Indy Mogul - DIY filmmaking

Visual Effects Supervisor's Bootcamp

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:44:43 EST

For three days in December, aspiring filmmakers can learn visual effects from one of the best. It was recently announced that Ron Thornton will be one of the instructors at the upcoming Visual Effects Supervisor's Boot Camp to be held in Santa Fe, New Mexico from December 4th through 6th. Ron has worked as a supervisor and CGI producer for top TV shows and film projects, including Bablyon 5 and the Star Trek franchise. Ron has worked with both straight CGI effects as well as projects that combine live action with CGI. In addition to his impressive resume, Ron has also worked as a teacher, and has helped launch the careers of many aspiring filmmakers.

The Visual Effects Supervisor's Boot Camp is led by Lee Stranahan, a 25-year industry veteran with numerous credits and awards as a producer, director, and visual effects artist for his work in film, television, and Internet. Stranahan said, "Ron is a true legend and a larger than life figure in the world of CGI. He's an old friend and I couldn't be more honored to have him as part of the Boot Camp."

About the Visual Effect's Supervisors Boot Camp

Attendees will gain hands-on experience in all aspects of video production during a simulated film shoot. This is the perfect opportunity for someone looking for professional experience since the program provides written references and other promotional materials for the 2010 hiring season.

The Boot Camp will expose attendees to a wide range of professional production techniques. Students will learn on-set supervisory skills as they work closely with the director and D.P. Students will learn technical skills including the RED One™ digital camera system, green screen compositing, motion tracking, HDRI light probe, directing stunt talent, "clean plate" shoots, and the use of hi-res image maps as 3D textures.

Take-aways from the program include:

A hard drive full of all shoot data - including footage, plates, elements, HDRI photos and motion capture - with complete reproduction and usage rights for use in personal projects
Complete course materials including sample script breakdowns, storyboards, and instructional guides
Certificate of completion from Film School Boot Camp
Processional "production stills" by the on-set photographer in digital format for use in professional promotion

Interested persons should contact Lee Stranahan via Lee@Stranahan.com or visit the program's website at FilmSchoolBootCamp.com; a short video about the program is also available at FilmSchoolBootCamp.com/blog.

The latest from Neko Neko films, "Future Skit"

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:05:18 EST

You may recognize these guys from the great "10 Second Trailers" they've submitted to us. Here's their latest ... which is all about the fun (and chaos) of TIME TRAVEL.

Video WTF?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:59:38 EST

Was sent this website, "Video WTF?" the other day, and thought I would pass it on. You can post video related questions on this site, and get them answered by the community, where the community can vote on how good the answer deals with the question. The database is also searchable, so if you've got a video related question, this seems like a pretty good place to start.

Cinematography & Lighting Tutorial

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:08:34 EST

I found this 3-part Cinematography and Lighting tutorial that I think is really helpful is dissecting the lighting of a scene, and the concept of the "film-look". Really interesting, check it out.

Mogulween 1-Minute Film Fest Runners Up

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

You can watch the 1st and 2nd Place Winners on a special Indy Mogul episode coming out TODAY November 2nd.

1st Prize: 'Before I wake' by Ligering Finger Productions

2nd Prize: 'The Truth' by Department 64 Studios

Watch the Winners HERE

Since we received so many great short films, we decided to feature more of the best submission finalists in this blog post.
See a selection of some of our other favorites below:

Mogulween Contest Runner-Up: Toilet George from Indy Mogul on Vimeo.

Mogulween Contest Runner-Up: Techno Babble from Indy Mogul on Vimeo.

Mogulween Contest Runner-Up: Ring It Again from Indy Mogul on Vimeo.

Mogulween Contest Runner-Up: Portent from Indy Mogul on Vimeo.

Mogulween Contest Runner-Up: Late Night Snack from Indy Mogul on Vimeo.

Mogulween Contest Runner-Up: Don't Cry from Indy Mogul on Vimeo.

Mogulween Contest Runner-Up: Carved from Indy Mogul on Vimeo.

Mogulween Contest Runner-Up: Donkey Dare from Indy Mogul on Vimeo.

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Invisible Slash

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:16:26 EDT

Well I am back this week, (I was gone last week because I got the flu), with the final effect for Mogulween! This week I am doing a slash wound whose apperance you can "activate" from a distance. Which could easily work for quick fight scenes when you quickly need to create wounds during the fight, or for a "Nightmare on Elm Street" style "invisible attacker", where you can't see the attacker, only the wounds appearing on their skin.

First, you need to create a fake skin layer, so either get a thin layer of liquid latex, or make up some alternative skin by dabbing the area in white glue..

Push some toliet paper over it, and then let it dry.

Then peel it off and cut it out.

Now, apply some fake blood over the area where you want the slash to occur.

Get some monofilament wire (fishing line), and cut off a strand that is long enough for an off-camera technician to grab both ends and pull it. (Depending on how wide your shot is, this will usually be anywhere from just a few feet, to maybe 10, but don't worry this stuff is in 100 yard rolls for a reason.)

And lay it across your wound section.

Now, lay your layer of fake skin on top, and around the edges attach it with glue, spirit gum, or liquid latex (whatever suits your applications more). Then cover with a layer of make-up to blend it into your skin.

Now, pull quickly, and voila, a cut appears, breaking the layer of skin, and revealing the fake blood layer underneath.

Indy Mogul on Attack of the Show

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:11 EDT

G4's Attack of the Show featured Indy Mogul twice in the last 2 weeks. Check out the videos below!

DJ Remixes Video - A New Filmmaking Technique and Genre?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:28:56 EDT

Techniques of 'Turntabilism' are being injected into filmmaking. DJ Steve Porter remixes video and audio for his video remixes. His remix of the Slap Chop infomercial, called "Rap Chop," was a viral break out hit and below is his most recent Video remix that turns NBC's new show 'Community' into a mash-up rap/dance video.

These Video Remixes are a new and innovative approach to filmmaking. Steve Porter has applied techniques from turntablism and hip-hop towards videography. From his editing techniques to using certain scenes or clips as a kind of visual 'refrain' in the video create an innovativeand completely new genre of filmmaking. His work is an exmaple of how the boundaries, definitions, and limitations of filmmaking and film genre is always changing and evolving.

What are some other exmaples of new approaches to filmmaking or genre-defying techniques being used by filmmaking or video DJ's today? Let us know in the comments below!

A friend's film needs your backing!

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:27:53 EDT

Hey guys, so our friend Matt shot a feature in 2008 on a very indie budget (check out the trailer above), out in the woods, with a whole bunch of talented people. You may remember him, we snagged a great interview when we were at Sundance. I was lucky enough to see an early cut of the film, and it's interesting and beautiful - I'm excited to see the final version ... but if he doesn't raise enough money it may never see the light of day.

Here's more info from the man himself ...

"As you may or may not know, I've been working to complete my first
feature film (http://vimeo.com/6155508 - http://vimeo.com/6155895) for
just over a year now. - I shot, produced and financed it 100%
independently with the help of a bunch of fantastic friends last
summer. Unfortunately this bummer of an economy has seriously derailed
our post-production process and we've been unable to properly complete
the film without any outside support.

"Back in August I hooked up with this new website Kickstarter
(http://www.kickstarter.com/learn-more) in an effort to try and
finally finish the film. - Kickstarter's basic philosophy is that
unless you have a rich uncle or a real job, it may be be easier to
fund small creative projects by seeking a diversity of small donations
from a wide group of regular people as opposed to a few big ones from
a select group of suits.

"We've been doing our best to spread the word, but time is running out
quickly. If we don't reach our goal by 3AM on Halloween we loose out
on everything and all hope is lost forever - that's the way
Kickstarter gets down. - We've got less than a week to do this thing
right.

"We need your help to spread the word. - Do you blog? Tweet? Facebook?
Etc.? - Maybe you could post this link somewhere.
- We'd really appreciate it.

"And if you're feeling especially friendly, perhaps you'd be willing to
forgo a latte and throw some loose change our way. - We know times are
crazy tough, but we're not asking for much - just a little bit from a
bunch of people, that's the beauty of the whole thing! - Nothing
serious.

"A whole host of info on the project, as well as an outline of how we
intend to actually finish the film can be found here:
- If you've got a free minute, please check it out.

Thanks so much for your time.

All the best,
Matthew Lessner (and co)
www.montelomax.com"

Please check out more info and consider donating, even $1.

Confessions of an Independent Filmmaker: Week 4

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:55:43 EDT

Confessions of an Independent Filmmaker talking about a Meeting he had with some Executives. Check out previous week here.

The most important Film Fights update video EVER! (wow!)

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:04:52 EDT

Howdy Mogulers! Justin here to give you the latest heads up in the exciting world of Film Fights. A world where anything can happen, twice a month. Anyway, this update is for you, and contains hidden clues to a secret Aztec treasure! (jk)

Click over here to check out our future fights, and over here to learn more about the site in general.

Grace picks the Netflix OSR winners for Oct 12!

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:06:48 EDT

Every week I ask you to give me a One Sentence Review (OSR) for one of the latest movies playing in theaters! Now, thanks to Netflix, you can apply your OSR skills to any movie!

If you entered, look for your name down below. The contest runs regularly, so be sure to friend Netflix on Facebook so you can enter the next challenge!

NETFLIX ONE SENTENCE REVIEW CHALLENGE TOP 5 - Read 'em and rent 'em!

5 - Evan Daniel Schwartz for REQUIEM FOR A DREAM:

"A beautifully devastating film about drugs that stayed true to the truth."

