A handy video tutorial here for anyone needing a quick, heavy volume smoke effect. You could use the can as a pretend smoke bomb and actually throw it onto the set, or just use the smoke it produces as part of an effect in your movie.

I do most of my editing the lazy way – in the camera, and I’m always trying to think of smart ways to dissolve or fade from one scene to the next. Here’s one I’m proud of. Use acetate (heavy clear or frosted plastic), which you can get from your local art supplies store. I usually buy it in pieces 25 inches x 50 inches, although it also comes in rolls of 12 feet and 50 feet. I sandpaper the…

I have discovered a realistic way of depicting a miserably cold rain sequence for an animated film. This works best for a small-scale model, and prevents the model and characters from getting soggy. Construct a small tray with small holes drilled in it (cardboard works well) and fill it with silver glitter. When you’re ready to start filming, shake the tray. Shining a white light on the glitter helps to create the impression of rain. Strategically placed burning cigarettes make…

Here is a simple way to synchronise your film action to your sound track, over and over again. (It’s especially useful when you want to begin with the sound.) Take a 50-foot cartridge of film – either sound or silent – a mechanical frame counter and your camera. Beginning with your counter at “0001″, film one number per frame, to the end of the cartridge.
After processing, record the sound track you want to synchronise onto the film’s stripe. (If…

A tape recorder can help to reduce film handling, organise editing and time your film. When you screen your just-processed footage, record a running commentary on which segments may be included and which may be discarded. A careful job here will cut down the number of times you view the film on your editor, thus eliminating some handling of the film. When the film is rough cut, screen it again, this time recording your comments on sequences that are too…