Tutorials

Documentary Storytelling: Story Basics

No matter what part you have in a documentary, good storytelling is key as it connects everything together. We will show you how Story Basics work together in o …

• Green Screen Tutorial: How to Light A Green Screen

  Tutorial on how to light a green screen with easy to follow step-by-step instructions so you can get the perfect key.
• Best Practices for Using a Tripod to Stabilize your Shots.

  How to set-up a tripod to capture professional level video. Learn the step-by-step process for setting up and stabilizing your tripod.
• Wedding Videography: Post Production

  Now that you've shot some great wedding footage, it's time to put it all together. Learn how most videographers compile wedding packages, do multi-cam editing, …
• Wedding Videography: Reception

  The ceremony is done, but the big day isn't over yet. The reception is an important part of the wedding day. We show you how to light the dance floor, use the b …
• Wedding Videography: Ceremony

  The central moment of the wedding is the ceremony and you don't want to miss a minute of it. This video shows you camera placement, how to do a multi-camera set …
• Wedding Videography: Audio

  You may think that shooting weddings is all about the ceremony, but there is a lot more involved than meets the eye. We will show you how to plan for capturing …
• Wedding Videography: Legalities

  You may think that shooting weddings is all about the ceremony, but there is a lot more involved than meets the eye. We will go over the legalities associated w …
• Wedding Videography: Pre Ceremony

  You may thinking that shooting weddings is all about the ceremony, but there is a lot more involved than meets the eye. We will go over meeting with the wedding …
• How to Start a Wedding Video Business

  Key things videographers should consider in order to succeed in the wedding video business.
• The Science Fiction Genre

  We show you how to create your very own Science Fiction videos. By looking at the history, match lighting, post production green screen work, framing and set ex …
• The Western Genre

  We take a look at the Western Genre. Learn the steps to creating your very own western video as we examine how to shoot it, edit it and stylize it.
• The Drama Genre

  Want to create your very own Drama? We show you how, as we examine how to create a visual design, draw out time and edit for emotion.
• The Action Genre

  We take a look at the Action Genre. Learn the steps to creating your very own action video as we examine how to shoot it, edit it and stylize it.
• The Documentary Genre

  We show you how to make professional looking documentaries. Find out how to shoot, edit and stylize stories that center around real life and real emotion.
• The Horror Genre

  We show you the ins and outs of the Horror film genre. Everything from the history, to how to shoot it, to the unique dark silhouette lighting style. We teach y …
• Stop Motion Light Painting

  How to create stop motion animation, using stills with light painting. Learn the step by step process to mastering this special effect.
• Simple Special FX

  We show you how to pull off three simple special effects using just the camera and the subject's reaction to sell the illusion. Learn how to make realistic look …
• Basic Movie SFX

  We show you how to pull off two basic special effects using cross dissolves, overlays, cropping and layers. Both the Star Trek effect and the Multiplicity effec …
• Light Saber FX

  We show you the step-by-step process of how to pull off the Light Saber special effect. Everything from building the Light Saber to Rotoscoping.
• Creating Design Elements: Ink Spreads and Ink Drops

  How to use everyday household items to create ink drop and ink spread visual design elements for titles and graphics.
• How to Make Fake Blood

  We show you the step-by-step process for creating realistic looking blood with the use of corn syrup, red and blue dye, cocoa powder and corn starch.
• Outdoor Green Screen

  How to use a green screen outdoors for chromakey. Learn about the lighting, obstacles and proper usage of the elements outdoors to add to the effect.
• How to Build a Green Screen

  In this DIY tutorial, we show you how to make your own green screen with frame. Learn how to build the frame, attach the cloth and prep the materials for your o …
• Website Spokesperson Effect

  The steps that you need to follow to be able to create a website video spokesperson walk-on effect.
• Advanced Green Screen Tricks

  Learn how to use a green screen to show your subject launch off the ground and fly through the air.
• How to Light a Green Screen

  In this tutorial we show you how to light a green screen, look for common errors and fix them along the way. This will make it easier to pull a key when editing …
• Green Screen Video Tutorial

  In this green screen video tutorial, we show you how to set-up a green screen for chromakey and how to best sell the green screen effect to your viewers.
• Mastering Your Camera Controls

