Build Your Own Davy Jones Fog Wall

For those who are not too familiar with the current version of Disney's PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN ride,  it has been updated to include a fog wall/hologram effect featuring the ghastly visage of Davy Jones.  The overall illusion is amazing and for awhile kinda out of the reach of everyday home haunts...till now.

Over at the Halloween Forum someone has brilliantly come up with a way to build that very illusion and it actually works!

Go here for the full details.

Backyard FX Alternatives

For those who don't know, sadly, Backyard FX has ended after a good run of many fantastic tutorials.  But fear not, I have found a few alternatives that you may dig:  Also don't forget your dear ol' Lost in Schlock as well.

The Frugal Filmmaker - a great how-to site that is DIY moviemaking centric for those on a low budget.  This is a great place to find tutorials on how to build camera rigs, lighting techniques, and much more.

Film Riot - Film Riot is another amazing site which is a good blend between what the Frugal Filmmaker has to offer and Backyard FX in terms or special effects and props.  Tons of good can be found there.

Quick FX - here is a brilliant Youtube channel from host Dave who some Backyard FX fans may remember was a runner-up to host Backyard FX during the search to replace Eric back in the day.  What makes this place one of the better sites is that Dave's tutorials are like watching video versions of Cinemagic.  All of his prop builds and visual effects how-to's are very practical, cheap, and easy to pull off.  Well worth the visit.

Inspiration: A Treasure Trove of Behind the Scenes Videos of Ghostbusters 2

Much like the Steve Johnson Ghostbusters video are three more vids making the rounds  This time around for the sequel..  The first video showcases some optical effects alongside miniatire work and a bit of bluescreen puppeteering.  Not to mentiom a peek at Vigo.
The second video showcases the puppeteering involved with a far different made Slimer puppet.

The third video showcases how the Vigo painting effect was pulled off along with the real voice of the actor who played the film's main villain.

Check it out:

Create a Laser Blast Effect without After Effects

From the Frugal Filmmaker is this cool technique of how to make a laser blast effect without the use of After Effects.  Instead only a simple video editor like Sony Vegas and GIMP is used for this tutorial.  Check it out:

Give Your Movie a Film Look with After Effects

One of the trickier parts of producing a great movie shot digitally is to make it look more like film.  Here is a series of video tutorials that I have found which hopefully will help you achieve a film look for your next project.

Behind-the-Scenes: Movie Magic

Update:  The links below are now dead.  Here is the new link:  http://www.joda-entertainment.nl/mm

Over at Slash Film is a super-cool collection of twelve episodes of the 1994 Discovery Channel show Movie Magic;

Snipped from IMDB:

Documentary series dealing with every aspect of special effects in movies, from low-budget make-up to multi-million-dollar computer-generated graphics. The clear presentation includes descriptions of the creation and technical problems of the effects, and interviews with effects technicians, directors, stars and other crew. Each episode deals with one topic, effect or technician (eg theme park rides, CGI, Stan Winston), concentrating on one or more current or recent films. Written by Cynan Rees


Each episode is still a treasure trove of useful information for anyone interested in visual or special effects, prop building, creature fx, and miniatures.

Go here to see the vids.

Inspiration: The Making of the Visual Effects for ALIENS

Here is a cool set of vids that I discovered a few minutes ago on the visual effects that were created to bring ALIENS to the big screen.  It's awe inspiring on what can be done without the need to go the CG route.

VFX Inspiration: "Cardboard Warfare is Hell"

Here is a insanely cool video that uses cardboard (strongly reminding me of Rob Schrab's Drawless Animation) and After Effects:



Full details on how this video was made can be found over at Gizmodo.  Click here to find out more.

Behind-The-Scenes: THE PAYMENT PLAN

Last month Andrew Kramer from Video Copilot featured a cool short film, The Payment Plan, which showcased some of the After Effects techniques taught at the site.  A few days ago he uploaded a behind-the-scenes video at how the film was made and what vfx was used and how it was done.  Go here for more.

How to Make a $15,000 Dollar Monster Movie

Recently at the SXSW film fest, filmmaker Gareth Edwards, screened his latest film Monsters.  One of the coolest things about this film was that it was completely made for less than $15,000.  It was all done with a two-man production crew, edited in a hotel room, and with visual effects done in Edwards bedroom. 

Go here for the full details and scroll to the bottom to see a behind-the-scenes video on a inside look at how this film was made.

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Animating A Still Image

Video Co-Pilot has posted a new tutorial on how to animate a still image.  It's one of the neatest tutorials that can be found at the site.  Go here for the full tutorial.

Inspiration: District 9 The Original Short

VFX Inspiration: Chrono Trigger Short Film

Here is an amazingly cool short film someone has made utilizing tons of great shots and some After Effects elements.  Watch the vid below and be sure to stick around at the end to find out how it was all made.  (h/t to The Daily Wh.at)



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Free Shotgun Clip From Video Copilot

Andrew Kramer of Video Copilot is giving away a free 12-Gauge Shotgun clip in honor of his fourth wedding anniversary.  The clip comes in comes in two different pre-keyed versions which provides a slo-mo version as well as normal speed.  Did I also mention it's free?  Go here for the full details and download link.

My First Set Extension

Here is my first, albeit rough, set extension:



Learn more about how to do this effect over here.

STEPPING ON A 3D LEDGE

Video Co-Pilot, one of the greatest sites on VFX how-to, has a new tutorial on creating a stepping on a ledge effect.

Go here for the full details.

TROMA SHOWS YOU HOW TO DO THE OL' PLUCK THE EYEBALLS OUT OF A SKULL TRICK

MONDAY INSPIRATION: WARREN LICH CONCEPT TRAILERS

Go here to see a cool concept trailer and vids on how some of the effects were done. (h/t to Pulp 2.0)

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: