How to Create a Slashed Wrist Make-Up Effect

Here is a cool and every effective tutorial on using latex and toilet paper to create a realistic and gory slashed wrist make-up effect.

Click here for full tutorial.

How-to Rewind: DIY Cheap-ass Brain

I originally mentioned this cool how-to back in 2007 and it still remains a neat how-to for anyone needing a brain for their next Frankenstein or zombie flick.

You say you are making your next mad scientist flick and in need of some brains? Well, my friends. Here is a great tutorial from a spiffy blog that shows you how to make one for cheap. If you prefer here is the video tutorial to get you started:

1945A

Here is a brillantly fantastic short film centered around a Alternate WWII timeline featuring some really good usage of real models and stop-motion without the aid of CGI.

Clipped from Youtube:

It's 1945, and the Allies are on the verge of winning World War II, when suddenly the Nazis unleash an arsenal of super weapons straight out of science fiction turning the tides in their favor. This presentation was done on a VERY small budget. All the tanks and vehicles (Willy's jeep, Stuart tank, Sherman tank, Nazi "Spider" tank) were done with 1:6 scale models, not CGI.

INDY MOGUL IS NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW HOST

Full details in the vid:

FOR FIFTY BUCKS...

I've long forgotten where I discovered this story so you will have to forgive me for not giving credit where credit is due. And even though I am sure I've shared this tale before, I read something that made think of it and I want to share it with you again.

The story goes as this; During the filmming of a film, a producer wanted to know how much it cost to do a visual effect shot of the Red Sea parting. The fx person thinks it over for a moment and says well for a million I can part the whole sea. For fifty-thousand I can part just one side, and for fifty bucks I can have a guy look at something off screen and say, "holy crap, the Red Sea is parting!"

Take from this story what you will.

CYBORG 4-CHEAPO

Over at Indy Mogul with their brilliant Backyard FX series, they continue with their robot theme from last week. This time around it's a DIY Cyborg for el cheapo.

MORE BRAINS!!!

Still need a cranial fix of sorts? Check out what schlockmeister Joe Sherlock is doing with a fake brain creation of his own. Spiffy!

BITS OF JUNK AND YOUR NOGGIN

I originally posted this in the previous blog, but felt that I just had to re-post it here again anyway. There is still a lot to be learned from this ol' show.

PARTICLES AND MORE

I am finally getting a grasp on how to use particles on EffectsLab, and it is friggin' sweet! I'll try and make a video of a burning building and upload it here.

The result of all of this is that eventually I will be able to create digital fire effects, blood spurts or sprays, water effects, and smoke. There is a whole list of things I can do with particles. I am just giddy with the very notion of what can be done.

BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE

I started using EffectsLab again. For those taking notes I am using EffectsLab Lite which is the cheaper version. A version that lacks some presets and whatnot, but is still decent to work with.

One of my goals in life is to master the use of EffectsLab and with it create a visual effects demo reel to show to clients. At the moment I am practicing with the particle emitter and have been creating blood spurts, smoke, and fire.

For some reason large digital fires is rather difficult to achieve with the EffectsLab. I have tried the Huge Fire preset, but for some reason it does not work for me. I can create a whole new particle preset using the images that are on file and make a huge fire, but when I try to do the shortcut by using a preset, I fail to make even a spark. What gives?

FXHOME LOVE

This should show you why I have tons of mushy warm love for Fxhome and their software.

FXhome

This is the software that I use for some of my visual effects. If it's fire particles, smoke, laser blasts, or light sabers and more you need, then this is what you need, brother. Click on the banner above for more.

BRAINS OVER BUDGET (REPOST)

I found this cool clip before and had in the past posted it in the former blog. So I am reposting it here because it's a damn valuable lesson on how to use brains over budget.

IT CAN SLICE THROUGH A BRICK YET CAN CUT A LOAF OF BREAD...

Here is a cool trick that could be used in any gore-filled flick of yours. (could be NSFW and not recommended to those that are squeamish)

Uploaded by esl88