  Don't leave important decisions up to your camera! In this video you will learn how to use the camera controls to adjust the white balance, focus, audio and iri …
• Lighting for Video

  How to use indoor lights, natural light, and camera controls to create the best lighting for video production.
• Audio for Video

  How to capture Audio when shooting video. How to select the best microphone and location for the best audio and solve common problems videographers encounter wh …
• Hand Held Video Camera Shooting Tips

  This video shows you how to create better, more professional looking video by taking a closer look at hand held video camera shooting. Learn how to get effecti …
• The 5 Deadly Sins of Amateur Video

  A look at how to create better, more professional looking video by eliminating the 5 most common amateur mistakes.
• 3 Point Lighting Tutorial

  Step by step tutorial on how to use the 3-point lighting technique to light your videos like the pros.
• Outdoor and Day for Night Lighting

  Solutions to outdoor lighting for video problems encountered on a sunny day. Also the secret to shooting in the middle of the day and making it appear to be th …
• Lighting Setups

  A step by step tutorial on how to apply four styles of lighting. Learn how to use Rembrandt beauty, cameo and filling in from the key to add to your videos look …
• Lighting Tricks and Solutions

  How to prevent indoor lighting problems and utilize various specialty lighting setups for your videos.
• Interview Lighting

  Tutorial on how to light and set up a multi-cam interview with easy to follow step-by-step instruction
• Three Point Lighting

  The foundation for all professional studio lighting for video. This tutorial provides step by step instructions on how to light your subject like the pro's with …
• Rotoscoping Tutorial - fix goofs, change virtual sets, or make your hero fly

  How to fix on-set goofs, change virtual sets, or make your action heroes fly through the air amidst gunfire, snowflakes, or magic dust. Rotoscoping is one o …
• Night Light Tutorial - How to turn the light of day into the dark of night

  The technique of shooting outdoor night scenes in broad daylight has been around since the early days of film. It is commonly called Day for Night (DFN), and y …
• Getting That Film Look Tutorial

  How often do we still hear the term, filming, when everyone really means videotaping? While we easily forgive friends or even clients as they repeat this misnom …
• Audio Compression Tutorial

  When you listen to any professional broadcast, you hear audio that sounds clear and natural and has, mostly, the same loudness. This type of audio has narration …
• DVD Motion Menus Tutorial

  The goal of this tutorial is to demonstrate some basic tools in developing a DVD motion menu from scratch. In our example, the motion menu will play back for 30 …
• Burning Down The House Tutorial

  I like to use Visual FX to enhance the story I am trying to tell. If they have a purpose, make the shot look better and help tell a story, why not use them, rig …
• Natural Transitions Tutorial

  In the annals of cinema history, Thomas Edison is considered the father of the first motion picture cameras and his assistant Edwin S. Porter made the first nar …
• 2.5d Animation Tutorial

  The Polar Classic, by Mark Wickman, was the 1st Place winner in Videomaker's 2005 Short Video contest, in which Mark made an animated video, using still photos. …
• Making Realistic Muzzle Flashes Tutorial

  Stop, or I'll Shoot! Have you ever wanted to have a gun in your film? What about a cool action scene with guns blazing, people running, dishes exploding and you …
• The ABCs of Chromakeys Tutorial

  Without a doubt, you see chromakeys used countless times - probably every time you watch the news on TV - and perhaps you aren't even aware of it. Chromakeying …
• The Sword and the Light Tutorial

  With the immense popularity of the Star Wars franchise, the light sword seems to have become the most recognizable special effect in cinema history. Immense isn …
• Do It Yourself Jib Tutorial

  Tom Benford's jib is a quick and easy-to-build device that anyone who knows how to turn a wrench and place a drill can build. Tom's JVC DF550U camcorder is smal …
• Do It Yourself Crane Tutorial

  Cranes are usually bigger than jibs, and they can carry not just the camera, but often the crewmembers operating it. Brian Peterson's crane was designed to be r …
• Perfecting the Pan and Scan Effect Tutorial

  Known as "The Ken Burns Effect", the Pan and Scan technique has become the norm when combining still photos with your moving images. This tutorial takes you th …
• Using Loops to Create Original Music Tutorial

  Whether you want to build themes and variations for large-scale productions or as signature music for your promotional videos, make catchy music beds for 30-se …