4 - Candace Graff for STRANGE BREW:

"Good Canadian beer, good slapstick humor, eh!"

3 - Nick Boisson for METROPOLIS(1927):

"If you would like to know why science-fiction cinema is beloved by and continues to inspire so many, look no further than Fritz Lang's Metropolis."

2 - Joe Slepski for AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH:

"If my PowerPoints were this entertaining, I'd still have my job."

And the winner of the Netflix Polo is...

1 - Travis Whilden for EVIL DEAD 2:

"Bruce Campbell channels all three stooges to slay the undead in the best comedic gorefest of the 80s."

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Embeddable Eyeball

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:21:35 EDT

We've featured builds with fake eyes in the the past, but something that Mogulville has been asking for, for a while is a embeddable eyeball that can be utilized for a costume (Like the Pale Man from "Pan's Labyrinth"). Since it's Mogulween, and this is sufficiently creepy to me I thought this would be a good build for this week.

For the basis of the build, I formed the "eyeball" out of some airdry clay, although you could easily substitute a gumball or superball or whatever other spherical object you have access to.

After it dried hard, I paint it with layers of white acrylic paint, and glazing medium, to try to give it a shiny wet look.

While that is drying, I took a plastic sandwich bag...

And trimmed a palm sized section out of it with some scissors.

Then I painted it with flesh colored creme make-up, and cut a slit in it, almost as wide as the eyeball.

Now that it's dry, I used the same pupil and technique that I utilized for my "Eye tear" build, and let that dry.

Then took the plastic sheeting, and stretched the slit around the eye.

Now, it's a matter of just putting it wherever you want. You can attach it either with spirit gum, or by dabbing liquid latex or white glue around the edges than pressing it down, and it sticks pretty well. Cover it up with some make-up and it actually looks pretty good.

This could easily be used for a "Third eye" on your forehead, for an embedded eye somewhere in your body, or make two of them and put them over your actual eyes for a "eyes bulging out of their sockets" effect.

Exclusive Interview w/ Director of 'Paranormal Activity,' Oren Peli

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:12:51 EDT

If you're a fan of horror films or low-budget filmmaking, you've probably heard about "Paranormal Activity." The movie follows a young couple after they move into a new house and strange disturbances keep them up at night. The writer and director of "Paranormal Activity," Oren Peli, got the story idea after moving into a new house with his then girlfriend. “It was the first time I’d ever lived in a house; I’d only ever rented small apartments,” says Peli. “In quiet suburbia, I quickly learned that you become conscious of every little noise, especially at night." Peli thought it would be interesting to set up a camera to catch what was going bump in the night. He quickly came up with a script and ran with the idea.

After sitting on various shelves for the past couple years, the movie has finally been introduced in limited release. It's been getting a lot of Internet buzz and great reviews. Bobby MIller, the Host and Executive producer of The Reel Good Show on Indy Mogul, had this to say, "In the screening I was in, everyone was jumping and screaming along to a movie that was made for $11,000. In the age of mindless CGI, it's nice to know that someone can deliver scares the old fashion way. It's a testament for low budget filmmakers everywhere."

Indy Mogul's Erik Beck recently spoke with Oren Peli to talk about how he made the movie on such a small budget and Peli's advice for young filmmakers. You can listen to the interview or read the transciption below.

Let us know what you think of the movie and the interview. Leave your comment below!

Erik Beck: Hey Oren!

Oren Peli: Hi Erik!

EB: Thank you so much for talking with us.

OP: No problem, no problem.

EB: For the part of the audience that don’t know, you’re the writer/director of “Paranormal Activity” that’s getting a ton of buzz right now, and my first question is, is it true that you made this for less than $15,000?

OP: Yes my original budget that I set up for myself was going to be $10,000 but it ended up closer to 15.

EB: Wow, that’s amazing.

OP: Yeah I’m still pinching myself.

EB: You finished the film actually a couple years ago, did you have any idea that it was going to have the sort of the life-cycle that it has?

OP: Well I didn’t really know what to anticipate but after the first screening at Screamfest, when I saw the audience’s reaction, and with all the good press that we got, I started thinking that maybe it could play well in theaters. I didn’t exactly anticipate the kind of buzz we’re getting now, but I was definitely hoping that someone would give it a chance and let the fans spread the word of mouth and let it kind of pick up its own momentum.

EB: How was it seeing it in the theaters for the first time with an audience, can you describe watching other people watching your film?

OP: It was very very cool, I mean I was nervous as hell and when we saw that the audience was getting into it, laughing at the jokes at the beginning and obviously reacting to the scares it was really, really great.

EB: I read that originally they were talking about remaking it, did you do anything special to convince the studio to keep the film as it is and not remake it?

OP: Really the only thing we had to do was make the Dreamworks executive set up a test screening so that they could see the movie with an audience and that was the last time we heard anyone say anything about a remake.

EB: Wow. So I was wondering if you had any advice for our audience of aspiring filmmakers?

OP: Yeah there are three things that I would probably advise, but the most important one is casting. If you don’t have good actors that do a convincing job then it doesn’t matter what your budget is, it’s just not going to work. If it wasn’t for Katie and Micah being as good as they were we wouldn’t even be talking now because the movie wouldn’t have been going anywhere. The other thing is the issue of perseverance, it’s not easy to make a movie and you just need to keep going and be extremely stubborn and not get discouraged when things don’t go well. And I would encourage people to pick up a videocamera and just start shooting and no matter how well it turns out you’re always going to learn and gain a little experience.

EB: Can you give us any sneak peek details on your new project?

OP: No we’re trying to keep everything secret for now.

EB: Got it. Too top secret, I totally understand.

OP: Thankfully.

EB: Well thank you so much for talking with me, we advocate pretty much the exact same thing. It’s really inspirational to see someone that works like us make it and get a deal and get in theaters, it’s awesome.

OP: Thank you, thank you so much, that means a lot.

EB: So thank you again and good luck with the new project, and good luck with the movie in theaters.

OP: Thank you, thank you good luck to you guys.

30 Second Halloween Film Contest!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:35:40 EDT

Hey folks! So, I'm sure you've all got your blood a'boiling with all the Mogulween madness that's been going on the past two weeks. I'm also sure you're well on your way to prepping AMAZING Halloween costumes. With all this celebration going on, I think it's time to make a MOVIE about Halloween, and what better place to do it than the legendary Film Fights?

Don't know what FF is? Basically you make a flick using the title/genre that we provide, and you compete against filmmakers from across the globe! Here are your rules ...

TITLE: "Monster Mishaps "

THE RULES: Make a film about the troubles of being one of the following monsters: Vampire, Zombie, Werewolf, or Mummy.

TIME LIMIT: 30 seconds. No more. No less. (not including the Film Fights intro)

DUE DATE: Oct. 24th

HOW DO I SUBMIT? Find out more right here.

Hope to see you on the battlefield!

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Basic Mummy Bandages

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:04:16 EDT

Here we are with the second week of Mogulween focused builds for October (check over at Week 1 here), this week I thought I would go with a classic that has been requested quite a few times in the past, MUMMY MAKE-UP. While the basic Mummy doesn't seem that different from the Zombie (it isn't really, throw Karloff's Mummy into a Romero picture and he would hardly look out of place), one of the most difficult parts is getting the wrappings look just right. So this week I am going to show you how to properly strain bandages to get some cheap and easy Mummy Wrappings for your own Mummy Costume!

Like with previous builds, a strong unsweeted black tea or coffee, can be a very effective staining compound, and this build is not much different. You just take a coffee mug (or any jar really) full of dark tea or coffee, and some medical gauze bandages...

And dip them inside. After they absorb the staining mixture fully, squeeze them out over a sink and get them just nice and damp. The next stage will be to wrap the damp bandages in a towel you don't mind getting stained, then tossing them in the dryer. Give it half an hour and they should be dry and ready to use in no time.

After their ride in the dryer, they are indeed dry and ready to use.

To start with the make-up layer under the bandages, you can just put down a layer of gray to give you a cold "lifeless" look. For the make-up if you just follow the Zombie Tutorial, that's 90% of the look right there.

Now, it's just a matter of wrapping it. I am focusing on the hands since that is a good place to start. I poked holes through the tip and slipped my fingers into the holes and wore it a bit like a fingerless glove. Then I just wrapped it around my arm. If you want a simpler application, something you can do is get a thin shirt and pants and apply the gauze outside of them similar to the Stunt Dummy Build. It would take a bit more time, but you wouldn't have to reapply the bandages everyday, but could instead have a costume that actor could more easily slip into.

Now, it's just a matter of cutting the edges and causing some extra frays, and perhaps add additional make-up to make it look older and dirtier, and there you go, your very own basic mummy wrapping application for cheap!

Confessions of an Independent Filmmaker: Week 3

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:20:55 EDT

Another Week, another Confession. Check out previous week's entry here.

Zombieland Top 5 One Sentence Reviews!

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:30:09 EDT

Thinking of seeing Zombieland? Well here are 5 one sentence reviews to help you make up your mind:

#5 - jwgilligan
It's not Drag Me To Hell, but Zombieland is still a entertaining horror comedy that had my eyes guled to the screen.

#4 - brenndon1
Finally a comedy zombie that dose not loose it's funny by the end of the movie!

#3 - moviewizguy
Although Zombieland is a very funny film and gives the zombie genre a good name, it also has an endearing quality and charm to it that makes you love it even more than you should.

#2 - MZMStudios
Zombieland was 81 minutes of pure action-packed, gore-filled hilarity that's sure to leave you blood-lusting for a sequel!

