Hot Props & SFX How-Tos
How To: Build a mini machine gun prop
Feeling a bit like Bonnie or Clyde, without the reckless disregard for human life? This mini machine gun is a great prop for Halloween or a homemade action movie. You will need a joystick, pipe, cardboard, a small box, PVC pipe, a cylindrical box, a hot glue gun, a sharp knife, and a stand. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to make a mini machine gun.
How To: Make fake blood
Scare the crap out of people this Halloween by sporting some very realistic fake blood. This recipe also makes for a nice and cheap movie prop. You will need 20 oz. of light corn syrup, red, blue, and yellow food coloring, cough syrup, and chicken livers. Watch this video prop making tutorial and learn how make fake blood.
How To: Build a green screen
This instructional special effects video uses fast-forward action to quickly display how to construct a green screen from scratch in an empty room. Watch this video if you are a visual learner or someone who learns by observing others in action as a team builds a green screen set.
How To: Make squibs to strike the walls
Watch this instructional special effects video on how to make a squib to simulate fired bullets striking a wall. This squib making process will not work for contact on people. Follow the step by step procedure by watching this instructional video to produce realistic special effects for your film.
How To: Create the effect of someone crawling through the TV
This week, Indy Mogul, Erik shows how to recreate the effect of someone crawling out of a TV. Just like in that scary movie The Ring. It's actually not expensive, just about $30. You will need scrap wood, poster board, tape, and flat bright green paint. Watch this video film special effects tutorial and learn how to make the effect of someone crawling through a television.
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: Make movie prop fake blood
This tutorial video will show you how to make fake blood that looks great as a movie prop, or a Halloween costume. This is a great video for amateur film makers and costume enthusiasts alike.
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 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: Make fake and drinkable blood
In this Halloween Science Video Series, Dr. Diana teaches you how to make fake and drinkable blood using ingredients from your kitchen. This recipe is perfect for your Halloween Party. Now all you need is some fangs for that blood to drip down, and you'll have the scariest costume.
How To: Use dry ice for halloween special effects
Dr. Diana teaches you how to make fog, a gaseous, bubbly pumpkin for your Halloween Party, and well as other experiments using dry ice. The guests at your Halloween party are really going to love these effects.
How To: Make a wax hand
This tutorial video will show you how to make a hand out of wax using some candles and water. This is a great idea for making props and various pieces needed to decorate a film set, or a halloween idea.
How To: Create a forcefield in Adobe After Effects
Make special effects at home using Adobe After Effects software. This simple video tutorial shows how to create a forcefield effect over a digital image. Great for action, adventure, and sci-fi movies! Create a forcefield in Adobe After Effects.
How To: Create Heath Ledger's Joker makeup from "Batman"
Just think what would have happened if Heath Ledger wasn't the Joker in "Batman: The Dark Knight." It wouldn't have been the same at all. It was a far improvement over Jack's version of the Joker in the previous installments of the film series.
How To: Apply a "Two Face" from Batman makeup look
It's summertime and blockbuster films are everywhere! In anticipation of the new Dark Night movie, Erik is showing you how to recreate some serious chemical burns on your face! With the help of this tutorial video, you will look just like Harvey Dent aka Two Face!
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: 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: Look masculine with makeup for cosplay
This is a video tutorial made to help out all those cosplayers on how to look more masculine using make up. This was originally made to help out guys who are pretty new to make up, but need to learn it for photo or cosplay purposes, and for girls who are trying to crossplay a male character and need to look more masculine. So, live anime and manga... cosplay it out with costumes and wigs and makeup and everything else.
How To: Use makeup for flawless cosplay skin
This is a video tutorial made to help out all those cosplayers on how to achieve that flawless photoshopped looking skin by just using makeup. This was originally made to help out guys who are pretty new to makeup, but need to learn it for photo or cosplay purposes. So find your favorite anime or manga character and cosplay with a costume, a wig, and some flawless skin.
How To: Do makeup to match your cosplay costume
TheTribalButterfly fulfills your request to give a video tutorial on how she does her cosplay makeup, and this is it, in two parts. Anime and manga costumes are hard enough to make, and then there's the makeup. You just don't look right without it. Cosplay is no joke, it's an art, and you need to look good!
How To: Make a wig stand for your cosplay wigs
If your into anime and manga, and even cosplay, then you probably have tons of homemade wigs laying around.
How To: Make a boffer sword for practice or just for fun
Are you apart a LARP association? No, well maybe you just like boffer fighting just for fun then, hmm?
How To: Boffer sword fight, by of course, building a boffer
So, you're into LARPing? Need a new foam boffer? The Knights of Gray show you in this two-part video tutorial, how to make a simple and basic boffer sword.
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: Completely make a foam boffer sword for LARPing
This four-part video tutorial will show you how to make a basic boffer sword for full contact padded weapons fighting and live action role-playing.
How To: Build a foam boffer sword for awesome LARPing
Need a new foam boffer sword? Can't get into a LARPing event without it? Well, you better steal one, or make one, but this video will show you how to do the latter.
How To: Make a level two 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 just the ticket. Check this video out to learn how to make a foam-padded sword that is easy and inexpensive. This level two boffer sword will take care of your LARPing opponents like Chuck Norris. If you're a fan of live action role-playing, then this boffer sword is just the beginning, trust me. There's a level three boffer sword, too.
How To: Make a level three foam boffer sword for LARPing
If you're a LARP maniac, or just a fan of LSD-themed (Latter-day Saint) games and activities, then you can't miss out on this. Check this video out to learn how to make a foam-padded sword that is easy and inexpensive. This level three boffer sword will take care of your LARPing opponents like Chuck Norris. If you're a fan of live action role-playing, then this boffer sword is the best of the best for kicking serious ass.
How To: Firewalk across hot coals
Check out this tutorial video to learn how to fire walk. Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine and monthly columnist for Scientific American, tries his hand at firewalking barefoot across 1000-degree red hot coals and doesn't get burned. Dr. Shermer provides a scientific explanation for the mysterious phenomenon.
How To: Lift fingerprints using superglue
This video will show you how to lift fingerprints off of something by using several simple household materials. With these tips, you can start your own CSI division.
How To: Debunk the mirror ghost girl videos
Captain Disillusion puts Japan under the vectorscope to debunk the mirror girl ghost camera trick illusion.
How To: Debunk the "Fire Angel" myth with info on camera flare
Camera flare is often responsible for the urban legend behind fire angels. CaptainDisillusion explains this camera trick and how people fall for the myths it creates.
How To: Debunk the 'Gas Station Ghost' news cast myth
CaptainDisillusion challenges the urban legend of a gas station ghost that's talked about by newcasts across the country. Find out the tricks or illusions of low quality video footage.
How To: Debunk the "3 Men and a Baby" ghost myth
Captain Disillusion takes a poke at an old Hollywood urban legend on the YouTube videos using dated camera tricks.
How To: Make and eye appeared to be pulled out of a head
Raleigh from Pujo Productions shows this classic eye tear effect. Just like in Kill Bill! This is a great effect to add into your home video.
How To: Make fake special effects squib bullets
This video will give you basic ideas on how you can create special effect squibs, or fake gunshot wounds, from materials such as rocket fuses, fake blood and condoms.
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: 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: 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.