This article is the stuff dreams are made of, for science aficionados and sci-fi writers alike. One can't help but to let their imagination  run wild when articles like this break. I hope this entices people to stay glued to their SETI feeds, telescopes and cameras. As weird as this world is, It just might be one of the last true hopes we have left. I personally am waiting to see which planet may very well be my home planet (tongue in cheek). I've been saying that I don't belong here for years.

On a serious note, just in the science inspired renderings that follow - It gives a good picture- one that may inspire a whole new group of kids to want to grow up and explore a universe where in my youth naysayers were saying that things like this are not possible - we are out in the vastness of space cold and alone. I hope that we are not. Kudos to Wired magazine for giving my inner child and inner scientist a swift kick in the pants simultaneously. Check out the WIRED article (here).

And here we are. Yes. There are ways to buy pre-fabricated L.E.D. lights on tripods from about $8- $20 dollars. But we are all low to no budget filmmakers here aren't we? That's why we came here -through the convoluted maze we like to call the internet? To find a way to do things a little cheaper with just as much  quality and production value?

I, in the course of filming a short flick that made use of miniature sets, came across a way to decrease the allowed budget for lighting by a - hmm - a slight significant amount. A three point lighting setup uses well... you guessed it .. a minimum of 3 lights. Learning what I have learned from both grandparents that lived through the great depression- be frugal- a penny saved is a penny earned, and on a production budget something that you save on something you can DIY ( do it yourself) is money that you can spend on something where you really, really want or need it.

Buying an L.E.D. off of the internet, for the sake of argument: lets just say you need a three point lighting set-up with 2 extra - let's split the difference and say that they are $14 (3 pt lighting with 2 extra = $70). The way I'm showing you ( 3 pt. lighting with 2 extra - each one = 2$, that's $10). A savings of $60 that you could spend on any number of things in a budget.  We all know that a short film can cost in the thousands (talent included) . A local commercial alone can cost between $900 and $1500 depending on your time an production cost...

TJPARSONS explores practical applications of motion tracking and simulates a Zombie bite.

So why is this under the "No Budget Film Tools" section you might ask? What about the Adobe software? What about the Mocha for After Effects that you will be using? Well I'm assuming that if you are truly serious, you have invested the bare minimum(seen below). Digital effects can sometimes be a godsend. They involve less materials and typically only involve some pictures, animations, time and imagination. Rest assured I love both practical (in camera) effects and digital effects equally. There are times when one may be effective than another; sometimes one adds to another (they can be composited together). Its up to you as a filmmaker to discern what's best for a specific shot in your production. But motion tracking, to an independent filmmaker,  opens up a lot of doors that were unreachable just a few years ago.

MOTION TRACKING: Teaching Demo 1A-009-G

If you just happen to want to try digital effects (those done in computer) instead of practical effects (ones that are made and achieved in camera or the physical world) or a combination (my passion) and you have a sufficient knowledge of animation; I would suggest motion tracking...

No, I didn't make the mask in the picture above. I was just having some fun with the camera. But masks similar to this quality are possible using the techniques discussed below. All it takes is some patience and tender loving care, and you can have some masks or perhaps prosthetics for some special effects in your film that you can really proud of.

I'd like to talk about using masks "not as masks." Using masks not as masks? What does that mean? Lots of masks may not be able to be used in a Film of yours due to the likeness of pre-existing characters that are property of their respective franchises and companies. But some of the "textures” on these masks are just downright beautiful. A mask of Jar-Jar Binks may seem like a mediocre find until you run your hand across the texture of the mask. Then you start to respect what a little ingenuity, imagination and liquid latex can do. You are limited only by the amount of time and detail that you can put into it. You don't have to cut up any mask, but by pressing the pre-existing textures into a clay sculpture you can get some good textures you can "Frankenstein" together to get a truly unique mask or prosthetic appliance- lets get started.

Making a Mask or Prosthesis for not to much money

Ingredients: Lump of air dry clay, Liquid Latex, coloring (food coloring) or cream makeup or skin tone creme makeup, a hairdryer, Elmer's glue, Foam or dummy head if making a full mask...

TJPARSONS pulls out his personal supplies and comments on the effects of a "PC" Halloween on Independent Filmmakers.

Halloween is a fun time for everyone. Festivities include icky ooky scary things including skeletons, blood, body parts, hearts, spleens, brains, werewolves, vampires, ... wait or maybe they used to. I have to say I have been disappointed time after time this year (2011) while making ventures to local establishments to plan out what I like to call my post Halloween madness. That is to say the time in the weeks following Halloween that superstores and local establishments mark down all their fake blood, make-up, and other costume and special effect related paraphernalia.

Maybe this started about a year ago when I explored the local establishments in search of the "deals of the season" only to find that I realized that liquid latex has been missing from the staple of staple of Halloween supplies for quite some time. No big deal I thought, I will just order it online. I realize that Halloween stores that are specifically set up for the season have many things that are needed for an independent production, however, part of being an Independent is working on a limited budget...