#1 - and winner of the free pair of AMC movie tickets - TheSagesDog
After seeing this movie I'm sure, like the twinkie, Zombieland will become an American Classic.

Thanks to everyone who entered! Next week, the One Sentence Review Challenge will be for COUPLES RETREAT!

Best TV Shows! Grace picks the Netflix OSR Top 5!

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:07:53 EDT

I've teamed up with Netflix for another One Sentence Review (OSR) Challenge! The subject this week was TV series, which you can download instantly via Netflix on your computer.

If you entered, look for your name down below. The contest runs regularly, so be sure to friend Netflix on Facebook so you can enter the next challenge!

NETFLIX ONE SENTENCE REVIEW CHALLENGE TOP 5 - Read 'em and rent 'em!

5 - Dan Sullivan for MAD MEN:

"Mad Men is the most beautiful sadness ever put on television."

4 - Douglas Smith for BREAKING BAD:

"The show that explains how a broken health care system feeds the illegal drug trade - with humor so dark you may not laugh."

3 - Johnathon Atwood for THE SIMPSONS:

"Like the energizer bunny, keeps going and going and D'oh!"

2 - Eric Michael Guido for HIGHLANDER THE SERIES:

"There can be only fun!"

And the winner of the Netflix Polo is...

1 - Carl Parrish for DOLLHOUSE:

" 'I think, therefore I am', but if someone programs my thinking what am I?"

Mogulween 1-Minute Film Fest with Prizes!

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:02:21 EDT

Finally, a chance to use all of that fake blood lying around your house and turn your best friend into a zombie for a day! The annual Indy Mogul Mogulween Contest is back, and this time we want you to send us your scariest one-minute horror films. Here are the details:

Entry submissions begin on October 5th and will be received until 11:59 on October 28th using http://www.IndyMogul.com/Submit
Films can be NO MORE than 60 second long
Must be in the "horror", "thriller" or "spooky" genre, and include NO copyrighted music
Label your entry "Mogulween film fest - "Your Submission Title HERE", prior relevant submissions are fine, but they must be re-uploaded
The winning video will be creative, scary and tell the story clearly. It doesn't matter if you don't have the best equipment, the videos will be judged on their camera shots, narration, editing and effectiveness.

The winners will be chosen and announced by Indy Mogul on October 31st in a special Halloween episode on Indy Mogul. The grand prize winner will get a custom Indy Mogul Mogulween skinned HD flip mino videocamera. One runner up will receive a custom Indy Mogul Mogulween skinned SD flip mino video camera. In addition, BOTH winning videos will be shown in their entirety in a special "Mogulween 1 Minute Film Fest" episode to be aired on Halloween.

OFFICIAL RULES

All entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

No purchase necessary

Void where prohibited by law

Not responsible for lost or misdirected entries

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter

Taxes are the responsibility of winner

Winner may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility

Estimated value of prize $200

Winner consents to the use of their name and likeness for promotion

Entries must be submitted through http://www.indymogul.com/submit or mailed to Next New Networks, 419 Park Av South, Suite 900, NY, NY 10016 Att: "Mogulween 1 Minute Film Fest"

Enter as often as you like

Winner to be selected on or about Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Decisions of the judges are final.

No substitution of prizes permitted

Employees and the families of Next New Networks, Indy Mogul and any of their affliliated companies are not eligible to participate.

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Cheap Knife Glove

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:19:54 EDT

In celebration of October and the beginning of MOGULWEEN, all this month I am going to feature cheap ways to improvise cheap props from your favorite horror films! This week I am featuring a classic signature prop from the "A Nightmare on Elm Street"-series, your very own Freddy Kruegar-style KNIFE GLOVE!

Start with a basic workglove. You could go with almost anykind, but I went with this one because it was pretty cheap, and looks a lot like leather.

Now disembowel a soda can, just like in my Gauntlet tutorial.

Now, cut it into 5 segments. 4 smaller segments for each finger (except the thumb), and a larger section for the top of the hand.

Now, stack the "finger" segments togethe, and trim them into a sharper "fingernail" looking tip.

Like this. Then...

Cut the finger sections into segments "like this" so you'll actually be able to articulate them.

Now, get a piece of poster paper (not poster board which is thicker, I prefer poster paper because it's still pretty thick, BUT it is so thin it can look "razor thin"). Sketch out the shape of the "knife blade" then...

Cut them all out.

Then paint them silver to give them a nice metallic sheen.

I gave the finger and hand sections a brass paintjob, then painted the glove a dirty brown to give it a older dirty look.

I attached the top segments with hot glue (You'll most likely NOT want to wear the glove incase it melts or soaks through and burns your hand, be careful!).

I cut the tips of the segments with a pair of scissors, cutting a slit to slide the "blades" into, then hit each with a dab of hot glue.

Then glued them in place as well.

Then it's just a matter of distressing and dirtying it up to add some depth and "realism" to the metal, so it actually looks old and worn and used, and... There you go, your very own Freddy Glove for cheap!

Star Wars UNCUT

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:03:15 EDT

Star Wars: Uncut Trailer from Casey Pugh on Vimeo.

Found this awesome project going on right now over at StarWarsUncut.com, basically pick your favorite 15 seconds of the film and remake it HOWEVER YOU WANT. They will take it, put it in it's correct order and then showcase it as the entire film, completely recreated by thousands of fans from all over the world. So hurry and go grab your lightsaber, and stake a claim for your 15 seconds.

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Basic Weatherproofing

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:28:26 EDT

We can't control what the weather does, that is an unfortunate reality of filmmaking that has derailed many a production schedule. While we've covered basic rainproofing before, I thought I would cover another method that is a little bit simpler. Hopefully my advice will help you avoid missing a shooting day, and help you keep your productions on schedule.

First, if at all possible, remove the strap from your camera, you want to make it as narrow as you can. If it doesn't come off (like my cameras strap unfortunately) don't worry to much about it, just squeeze it close to the body and possibly tape it in place if you have to.

Now get a recloseable plastic sandwich bag that is about the same size of your camera (you don't want one that is to small, but you don't want one that is to big either because your camera will bounce around inside of it, you want something that fits it kind of closely). For larger cameras you'll mostly likely have to go with a much larger bag, thankfully that offer them all the way up to gallon sizes, so hopefully you can find one that fits your rig.

Put your camera inside of it and squeeze it closely around it before closing the bag. Now, pull the plastic around the lens area tightly.

Then cut the plastic away very carefully, you don't want to poke the lens with your knife and possibly leave scratches thus ruining your camera glass. Cut a hold smaller than the lens, then pull it down so it forms tightly around the edges.

Now, get some rubber bands and fasten them around the edges of the plastic to form an even tighter barrier. You could also go ahead and cover the edges here with electrical tape if you want, up to you depending on what you're doing.

And there you go, the bag is elastic enough that you can easily still control the record switch and many of the controls, and also still look through the viewfinder.

For your boommics (this plastic tube standing in for mine, as it is currently unavailable), remove the windscreen, and stretch some plastic wrap over it and use rubber bands around the base (you'll want to attach them on the cable section below where it hooks into the mic to protect the wire connections as well). Unlubricated latex condoms also works here. Be warned though, that it'll cause the mic to lose a little sensitivity so you'll want to do some tests and possibly boost the gain on your mic before you start shooting.

There you go, hope this basic weatherproofing advice assists you the next time you have to shoot in less than ideal conditions.

Confessions of an Independent Filmmaker: Week 2

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:51:11 EDT

Week 2 with the Confessions of an Independent filmmaker, if you haven't been keeping up with these, check back at last week here.

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Basic Scrape

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:27:09 EDT

Unfortunately the bigger build i've been working on isn't quite ready yet, so I thought I would feature a simply make-up effect this week to tide you over until I can work out the kinks in the build i've been working on. Well this week I wanted to show how to do a basic "scrapped skin" effect. While we've shown how to do basic cuts and other injuries, we haven't covered a basic scrape yet, and I thought this would be as good a time as any to showcase it.

Obviously, start with a clean area on whatever part of your skin that you want to build up the effect. First build up a thin layer of white glue or liquid latex. Dab it on in a stipple pattern with a foam brush or make-up sponge.

After rubbing your thumb against it to rough it up a little (and pop open some pockets to give you an effective upper layer torn skin look), lay down some cream make-up. I used some gray here to have a darker area for some minor discoloration for the scrape area.

Now build up some more pinks and reds to give it an inflamed look from the skin damage. (After you're done with the layers of make-up, powder it all to reduce some of the shininess and make it look a little less artificial.)

Next, mix up some fake blood, and get a toothbrush you won't be using to brush your teeth ever again. (Unless you're into scrubbing your teeth with fake blood, you might be, don't let me stop you.)

Now rub your thumb across the top of the brush, and let it spaltter off all over the scrape area, dab away splatter that lands outside of the scrape area, then touch up any of the bigger scrapes with extra drops of blood. And there you go, easily get the look of falling off your bike and scraping your knee without actually having to fall of your bike and scrape your knee.

It's a win-win, trust me.

Matt Zaller's Bizarro Interviews

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:30:36 EDT

This is fantastic. National Lampoon's Matt Zaller interviews Jennifer's Body stars Megan Fox and Johnny Simmons, and proceeds to ignore Fox for the first two minutes, then insist that she puts a bag over her head.

He also has a wonderfully creepy interview with Matt Damon for The Informant. Enjoy.

Found via Cinematical.

