 5 ml flour, red food coloring, 20 ml syrup, and blue food coloring. You will also need a container, spoon, and mixing sticks. First, place the flour in, followed by the syrup and the food coloring. Mix this all together with the mixing sticks until it's well combined. If it's not to the color or consistency that you would like, then you can add more color or ingredients until it's how you like it. After thi...
How To: Make a really awesome Predator costume for Halloween or a costume party
The Predator might be the most badass alien ever depicted on film. If you want to embody these formidable lone hunters on Halloween or in a film, watch this video to learn how to make a really sweet DIY predator costume that requires only three costume pieces, with the rest filled in by you/
How To: Make a costume replica of the Jason Voorhees machete from Freddy vs. Jason
Freddy vs. Jason was one of the greatest film cash-ins of all time, but it was still cool to imagine these two greats of 1980's horror squaring off. This video will show you how to make a replica of Jason's machete from the film, using a real machete as a base. They aren't expensive, and if you're going to a Halloween party where real weapons are allowed this would be a great one to use.
How To: Make realistic Wolverine claws out of plastic scythes
If you are shooting a film with featuring the iconic X-Men team member Wolverine or want to dress yourself or someone else as him for some other reason, the claws are the most important part. They're what makes Wolverine Wolverine, at least externally (he didn't always have chops Hugh Jackman you studmuffin you!) and the ones you use had better look good if your costume is going to be a hit. This video will show you how to make some very authentic-looking Wolverine claws at home out of some s...
How To: Make fake bruises for film or Halloween
Bruises may not be as gory or extreme as the gashes and slashes from some of the other fake-wound videos on the site, but they are an important part of the fake-injury world. I a brick falls on you, what you are going to have isn't a cut, but a very nasty bruise! This video will teach you how to make a realistic fake bruise on your arm out of makeup, which should be handy for you next film.
How To: Create a fake knuckle wound with makeup
If you want to have your character punch a very hard object, or punch a person very hard, then it will help if you can show their damaged, bloodied knuckles afterwards. Now you can with help from this video. It will teach you how to create a very gory fake knuckle wound out of basic prop and makeup materials. Now your characters can punch with authority.
How To: Create a zombie bite special effect for film or tv
In this episode of Indy Mogul's "YourFX", learn how to make a zombie bite special effect. Indy Mogul's Backyard FX features cheap, DIY filmmaking tips and tutorials including special effects, props, and camera equipment. Be sure to search WonderHowTo for more videos from Indy Mogul and for more tutorials on building stage props as well as creating realistic film effects!
How To: Make the fake "glass in the hand" Halloween effect
Show your kids how to make special effects for the movies, haunted houses, or disaster drills. You can really freak some people out with this special effect makeup. Just watch this video tutorial to see how to make the fake "glass in the hand" Halloween effect.
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 binoculars and gunscopes effects for your video
This is how to make gunsights and binoculars effects using almost any video editing program. Here, for demonstrating, Sony Vegas and Adobe Photoshop are used. This is the easy way to feel like you're really spying on your neighbor.
How To: Build a sci-fi cryo containment chamber
Making a prop for a science fiction movie? This how-to video dives step by step guidance on how to build a super cool, futuristic, sci-fi, cryo containment chamber. You will need a cylindrical object, craft foam or sytrofoam, a hot glue gun, plaster of Paris, aquarium line tubing, and paint. Check out this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to build a great sci-fi like cryogenic containment chamber.
How To: Make a level one boffer sword for LARPing
If you're a LARP maniac, or just a fan of LSD-themed (Latter-day Saint) games and activities, then this tutorial is perfect for you. Watch this video to learn how to make a foam-padded sword that is easy and inexpensive. This level one boffer sword will take care of your LARPing opponents in no time. If you're a fan of live action role-playing, then this boffer sword is just the beginning. The first video shows you step-by-step how to make this foam sword for awesome LARPing. The second is ju...
How To: Make fake breakable glass, also known as sugar glass
Want to crack a bottle over your friends head, but you don't really want to hurt him? Okay, well, you won't learn that here, but you will learn how to make breakable glass to knock him over the head with a pasta dish. Sugar glass, yeah!
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: 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: 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: Build a replica .30 Caliber Machine Gun prop for sixty dollars
Here's a great Indy Mogul Backyard FX video that will show you how to build a replica of a .30 Caliber Machine Gun, perfect for your war movie. If you need a mounted machine gun prop for the big battle scene in your backyard Saving Private Ryan, watch this clip.
How To: Turn an Old Aquarium into a Cloud Tank & Create Creepy Alien Atmosphere Effects
Need some creepy visual effects for your alien flick, but don't want to spend a bunch of money? With some pretty basic materials, you can turn an empty aquarium into a "cloud tank," which can be used to create several different atmospheric effects. Before Hollywood started using CGI, cloud tanks were used for scenes in a lot of famous movies. Remember this one? Besides Raiders of the Lost Ark, cloud tanks also helped make some wonderful non-CGI effects in Independence Day, Close Encounters of...
How To: Make a Tommy Gun out of cardboard
This video begins by showing the necessary tools needed to make a prop tommy gun out of a cardboard base. The first step is to trace a simple handle shape on the cardboard and repeat eight more times until you have eight exact copies of the handle. Then using an image of a tommy gun make an outline on the gun to cut in another piece of cardboard. You must cut and make eight more copies of the entire gun body to have the appropriate thickness for realism. The handle must be glued to the gun bo...
How To: Make a fake single barrel pump-action shotgun prop
Shotguns are great for obliterating things that are close to you. Single barrel pump-action shotguns are the one most readily available to most folks, and if you want to depict one in one of your films without buying one or risking injury to your actors, this video will help you. It will show you how to make a prop shotgun out of cardboard and some other tools that looks pretty realistic and will let you shoot with guns without risking shooting anyone.
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.
How To: Make a military-style night vision goggles prop
Night vision goggles are one of the iconic pieces of equipment of the modern military. Getting a real pair is prohibitively expensive, especially if you just want to use it as a prop in your film instead of actually seeing at night. This video features instructions for making your own set of prop night vision goggles for cheap, giving any action or spy movie that you are making a much more modern, authentic feel. Also, now your characters can see at night, opening up all sorts of potential sc...
How To: Make a realistic werewolf claw
You can't have a werewolf movie without a werewolf, but how do you make one. Well, you should start of small. Try your hands at the wolf claws. To create these furry werewolf claws, you'll need a glove and some other materials. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a breakable prop computer. For written instructions on the actual claws, check out the WikiHow article, "How to Make Origami Paper Claws".
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: Build a Tommy Gun prop on a budget
If you're looking to give your Mafia movie a real, authentic, look, but don't have a ton of cash check out this great Indy Mogul Backyard FX video to learn how to build a Tommy Gun. It may not fire bullets, but this fifty dollar prop packs some real punch.
How To: Create a car crash with special effects for a film
Car crashes are such a fixture of modern society that you've probably wanted to include one in one of your films at some point. Unfortunatley for you, you probably don't have a disposable car or actor if you're filming on a budget. Watch this video to learn how to create an awesome movie car crash for cheap with Backyard FX.
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 DIY fog fluid for a fog machine
If you are an avid party-thrower, moviemaker, or are involved in some other activity that involved you frequently using fog machines, you're probably sick of paying for the fluid to make them work. No more! Watch this video for a guide to making your own cheap DIY fog machine juice / fluid at home.