Special F/X: (Don't) Burn, Baby, Burn

Ok, so your next video calls for a heroic factory worker to rescue a frightened little boy who is trapped in a burning building. You have the factory worker, the boy, the building and a pack of matches, but somehow you just can't bring yourself to torch the family dwelling. Besides, you'd only get one shot at it. You couldn't really be sure that your friend Sam would hit his mark, and the kid's mother (your wife) is more than a little concerned about scorching little Tommy. So what are your options? Rewrite the script so the hero rescues the boy from a house with a musty odor. Or, pocket your matches and simulate the inferno using this creative effect.

Gather the Kindling
You'll need to gather a few materials to pull off the effect. At the very least you'll need two video lights on stands, a two-foot by three-foot piece of fabric, a three-foot wooden dowel and some red and orange colored light gels.

Light My Fire
Begin by cutting the fabric into strips, but not through to the top. Cut instead in a comb-like fashion. Don't worry about making the cuts exactly the same or perfectly straight either. Imperfections like these will only add to the realism of the effect later. Next, attach the solid end of the fabric to the wooden dowel with a few staples or thu…