Joss Whedon on "New Media"

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:02:53 EDT

Thought this was a really awesome little interview with the Joss Whedon, the Mastermind behind Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog, Firefly, Buffy, and Angel, among a bunch of other awesome stuff that use Geekfolk generally eat up, and I thought this was really interesting. Thanks to Moguler Nonsensical Studios for the link.

'9' - the Top 5 One Sentence Reviews...

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:06:46 EDT

I was away this weekend at Disney's D23 Expo promoting my upcoming Muppet Peter Pan comic book mini-series, so that meant no Movie Math this past weekend. However here are the winners of the One Sentence Review Challenge for '9' - congrats!

#5 - spoofnetproductions
"The creators took a good short film, added an hour and 10 minutes, added great visuals, but for some reason subtracted a story."

#4 - OddWolfOut
"9 has the strongest religious context I've seen in a movie in a long time, and although the animation and story was pretty damn good, it felt rushed and the ending left something to be desired."

#3 - bramb600
"The CGI visuals were some of the best I've ever seen, but I just couldn't care for any of the characters here - unfortunately this 79 minute tease was a waste of my money."

#2 - Yvesbloodywednesday
"9 is all the cliches of the Matrix and Terminator without anything that made those movies memorable."

#1 - the winner of the free pair of AMC movie tickets - BioShadowTh666
"9 it babys first end of the world movie."

Thanks to everyone who entered, and see you for next week's OSR Challenge for "Jennifer's Body"!

Confessions of an Independent Filmmaker: Week 1

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:20:06 EDT

First week of Confessions of an Independent Filmmaker, continuing his chronicle on trying to get his film made. Check out the Intro Here.

Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:08:58 EDT

This is a clip from this fantastic documentary that Scorsese did for Channel 4 back in 1995, thanks to Moguler Globeversal Pictures for posting a link to it in Mogulville. Check it out, a LOT of information about film history from one of the greats.

IFC Sketch Comedy Challenge

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:45:02 EDT

Over at IFC's website, they are currently accepting submissions for Sketch Comedy shortfilms. The winner gets to attend the premiere of “Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)” , so for all of you comedians out there in Mogulville, there is your chance. Submissions end at September 20th, so hurry up and get your film submitted! Good luck!

Need to Storyboard your Film? There's an App for that.

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:26:00 EDT

So I was poking about the internets and I found a new tool for filmmakers and it was so good I had to share it with everyone.

It's called Hitchcock [iTunes Link] and it is a storyboarding tool for your iPhone and iPod Touch. Basically, the deal is, you take photos of your locations, insert a pre-fab stand in. Add your actions (dolly, move, etc), time it out, and export the thing to a PDF that you can email to your crew. In short, you never have to draw another storyboard.

At $19.99, it's a little steep in the way of Apps for your iPhone or iPod Touch, but it's not as expensive as, say, numerous GPS apps or that ridiculous thousand dollar thing that got tossed a few years back. It's also rated at 4+, so most everyone who has bought the thing is pretty impressed and digs the $#!^ out of it.

I haven't tried it out yet, but I'm in the process of getting a film together and I can't draw worth two glinglefliggits. I'll give it a shot and let you know what my experience is. Do you have it? Let us know what you think. Is it worth getting? what other iPhone Apps have you found to help your filmmaking?

Official Hitchcock Website

'Gamer' One Sentence Review Challenge - Top 5!

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:38:08 EDT

Grace Randolph here, enjoying Labor Day weekend in Pennsylvania! I hope everyone else is enjoyng their weekend as well! While there's no Movie Math this week, I'm happy to present the winners of this week's One Sentence Review Challenge for GAMER!

#5 - jomman17

"It's just slightly above average compared to most other movies out there - it could have been executed a whole lot better, and relies too heavily on sex�»� and violence to propel events within the plot - don't see this movie."

#4 - sasdragon

"An interesting premise and above average acting can't quite save the film�»� from reducing itself to a gratuitous blood fest."

#3 - endsitall

"Gamer plays like a big budget�»� scifi tv pilot: what it lacked in story it made up for in sic action sequences."

#2 - bramb600

"The plot is absurd and is not to be taken too seriously, however Neveldine and Taylor are�»� too busy pumping us up with hardcore violence that we forget how bad Gamer really is."

#1 - and winner of a pair of free AMC movie tickets! - danny11212

"Idiotic, disgusting, overdone, poorly shot and completely pointless, Gamer unseats Transformers 2 as the most offensively�»� dumb - and just plain offensive - film of the year."

Thanks to everyone who entered and congrats to the Top 5! Next week's One Sentence Review Challenge will be for WHITEOUT!

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Cartoonish Raygun

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:29:15 EDT

While we've done our fair share of Rayguns, Death Rays, and Laser Cannons in the past, I have gotten some requests from a few Mogulers for a more "cartoony" looking Raygu, and thought i'd build one today for cheap.

First for the primary gun body, I started with an empty 2 Liter bottle of soda.

I cut it with my xacto knife about half of the way down. To smooth out the edges a little (since it's hard to get a real even cut), I used a pair of scissors and just wittled down the edges a little bit.

Trace a line around the bottom of the bottle on some cardboard or foamboard, then cut it out.

Don't get to concerned if it isn't a perfect circle, you can fill in any gaps or anything like that that you get.

Now just fit it inside of the gun "body". After you've done that, poke a hole through the center of it and put a wooden dowel through the center and out through the bottle top. Lock it in place with epoxy.

For the grip, instead of making my own, I am just going to cannibalize this squirt gun I got a the dollar store. I cut it in half with a dremel, and opened it up for combining with the gun "body".

Now it's just a matter of filling in the gaps, and smoothing out the edges with epoxy. (I also took a bit of clay, rolled it into a ball and added it to the end of the beam antenna.) Now just let everything set, and it's ready for the paintjob.

Just took my foam brush, and built up layers of red paint (or whatever color you want), letting it dry inbetween. Be careful about using a hairdryer to try to help speed up the drying, as it can easily warp the very thin plastic of the gun body. Then it's just a matter of painting the "dish" on the front yellow, and there is your cartoonish looking raygun.

Confessions of an Independent Filmmaker

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:03:54 EDT

Recently got this brought to my attention by Moguler Thtoneguy94, and I am hooked. Check out this ongoing chronicle of one filmmaker to try to get his film made after 10 years of hard work and trying to get the script noticed. I think watching this personal coverage on how one filmmaker is struggling to get his filmmade, can both show others how it's done, and how hard it can be.

Grace's Top 5 Netflix One Sentence Reviews for the week of August 31st!

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:27:49 EDT

On Sunday you saw who made the Top 5 for Beyond The Trailer's One Sentence Review (OSR) Challenge for THE FINAL DESTINATION, and now it's time for the Top 5 in Netflix's OSR Challenge!

Yep, every Monday you can enter an OSR for any movie you watched that weekend - be it in theaters or at home - and the winner, picked by me, gets a free Netflix soccer shirt!

If you entered, look for your name down below. If you'd like to enter next week, check down below for how to do so.

NETFLIX ONE SENTENCE REVIEW CHALLENGE TOP 5 - Read 'em and rent 'em!

5 - Angel Gainey Eicher for DEAD SNOW:

"I wish I knew the German term for EFFING AWESOME!"

4 - John McKillop for 17 AGAIN:

"Efron takes a break from High School Musical to play...a kid who plays basketball in high school."

3 - John Hall for THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD:

"Malkovich astounds viewers yet again, even if his character fails to do so."

2 - Traci Geist for SUNSHINE CLEANING

"Now I get a big sunny smile on my face when I clean because the movie was so refreshing!!"

And the winner of the Netflix Soccer Shirt is...

1 - Ed Dechert for REVOLUTIONRY ROAD

"Sometimes the only escape from quiet desperation is blatant desperation."

On how to enter:

Visit Netflix’s Facebook page on Mondays and write your OSR as a comment to the post announcing that week’s contest. 24 hours later I’ll announce the Top 5 right here on the Beyond The Trailer blog.

Over 100 Years of Special Effects

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:22:05 EDT

Saw this video, and just had to share it with the Moguler's here. This is a fantastic video recap of a bunch of milestones and wonderful examples of what Special Effects can do. It's really amazing seeing how far everything has come over the last century, and how far things have really been pushed. Not to mention seeing how the elements come together in the final product is just really amazing.

Reminds me of a quote by John Lasseter that i've always liked and always felt was really true, "Technology inspires art, and art challenges the technology.” It's a process that constantly influences and riffs off each other, and I really can't wait to see where it takes us.

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Bulging Veins

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:51:07 EDT

Got a request kind of recently in regards to how to use make-up to make it look like you have some really intense bulging veins. This seemed simply enough so I thought I would try to make some myself on the cheap from some basic bulging vein effects which would be easy to make and use for your own film.

First, i'm going to start with the liquid latex alternative recipe, by taking a sponge and dabbing up and down the application area with some white glue. If you used actual liquid latex for the application, it'll most likely look better, but for cheapness (and ease of acquiring supplies) I am keeping to this method.

Now lay some toliet paper on top of that, and let dry (hitting with a hairdryer can really speed it up, like always.)

After it finishes drying, peel it off carefully.

Now, using a hot glue gun, draw your vain pattern on the strip.

Then, just dab some more glue under it and sticking it back on, then letting it dry again.

Now it's just a matter of building up the make-up job. Flesh and pink tones for the base layer, then if you want it red or inflamed looking (like if it's a transformation from an injection, or a zombie bite or something along those lines), build up some dark reds and purples. Then for the veins themselves, I built up dark purple and blue. The edges are kind of rough, but this costs almost nothing, and could easily be applied to almost anywhere.

