Build a Cardboard iPhone or iPad

Here is a brilliant way to make a mock iPad or iPhone prop using a magazine or print out of the actual thing and  cardboard.  Quite useful for those not wanting to shell out the big bucks for your next indie movie.

Full how-to here.

My Summer Slaycation

I am in the middle of working on a horror short film so posts here will pretty much light till August.  For those interested I have been keeping a journal of sorts of the film's progress here.

One of the challenges is that because this is a shoe-string budget, I cannot afford Airsoft's prices on machine guns or even rental fees.  I've tried toy shops but the guns are either too science fiction or too pricey.  The internet and places like Ebay are not much help either.  So what do I do when I need assault rifles?  I build them out of cardboard and paper mache.

When in doubt make it out of paper mache

I made a template using a image of a assault rifle found on the net and ran it through Rasterbator.  I then cut out sections of the gun out of cardboard and glued styrofoam in between the parts.  At the moment I am now in the mache phase.

The guns may look cheap but the trick is to keep the shots involving the guns wide and fast.  The less time the guns are on-screen the better.

Cortec and the Wonders of Cardboard

If you're like me and are always looking for ways to save a few pennies on a prop or set build then this site was tailor made for you.  Cortec is a website which focuses on turning cardboard (which is mostly free from local dumpsters) into a wide array of amazing set pieces or props.  This even includes cardboard furniture. 

The best part of the site is the free two-part how-to manual which can be found here.  It's a awesome 32-page set of tutorials on crafting cardboard into said props and sets. 

Go here for more details.