It all started with a short assignment given in school, where my team and me  decided that we would stay away from the conceptual and abstract creations, and would go to something more real.  Voodoo AND hoodoo involved. A Teddy Bear playing Beethoven. Everything in pink. “Keep it Gay” was our motto, and the result was: ” Love Spell, A Story of Revenge”.

The only problem is that we had no idea on how to use all the special effects that were needed to make this opera-prima shine as we wanted, and the result was a soap-opera with some  Ed Wood techniques: small fans used to create wind,  whispering next to the camera trying to make a spooky background, and some strange looking contortions that were meant to be the death scene.

But for every problem there is a solution, and you don’t need a big studio to create your movie the way you want it to be.  There are simple ways to make your own green screen, to make things appear and disappear, and to move the camera without running in circles around the actors.

So, learn everything about filmmaking, and start planning your next production!

This guy is the host of the greatest webcast dedicated to filmmaking, now on 5min.com. Erik shows you how to create special effects the fun and cheap way, and then subjects his siblings, roommates, and puppets to his creations. In his legendary BFX segments, Erik shows how to create inexpensive special effects, costumes and makeup. Subjects covered by Backyard FX are chosen by popular demand via viewer requests, and produced for under $50, guided by the mysterious “Wheel of Prosperity”, a unique Jeopardy-inspired budgeting tool. In addition to the thrifty prop-making brought to you weekly on Backyard FX, Indy Mogul also serves up additional themed web segments focused on topics such as the filmmaking process, writing and improving scripts, casting, location-hunting and much more.

That’s right, you get three videocasts in one!

BFX, Otherwise known as Backyard FX is a show that will enlighten you with tips and tricks in creating homemade FX for your own film, videos like creating realistic wounds and stitches and making your own realistic death ray..

4 Minute Film School, is a cast that will provide you with the best film making tips like: dolly operation, and discusses concepts like film noir.

Q & Erik, which talks about everything under the sun that has to do with film making like Fake Blood, Cheap Cameras and Tripods .

Indy Mogul brings you filmmaking at its cheapest and most fun, always in an approachable and upbeat presentation. The blog is updated weekly so give them a chance to stun your RSS reader and check out their 5min studio here!