There you go, hope that helps.

Netflix OSR Challenge 8/24/09 - find out who won!

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:16:45 EDT

Hi! Grace Randolph here, host/creator of web show Beyond The Trailer - and now Netflix One Sentence Review Judge!

Every week Netflix asks its Facebook fans to enter an OSR for any movie they watched that weekend, and below are the Top 5! And congrats to number one who gets a free Netflix soccer shirt!

So check out these mini-reviews and, if so inspired, rent them from Netflix. As for current movies, you can check out Beyond The Trailer's episodes to learn more about them.

NETFLIX ONE SENTENCE REVIEW CHALLENGE – TOP 5

5 - Mark Francisco for ORPHAN
"If Damien from 'The Omen' married Esther, she would wear the pants."

4 - Clifton Griffin for CRASH
"Crash is a thought provoking reminder that you and everyone you know are racists."

3 - Tracy Bogert for I LOVE YOU, MAN
"Will never look at male friendships the same again after watching I Love You, Man."

2 - Bram Benderoff for INGLOURIOUS BASTARDS
"Historians beware, Tarantino isn't going by the books - With that acknowledged, he still succeeds in making the most glouriously exhilarating WWII film ever and that's a fact, or should I say 'That's a Bingo!'"

1 - Tina Nielsen Yeagley for RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN
"Husband laughed, kids were scared, I rolled my eyes."

On how to enter:

Visit Netflix’s Facebook page on Mondays and write your OSR as a comment to the post announcing that week’s contest. 24 hours later I’ll announce the Top 5 right here on the Beyond The Trailer blog.

Erik Beck Featured on $99 Music Videos!

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:48:47 EDT

$99 Music Videos interviews Indy Mogul's Erik Beck about how he made a Music Video "We've Got It Going On" by Keelay. Check out the episode and explore some of the other episodes to see how other directors are making amazing music video for less than $99!

Subscribe to $99 Music Videos on YouTube

Interview: Teenage Director Emily Hagins

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:14:07 EDT

This is the trailer for "Pathogen", Written, Directed, and filmed by Emily Hagins. This wouldn't be anything really new for most of us, as we've seen plenty of feature length films where a single person was the primary creative drive behind the film, except... Emily was 12.

The process behind the creation of the film was recently chronicled in the Indie Documentary, "Zombie Girl: The Movie", winning awards at SlamDance, Dallas AFI International Film Fest, and the Comic-Con Film Festival. Being quite inspired after hearing about her story, I got in contact with Emily, and got a chance to talk to her about the production behind the film, zombies, and what it's like being a Director at 12.

Wesley: What first really inspired you to become a filmmaker? When did you first pick up the camera and decide that this was something you truly loved, and wanted to do?

Emily: When we got our first home video camera, it was really for my dad to use. He used to work in advertising, and one day he wanted to show me the process of making a commercial from planning to editing. He didn't do anything for me, just told me what the next step was. I remember this getting frustrating when he asked me to learn imovie, but there was something magical about seeing the final product once it was done- and I understood why he wanted me to go through all the steps myself.

W: How did you learn filmmaking? Obviously you skipped the "film school route" shooting your first feature film long before you could attend a University. Did you start by making short films first, and if so what were they like as a learning experience?

E: After filming the commercial, I was eager to make more short films. Most of them included my dog (title example: Buddy vs. The Barbies). I've been friends with Harry Knowles through this event he ran at the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater in Austin called Kids Club, and he put me in touch with some local indie filmmakers to help with their feature. I learned a lot from working on their production, even though my primary job was behind the scenes and fake blood/vomit maker.

W: Zombies have become a very popular topic for low-budget filmmakers, what about zombies and the horror genre was so appealing to you, and why do you think its a choice that so many others gravitate towards?

E: I was actually terrified of anything remotely scary until I was 11-years-old. That was when I attended my first Butt-Numb-a-Thon, Harry's birthday party (24 hours of movies), where an Australian zombie movie called "Undead" played. This was before "Shaun of the Dead" came out, so it was my first experience seeing a horror movie that was both funny and scary. It was such a fun movie experience, and I wanted to make my own.

I think zombies are a popular plot device because they come with their own set of rules (not to mention audience). What's cool about the rules of zombies is that they're not necessarily limiting- they just show how it's possible for different filmmakers to put their own spin on the sub-genre.

Poster Courtesy of: Emily Hagins and Tiger Darrows

W: What did your Parents think of your decision to not only shoot a zombie film, but a gory feature-length one?

E: My mom had seen Undead, so she and I were pretty much on the same page. My dad was slightly more hesitant, but he just didn't want me to get let down. It was the feature length aspect scared him. He really wanted me to shoot it all in a day in the park.

W: How important do you think it is to have support from your friends and family? It seems that you had a very "ragtag" crew of volunteers helping you, can you tell how you conscripted many of them, and any advice you had for Directing people that are helping you for free?

E: I think it's extremely important to have support from others with a big project. Making a movie is a team effort, and every role in the production is valuable to the whole. If you're able to get a group to work for free- I'd recommend being respectful of their time, and make sure everyone is having fun. It really shows in the final product if there was a bad vibe on set, either from uncomfortable acting performances or poor production quality.

The people that worked on "Pathogen" were friends from school and/or the film scene in Austin.

W: Your film has been getting some additional attention recently with the release of the Documentary about the making of your film, "Zombie Girl: The Movie", how have you been handling the attention that the documentary has been bringing to your film, and what did you think of the final product?

E: Usually attention from the documentary results in orders for Pathogen DVDs. I use DVD sales to help fund my new projects/compensate for the expenses of Pathogen.

W: How did the team behind the documentary get ahold of you, and what was it like having the making of your film being chronicled?

E: They saw my post on AustinActors.net saying, "Looking for teenagers for feature zombie movie made by 12-year-old girl". Despite the insecurities of being a teeanger, I'm happy that the documentary was made. I know that I'm going to remember making my first feature more than that day I had a huge zit on my forehead. I also learn from myself every time I watch the doc, which almost feels like I'm improving my football plays.

Photo Courtesy of: Tiger Darrows

W: Overall, throughout the course of production of your film, what do you think was the hardest thing to accomplish? Was there ever a day during shooting where you were just ready to pull out your hair, or thinking that maybe you'd bitten off more than you could chew with such a big project?

E: What comes to mind first is the day we taped over part of the end of the movie, which had a lot of zombie extras. Not only that, but we taped over the footage on the supposed last day of production. I really wasn't sure what to do at that point, and I started to get a lot of "Well, it was a good try." Being 12-years-old and having only made shorts, it had never occurred to me that sometimes movies weren't finished. Once I realized that's what people were implying, I thought "Why shouldn't I finish it? I've already been working on it for a year." So we did reshoots, and started post a little while later than first expected.

W: A lot of filmmakers talk about how they don't have any opportunities, or they just don't feel like they are good enough. With you shooting and completing a full feature by yourself at an age where many people think that is simply impossible, do you have anything to say towards people that feel like they simply can't do it? Do you have any advice on how to keep preservering even if things end up being far more difficult than they anticipated?

E: I think if you go in knowing that filming won't turn out exactly how you plan, you'll be a little more prepared for it. You'll have to make changes along the way, but find a balance that doesn't compromise your vision. This is how you'll end up with those happy accidents that may very well end up being the most memorable moment for the audience. If you love movies, and making them, you'll have to persevere through the difficult parts. It all works together as part of the experience, and that's the most you can anticipate.

W: You completed the filming of your next film, "The Retelling" last year, can you tell use a little about it, and how the production of it went?

E: Here's my little official summary for The Retelling: 12-year-old Charlie and his family make a summer trip to take care of his blind and ill grandfather. However, when he and his new friend Anne discover there's something suspicious about his grandfather's routine walks, they uncover a murder plot that involves them more than they know- and a murder from the past finally finds it's connection to the present.

We had some problems early on with filming, including losing the main location and an actor within the first three days. A lot of compromises were made along the way from that point on, but in that aspect I feel like I learned even more with this one than "Pathogen".

I feel like one of the coolest things about Retelling though was that I got to work with a crew. Even though it was only 10 people, everyone worked extremely hard and did the best they could. 8 of the ten people were between the ages of 13 and 18, including the lighting, cameraman, and sound departments. They all studied their jobs before filming, and I think that really shows in the final product.

W: Between "Pathogen" and "The Retelling", what are some of the biggest lessons you learned, and what are somethings that you did with "The Retelling" that you wish you'd had known when you shot "Pathogen".

E: -Good sound is key. It is also probably the most unforgiving part for an audience if it's bad because it draws them out of the story.

-Continuity is tough. You really need somebody focusing on it without other jobs.

-The more planning you do in advance, the easier filming will go. This is one of the things I learned with Retelling that I wish I did on Pathogen. Coming up with a budget beforehand helped us do fundraisers and even earn a film grant.

W: With cameras being relatively cheap, and powerful computers being abundant, there are all of these tools at our disposal that previous generations couldn't even have begun to imagine. How do you see things as continuing to change in the future, and where do you think all of this filmmaking technology will be in another generation?

E: I think these tools will become more accessible and professional on a consumer level. Fisher Price even makes a toddler video camera, so I can't imagine new developments in digital technology would be exclusively for professional use. YouTube and voyeurism seem to have become increasingly popular (starting with things like Blair Witch Project), so I would guess that technology would adapt to support that style on a consumer level.

In addition, I don't think that young people can be disregarded for their filmmaking inexperience anymore. With digital developments becoming more prominent, people such as myself have grown up using this stuff. Not only is it accessible to us at an early age, but it's all we know.

W: Overall, what do you think the biggest, most important piece of advice you can offer up to fellow filmmakers in regards to everything you've learned?

E: You'll always need perseverance and teamwork. And the more movies you make, the more you'll learn and improve.

W: Having gotten not one, but two feature-length films under your belt, at an age where most people are just starting Highschool... What comes next for you? Can you tell us anything about any projects you have coming up, and where we can stay out on the lookout for them?

E: I am currently working on a feature comedy script with some friends I've been making movies with for the past few years. I'll be updating my website soon, but my new feature, "The Retelling" has a facebook fan page.

W: Thanks for talking with me, and I encourage everyone to check out Emily's site, order a copy of Pathogen, and try to catch "Zombie Girl: The Movie" if they can to see your inspiring story in-depth! If you can't then at the very least, check out the trailer below.

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Necronomicon

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:51:03 EDT

While we've dove both into the Lovecraftian AND the Raimian before, something that you guys have requested quite a few times is how to make your own cursed Sumerian book of the dead. So I thought I would tackle the build and show you how to make your very own Necronomicon for cheap.

First, start with a pan. We've got to stain the pages to give it an aged look, so whatever book you get, try to find a pan about half the depth of the book. Now, prepare some REALLY strong tea, coke also works well BUT since it's got sugar in it it's sticky, so personally I prefer very strong black tea.

For the book, I chose this spiral bound sketchbook. I picked a sketchbook because the pages are blank, and are a bit heavier. But just dip it in the pan, then flipped it over and let all the tea soak in to the book.

The next step is the waiting game, it can take up to a full 24 hours or more for the book to dry fully, so just open it halfway then flip through it occasionally to help keep the pages from sticking together. Hitting it with a hairdryer can also really help speed it up, so consider it. But once you're done you'll get this really nice marbled yellowed aged look that can really help sell the effect.

After it's dried sufficiently, cover the spine with a strip of black duct tape, keeps it sealed up and makes it look more like an old book.

Now get a section of newspaper approximately the same size as the cover and tear it around the edges and crinkle it up a bit.

Soak the newspaper in some white glue, and crinkle it up to start giving it a rougher "organic" texture like veins.

After it dries a little, I carve slits for the eyes and mouth, you can make yours however you want, but this is just a generic take on the "Necronomicon" face.

I then did the same with another layer of newspaper, building up more depth.

Now, for the "skin layer". Using the bathroom paper and white glue, "liquid latex alternative", you can get a skin looking texture really cheaply.

Now, once that is done drying, now it's time to start painting. Start with a basecoat of just basic peach/flesh toned paint, you can get it by mixing a little red, white, and brown together.

Now, I added some darker sections (mixed a tiny bit of black and red into it, then blended with a very dry brush). Then added black paint the the "eyes" and "mouth" sections to try to add some depth to it and make it look more defined than it really is. (You could of course get it more defined by building up more newspaper and tissue layers to begin with, but that would take significantly longer to dry, so mess around with it to see what you like the most).

I darkened it a little bit more, you might want to go the film route and almost make it black, but really whatever appeals the most to you.

Now to the final questions, how to hide the spine on the inside, and what to draw inside (and with what?). For the spine question, just don't open it all the way, the pages easily flop over in such a way that they can keep the spine hidden, so just be careful with your angling and it shouldn't be a major concern. As for what to write... You can find plenty of collections of the Sumerian Alphabet on-line, as for any illustrations you don't really need any real sketching skill, really if you're having trouble just dig up a copy of Gray's Anatomy (the book not the TV show), and trace stuff out of it and then put that in the book. Lots of drawings in that book that can look quite creepy when drawn in what looks like blood surrounded by Sumerian. As for the "ink", I used 2 parts fake blood (like theatrical, you want the kind that dries crusty and gets darker), a drop of red food coloring, and a drop of brown ink. Mixed together you get a nice dark red that looks like dried blood, the random chicken scratch in the above picture took me about a minute of just random scribbling, and in the proper lighting and not seen dead on would most likely look not so silly. So it doesn't take a lot of time or energy to get the book filled, AND you won't need to fill every page if you're hero is only going to be raising the dead from reading a page, so tops you'll only need to fill maybe 10 pages with chicken scratch and you can use editing tricks and different angles to make it look like its more pages.

So there you go, your own cheap Necronomicon, hope it helps!

Grace picks the Top 5 winners of Netflix's OSR Challenge!

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:04:34 EDT

Hello! Grace Randolph here, host/creator of web show Beyond The Trailer which gives you behind the scenes info and audience reactions to the latest movies! Every week on the show, I ask you for your One Sentence Reviews (OSRs) for the biggest movie of the weekend – but now, thanks to Netflix, you have the chance to enter an OSR for ANY MOVIE you watched over the weekend!

I’m the judge of this weekly contest, and below are the Top 5 OSRs for the first week! And number one is getting a Netflix soccer shirt!

So enjoy these succinct, insightful, and hilarious OSRs – and check out the movies themselves on Netflix! For those of you new to Beyond The Trailer, I hope you’ll stick around and check out the show and our community of avid moviegoers!

NETFLIX ONE SENTENCE REVIEW CHALLENGE – TOP 5

5 - Paul Logasa Bogen II for BECKET:
"Becket is the moving story of friends ill fated to be enemies in the struggle between Church and State in one of its earliest scrimmages.

4 - Robby Garfinkel for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
"The pretense of a great movie, without the existence of one - Fincher draws in the Hollywood coloring book without going outside the lines."

3 - Valerie Kleinheksel for THE FISHER KING
"Never has lying naked in Central Park with a homeless man looked so doggone appealing."

2 - Jeff Wood for JOHN ADAMS: DISC ONE
"I hold these truths to be self evident, that 'John Adams: Disc One' is a spellbinding reintroduction to the birth of the United States and is carried start-to-finish by the power of Paul Giamatti."

And the winner of the Netflix Soccer Shirt is...

1 - Sue Nowak Smith for TAKEN
"Who's you Daddy - well if you're a teenage girl traveling alone, you better hope it's Liam Neeson in 'Taken'."

On how to enter:

Visit Netflix’s Facebook page on Mondays and write your OSR as a comment to the post announcing that week’s contest. 24 hours later I’ll announce the Top 5 right here on the Beyond The Trailer blog!

Tarantino's Top 20 Movies Since 1992

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:58:28 EDT

I thought this was really interesting, Quentin Tarantino recent did this interview, in regards to his Top 20 favorite films since he started as a Director in 1992. I thought it was a really interesting list, with a wide berth of choices, and it's fun to hear him just talk about what movies he likes and why. So Mogulers, what are YOUR TOP 20 Favorite Films since 1992? Do you think Tarantino made some great decisions? Or do you totally disagree with him? Post your list answers below!

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: R/C Cameramount

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:55:09 EDT

A lot of you guys have asked a lot of questions about how to accomplish a variety of difficult camera shots that you find hard to do with the regular dolly (specifically getting dolly shots under tables of beds), and I thought I would share a novel solution to this problem with the Remote Controlled Camerapod. It can get the nice dolly shots you want, under almost anywhere, all for under $25 dollars. Check out how after the jump.

Start by getting a R/C car from your local toystore. This one cost me around $18, and is nice and wide. You can spend more and get a way more powerful car which would easily be able to carry a larger camera (but keep in mind that it'll also be harder to get under most surfaces the bigger you make the rig), but for most palm sized camcorders a $15-20 model should be more than sufficient.

Check around underneath it, most of these toy cars have thin (kinda flimsy really, they want to keep these things light so they go faster) covers, just check around on the bottom and unscrew them, and it should pop right off.

With the case removed it should look something like this. If your top case is mounted differently, or you can't remove it, tell me what the issue is and i'll try to come up with a solution for your model. Otherwise, you can just try to mount the next step on top of the case instead of removing it. But I like removing it because most cars have this wide flat surface to mount things on, AND this takes a few ounces of plastic off thus helping a little with the weight issue (since your camera will most likely be quite heavy.)

I found this table tripod in the same store for like 3 dollars, if you can't find the same model, once again it should be fine, there are all sorts of kind of micro-tripods and it shouldn't be hard to find one VERY similar to this.

Just try to figure out a way to balance it on the flat part that words best for you. I did this since the motor in the back seems to be a bit more substantial , but each cars balance and structure will be a bit different, so just mess with it until it balances easy without any support.

Then I get some plumbers epoxy and molded it around the bottom of each peg, attaching it to the base firmly. Then tested the camera on it, and there you go, it's more or less done.

And there you go, the R/C Camera Dolly, great for tracking shots that have to go under objects that it wouldn't be easy to get yourself under, any kind of floor level shots, or even get creative and maybe make it look like PoV from a Monster's eyes while it's running across the ground. See what you can do with it, i've been messing around with it and can do some really amazing things. I was surprised at how sharp it can turn and with some practice I feel quite confident that I could do a quick floor level 360 pan around an actor, or other complicated curved paths that would be hard to do by other methods. Can't wait to see what some of you guys can accomplish with the idea!

Massify Interview: Defining Cinematography

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:32:05 EDT

Massify Interview: Defining Cinematography from Massify on Vimeo.

Massify recently did this really great interview with DP's Jendra Jarnagin and Sean Porter, about what why (and how) they became cinematographers and a lot of great advice about what goes into being a cinematographer. Check it out Mogulers, lots of great info here.

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Fake Tears & Crying

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:51:51 EDT

This week I am going to cover something that's been requested a bunch, but that's yet to really be covered, which is making fake tears when you don't have actors that can't cry on cue (which are harder to find than you'd imagine.) This is going to focus more on the HOW TO, rather than showing in pictures, (Since I can promise you a dozen pictures of me crying would not only make a terrible blog entry, but wouldn't add much to the instructions on how to replicate the effect). So here you go, a step-by-step on how to make an actor look like they are crying realistically.

Step 1: Getting your actor distraught looking. Coaching an actor to cry or show a great deal of sadness (especially a non-professional one who might be uncomfortable with trying to cry on cue), can be a daunting task for even the most well prepared of indie directors. It's a good idea to talk to the actor beforehand to explain exactly what you're going to need. Ask them to prepare beforehand, give them some time to get in the right "mood" for the scene. Ways to help them get in the right mindset for the moment is to have them thinking about something sad that has occured in their life, or of something that affected them deeply. This is tricky terrain because you could end up with an actor so depressed that it'll be hard to get them back up for a scene that doesn't require them to be crying, so it's a good idea to either try to not have them dwell on it for to long, or simply plan for all of the scenes with them crying or having to be sad on the same day so they can keep flowing with the mood. Acting is a really tricky thing, and can be really taxing for people that take it seriously, so just try to give your actors time since these are some of the hardest scenes for many people to do.

Step 2: Learning to conceal with cuts. Now that you've got your actor looking saddened, just before you need them to actually start shedding tears, make room for you to cut away to something else, such as another character in the same room, or for example if they are looking at a photo or some object that is making them sad, cut to it. That way it leaves room for you to turn off the cameras and apply fake tears to their eyes, so then you can turn the camera back on, and film it rolling down their cheek.

Step 3: Applying the fake tears. Something i've always used is basic Saline, it's cheap, you can get it in big squeezy bottles, and it's really easy to find. Just make sure you aren't getting some with other ingrediants other than salt and water, also be careful some saline can have a pretty high salt concentration and it can dry out your eyes, i've never had any issues BUT that doesn't mean you won't so the SAFEST option is something that is made specifically to be put into your eyes. Any kind of brands of eye drops for clearing up dry or irritated eyes will work, BUT find ones WITHOUT any real medical ingredients in them and check the warning label. You don't want to overuse these because they can irritate your eyes, so use sparringly, but it's the safest option since eye drops are made to actually be put into your eyes. Anyway for the scene, you have your character looks distraught, cut away, put the eye drops in (just enough for them to look like their eyes are welling up), THEN film your character and have them blink their eyes, making the eye drop fall out of their eye and down their cheek.

Step 4: More tears. The next step is to have them go with it, you don't really need to keep seeing the tears role down (although your scene may call for it), but you can easily have them cover up their face, or rub their eyes in an attempt to stop the tears, but before they do this you can have them dampen their hands, so they can wet the area under the eyes further to make it look like they are really crying hard. Then just use the above trick of covering up the application of more tears into their eyes with cuts and you can have a long continual cry without needing an actor that can cry by themselves. To get good looking streaks down the cheeks, mix up a little clear soap and water, then drip it on their cheeks, it will dry and form very clear tear trails down their cheeks and help add to the illusion that they are crying a lot.

The FINAL step is of course finishing the mood with editing, sound, music, and lighting. If you remember Steve's Basics of Noir tutorial, you remember how important these elements are in expressing a mood, and for very sad or dark scenes you can take a lot from the basics of noir. Stark lighting can really help set a mood, making things look bleak or cold, it's harder for something to look depressing or sad if it's got very bright saturated colors, and plenty of high-key even lighting. Going with a darker more "contrasty" lighting scheme can help a lot.

Editing of course assists with the mood, slower editing can make the scene feel slower and maybe a bit sadder. Spastic action movie editing would feel a bit odd if you're trying to make something look depressing. Also, the music (if you have any) can really help set the mood, check by the Mogulville Free Music Project and request some sad music that would be just right for your scene.

Good luck with your scene! If you have any questions ask them below!

New Video Stabilization Research

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:38:26 EDT

I saw this video on some interesting research they they are doing over at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and thought some of you Mogulers would find it interesting. Frankly I love seeing things that can further expand the professional qualities of filmmakers on a budget, and I can't wait to see what else comes out of their research (or when it'll get implemented in software that we can actually use.)

ITV FEST - 4th Annual Independent Television Festival: July 31 – August 6

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:13:03 EDT

The 4th Annual Independent Television Festival (ITV Fest) will be held in Los Angeles July 31-August 6. The ITVFest, is the nation’s leading festival for independently produced, original television pilots and Web series. The week-long festival is a great event for filmmakers and creative content producers to hear from industry insiders and see the innovative work of others.

ITVFest continues to recognize and support web series and creators of digital content and it offers a great chance to hear some of our industry peers speak, such as Warren Chao of My Damn Channel, Jigar Thakarar of CBS Interactive and Dina Kaplan of Blip.tv . You can check out their full schedule of events and purchase tickets here.

Pilot-makers showcased at ITVFest have gone on to get script deals with NBC, Web deals with atomfilms.com, and development deals at Starz! In addition to major production companies and representation from agencies such as UTA and 3 Arts.

The festival features screenings and hosts several great panel discussions for young and aspiring filmmakers. Here's a few of the festival's panels:

Polish Your Pitch - July 31st, 11:30 AM
This hour and a half, intimate coffee talk walks participants through job placement opportunities in Hollywood and polishing your pitch to sell. Sample show pitches will be fixed in the session. Panelists include: Barbara Weintraub, Executive Producer & Donna Michelle Anderson (DMA), Executive Producer

Development: Executives Explain - August 1st, 2:30 PM
The process of development to many people is a mysterious underworld reserved for the privileged. In this panel, development executives and development gurus will simplify the process, outlining and explaining what to expect, how to protect yourself and how to move your project up the ladder. Panelists include:
Scott Freeman (EVP Bunim Murray); Monika Zielinska (Manager, Comedy Central); David Bickel (Executive Producer, Yes, Dear); Andy Weil (Executive, Berman Braun).

Web TV or TV: Success Stories sponsored by Tubemogul - August 3rd, 3:30 PM
It seems all the major studios are using the internet to incubate talent for other projects at the studios. And now we're seeing the transition more and more. Quarterlife, In the Motherhood, were just the start of this incredible opportunity and trend. At this panel we'll hear from people who have made their web TV show into a TV show and hear all about what the good and the bad about the transition may be. Panelists include: Lindsay Goffman (FreMantle, Secret Girlfriend); Dan Levy (My Long Distance Relationship); Ben and Rafi Fine; David Burch (Tubemogul); Dina Kaplan (co-founder, blip.tv)\

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Alongside these panels, pilot-makers will be screening 45 of their projects for TV, Web and Mobile. So, if you’re looking to see fresh, innovative content from upcoming talent and want learn insiders' tips on the industry, make sure to checkout the seven day festival and all their offerings.

ITV Fest Website: http://www.ITVFest.org

Top 5 'Orphan' One Sentence Reviews!

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:27:27 EDT

Grace Randolph reporting here from sunny California where I just wrapped up Comic Con 2009! While there's no Movie Math this week (it'll be back next Sunday), I'm happy to present the winners of this week's One Sentence Review Challenge!

#5 - JohnnyTasteTest

"Orphan - a movie so scary, it will probably inspire Angelina Jolie to cancel any pending adoptions."

#4 - BramB600

"It's a wonderful horror for a bit, however, the twist is far too ridiculous to be taken seriously that you'll be asking yourself "What did I just watch?"

#3 - MovieWizGuy

"This is an above average horror flick with its own dark, twisted humor as well as its share of tense and taboo scenes."

#2 - PaceRocks1

"Has enough kinky Grand Guignol moments and scenes of sheer terror to make a quick killing at the box office - even though it borrows from just about every other Bad Seed flick Hollywood has ever unleashed."

#1 - and winner of a pair of free AMC movie tickets! - MyNameIsWinz

"This movie scared me in a different way than I have ever been scared before."

Thanks to everyone who entered and congrats to the Top 5! Next week's One Sentence Review Challenge will be for Judd Apatow's FUNNY PEOPLE!

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Mouth Foaming

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:05:08 EDT

Something that has been requested recently is a way to produce a lot of foam from a mouth for scenes where people are having seizures, or for transformation scenes (like with zombies). While I have seen a lot of suggestions about what to use, I thought I would test a bunch of common foaming agents to see which would work best for your needs.

Rather that just start shoveling baking soda into my mouth and taking pictures of it (which I know EVERYBODY wants to see happen), I thought I would do this in a bit more controlled (and aesthetically pleasing) manner, and test the foaming amount, color retention (how well it holds food coloring), and foaming duration in some clear plastic cups (so you can clearly see what is going on).

First up, is this name brand effervescent tablet that I crushed up, you'll want to crush it up to increase the amount that is exposed to the liquid, thus increasing the speed at which it foams. If you don't you'll get a slow foam that won't look very dramatic, while crushing it up, then taking a swig of water will look much better and look more "explosive". (Warning, this and many other effervescent tablets, CHECK THE LABEL, contains aspirin, so don't swallow the foam, and avoid its use altogether for aspirin sensitive individuals.)

A few drops of green food coloring, and a splash of water, and it foams up quite well. The bubbles aren't huge, but the foam is nice and thick. How you'd generally do this trick on film is that you'd ask your actor to pop the tablets into their mouth, put a couple of drops of food coloring on each tablet before then (if you want it colored, you obviously don't need it colored if they are just having a normal seizure), have them crush it up in their mouth, then RIGHT before you needed it to burst out have them take a swig of water right before you cut to them and they can open up their mouth as it starts to foam out. It holds up color rather well, and you of course can use a lot more if you want it darker, but I think that this would show up really well in your films.

This is a store-brand effervescent tablet that was cheaper. Each packet only comes with one, but each tablet is also larger.

This brand held up the color REALLY well, but it has less dense foam, although the bubbling is stronger, and the bubbles much larger.

Vinegar and Baking Soda is a combination most of us know really well from our childhoods as the ingredients for the model-volcanoes many of us made in grade school. Well one great thing about this mixture is that baking soda doesn't readily react with the saliva in your mouth, meaning that the reaction is a bit easier to control, but also less pleasant to control, since your actor has to take a swig of vinegar to get the reaction going. While vinegar is not poisonous and the mixture is not dangerous (except in the rare case of an allergy to one of thes components obviously), it is not pleasant to have in your mouth, AND as you can see the reaction is VERY fast. It was so quick that I was actually unable to get my camera ready and capture it before it had already subsided (while in contrast the first effervescent tablet mixture was STILL bubbling). If you look closely you can see that the "flood line" almost reached the top of the cup, so it was a LOT of bubbles, but ONLY for a short time. For more explosive effects I think this could work decently well, but you're not going to get a long foam time from this mixture.

And finally, toothpaste. Toothpaste has a bunch of chemicals in it to facilitate foaming (as the foam is easier to clean your teeth with), and is something that is available to almost everyone for more or less free. BUT it's also one of the harder to get foaming since you literally have to swish it around in your mouth for a while before you can get it looking good.

It was hard to get it foaming, and it wasn't a lot of foam produced, but it's cost can't really be beaten, and most likely will be "enough" for whatever you want to do.

So there you go, hopefully this answers some of the questions some of you guys and gals had and helps you choose what you're going to be using for your mouth foaming scene in your upcoming movies.

Submit Your 10 Second Promos to Indy Mogul

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:57:02 EDT

By now I'm sure you've seen one of the very cool 10 Second Promos we're running on Indy Mogul. You should also know that we're looking for your awesome 10 second clips to pop in the show! This came from the very successful 15 Second Film content presented by Ignite film Festival.

We loved so many of the submissions but they didn't all get a chance to screen at the event. We took our favorites and cut them down to 10 seconds, so was born this current campaign.

What is a 10 Second Promo? Honestly, it can be just about 10 seconds of anything. As long as it count as fun, and cheap ... and filmmaking (obviously) we'd love to air it in the show.

You should be over 18 to submit. Send in your videos to our official submission page. Make sure to title your video "10 Second Indy Mogul Promo." As always, no copyright material or logos in your clip!

Thanks guys! If you have any questions, email me directly. I respond quickly ... 24 hours a day ... just wait and see ...

WestHavenBrook's: The Danger Element is out!

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:40:04 EDT

The first part of WestHavenBrook's "The Danger Element" whose production we have been following for a long time is finally up and available for you guys to watch for free! Check it out!

UPDATED - Summer Giveaway: free movie tickets from Beyond The Trailer!

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:19:01 EDT

The One Sentence Review Challenge continues! A little less than two months to go in our summer ticket giveaway!

Below is a list of the winners so far! This weekend, July 24th: G-Force!

Beyond The Trailer's One Sentence Review Challenge - WINNERS LIST

Star Trek - YouTube's MB20786 with "Star Trek is a sexy, and visually rich redoing of geeky source material, which surprisingly works on all levels."

Angels & Demons - YouTube's Girux2 with "“It was like a two hour scenic tour of vatican city only less exciting – I give it a 5, generously, for very gingerly grazing the surface of an intriguing topic.”

Terminator Salvation - YouTube's DeaconSnacks with "Terminator Salvation may take place in the future depicted after Judgment Day that we all wanted to visit, but lacks any heart to really justify its existence and, like John Connor says, "'f we stay the course...we are all dead!' - the franchise should take note"

Pixar's Up - YouTube's skatfree with "In a movie season where most of the highest grossing films were either spin-offs or sequels, Up stands out as a movie that challenges Hollywood with a new and interesting plot and storyline, leaving you with a satisfied smile on your face.”

Land of the Lost - YouTube's Checker222 with "Land of the Lost is the kind of movie that proves Hollywood has run out of ideas."

The Taking of Pelham 123 - YouTube's BramB600 with "Travolta and Washington give convincing enough performances, however even they can't save this from becoming that typical summer actioner that the exceptional 1974 original was never meant to be.”

Year One - YouTube's ComedicEmpire with "Take the plot from the movie 10,000 BC and add a bunch of dirty jokes and you get Year One."

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen - YouTube's UnlikelyDéjàvu with “I had no idea that if you packed enough special effects in a movie it could actually compensate for a lack of story line, but I was wrong...”

Public Enemies - YouTube's bluefishswims with “For a film based on someone’s life, the film itself has very little life, little depth, and little�»� character, proving once again that it takes more than just star power to make a good film.”

Bruno - YouTube's goodjoojoo with "Bruno was the dirtiest movie I have ever seen that went further than I could have imagined; for that I loved it."

Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince - YouTube's iDisneyLuver with "The sixth installment in the epic Harry Potter series is an intricate film wrapped around raging teenage hormones, spell-binding special effects, incredible cinematography and top-notch action sequences while still remaining much closer to the source material than its predecessors and is sure to please the biggest fan or, ironically, hater."

Neko Neko Films is back!

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:15:08 EDT

Rockbottom Productions: "Drama Movie" from Neko Neko Films on Vimeo.

That's right Neko Neko films just released a NEW episode of Rockbottom Productions. For those of you who haven't heard of Neko Neko they are an awesome young film group who I met in Texas at SXSW. In recent months they have started producing the "Rockbottom Production" series. Each episode centers around the Neko Neko gang in their hilarious, hopeless, and fictional attempts at making a movie in a specific film genre. As they fail miserably at making the fictional movie that exists within each episode, the genre is actually cleverly woven into their behind the scenes antics. Previous episodes include "Action Movie" and "Horror Movie". and new to the list is "Drama Movie" featured above.

Every episode is entertaining and these guy are a perfect example of what Indy Mogul is all about. WATCH and COMMENT on their newest installment and go on over to there site if you want to learn more!

Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Magic Wand

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:24:11 EDT

In keeping with the spirit of this week, I thought I would go ahead and do a simple effect that i've gotten a TON of requests for. How to make your own Magic Wand prop.

Start with a wooden dowel and something to use for the handle. I got this foam cylinder at my local craft store, and I like it because I can shape it and make holes in it without any tools more complicated than a screwdriver, so just for simplicity I like it, but if you wanted you could use a larger wooden cylinder as well.

After cutting off a piece of the foam cylinder, I hit each side against my table a few times to flatten out both ends, then got a screwdriver and just poked a hole in the end.

I then put some hot glue into the hole, and pushed the dowel in.

I then carved the handle down with a knife, but it's still not small enough.

So using my fingers and hitting it with a hammer to mold it, I smoothed it out a little, and brought its size down a little more. Now, if you want some detailing on it, you can carve into it's surface with whatever design you want. If you're in a well ventilated area (I don't know if the foam you get will give off fumes or something, be careful!) You can carve indentions into it with the hot tip.

Now for the paint job, I layed down a reddish-brown to try to make it look a bit more like wood.

Then I went in and did some gold detailing on the handle, and there you go, let it dry, and you've got your own cheap, easy, and simple wand.

Erik Beck and Indy Mogul on TV (Again!)

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:37:27 EDT

Erik Beck of Indy Mogul is fetaured in another episode of the Science Channel's new show "Science of the Movies." The latest episode featuring Erik is titled "The Magic of Henson" and it will be airing this Thursday, July 9th at 10pm on the Science Channel. Erik also appeared on the show last month for their episode on Horror Movies.

Be sure to show your support and check out the episode when it airs.

Here's the Promo for the series:

About the Show:

Science Channel invites you on a geektastic journey to the cinematic intersection of art and science in the all-new "Science of the Movies",
Thursdays at 10PM (ET/PT).

Appealing to the movie junkie in us all, the new series explores the remarkable - yet rarely celebrated - scientific world that exists behind the screen, spotlighting the visionary artists, entrepreneurial spirit, innovative technology and remarkable techniques responsible for creating unforgettable, edge-of-your-seat moments in blockbuster films. "Science of the Movies" breaks down famous movie scenes to show viewers the inside science on how each sequence was strung together. In each episode host and self-proclaimed movie geek Nar Williams gets the inside scoop on the tricks of the Hollywood trade.Williams gets some much appreciated hands-on experience, acting as the guinea pig to show the technological creative behind the scenes. Highlighting the equipment used in creating the latest visual effects and computer graphics, coupled with interviews with the award-winning artists, stunt men and technicians responsible for using or sometimes even inventing the equipment, "Science of the Movies" celebrates the world of movie magic like never before.From motion capture film techniques and the science of perspective in chase scenes to state-of-the-art cameras and creating 3-D worlds, Science of the Movies features rare behind-the-scenes footage to help bring viewers to the cutting-edge of film-making technology.

Show Erik your support! Watch the show July 9th at 10pm and leave a comment below.