How To Make the Fake Blood From The Evil Dead!</em>
Filmmaking, Teaching Resources, Production Kreativ Alchemy Filmmaking, Teaching Resources, Production Kreativ Alchemy

How To Make the Fake Blood From The Evil Dead!

The Evil Dead is one of the best horror films of the 20th century. It is iconic, campy, and filled with blood. The 1981 American supernatural classic was written and directed by Sam Raimi and it stars the most famous B movie actor of all time --Bruce Campbell. If you are interested in making a short horror movie this is a great place to start. Bruce Campbell spills it all and shows us how to make his infamous fake blood that actually shows up well on camera.

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10 Tips for Telling a Story Without Video
Theater, Production Guest Contributor Theater, Production Guest Contributor

10 Tips for Telling a Story Without Video

With radio, however, there’s an entire spectrum of opportunity which eliminates the need for—and expense of—costumes, makeup, props, backdrops, lighting, and special effects. In fact, you could launch an entire podcast series with a few friends in your kitchen or basement and your listeners would be none the wiser.

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Q&amp;A: How To Hone Your Skills As An Interviewer
Theater, Teaching Resources, Streaming Guest Contributor Theater, Teaching Resources, Streaming Guest Contributor

Q&A: How To Hone Your Skills As An Interviewer

Why is it that late night talk-show hosts can make their conversations with guests sound so effortless? How are news commentators able to cut to the chase on controversial topics? If you found yourself in an elevator with a celebrity you admire, what’s the one question you could ask to leave an indelible impression?

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What You Need To Know About a Degree in Theater Arts
Theater Guest Contributor Theater Guest Contributor

What You Need To Know About a Degree in Theater Arts

I’m a firm believer in following one’s passion. If you live, breathe, and sleep theater, and devote your years at university to earning a diploma in all things theatrical, it’s helpful to consider some career options in which this background could open doors … and pay bills.

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Monotone is Monotonous: How to Fix a Lackluster Voice
Theater, Production Guest Contributor Theater, Production Guest Contributor

Monotone is Monotonous: How to Fix a Lackluster Voice

If anyone has ever told you that you speak in a monotone, it’s unlikely they’re referring to how you sound in a conversation. In conversations, we’re required to listen, to think, to reflect, to respond. In contrast, memorized/read speeches and theatrical dialogue can segue into Dullsville Flats if you’re not attaching meaning to what you’re saying. Here are some tips on how to make your voice one that others will want to listen to.

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10 Tips to Keep Your Acting Skills Sharp Between Shows
Production Guest Contributor Production Guest Contributor

10 Tips to Keep Your Acting Skills Sharp Between Shows

As of this writing, I’m empathetic to drama students around the world who are stressing about (1) what theatre will look like in the future and (2) when their next chance will come to tread the boards and hear applause. The worst thing to do right now is to do nothing. Just as practice, practice, practice brings athletes to a state of accomplishment in sports, a continued regimen of discipline and training can keep us at our best for that moment when the curtain once more rises.

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Get Thee to a Support Group
Teaching Resources Guest Contributor Teaching Resources Guest Contributor

Get Thee to a Support Group

It’s certainly something that William Shakespeare could have taken a page from 400 years ago. Instead, he brought us characters who engaged in wicked swordplay, poisoning, spreading scandals, thwarting romance and duplicitously conniving for riches…and that was just within their own families. How very different those lives might have turned out if they could have availed themselves of a professional sounding board; specifically, a trained psychotherapist to help them sort out their feelings prior to acting on them.

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What Chekhov Knew About Sitcoms
Teaching Resources Guest Contributor Teaching Resources Guest Contributor

What Chekhov Knew About Sitcoms

His heyday was long before the advent of prime time comedy but I often paraphrase Anton Chekhov whenever an aspiring screenwriter suddenly throws a contrivance into the third act that had nary a passing reference in the first or second. The objective is always the same: to try to jumpstart a floundering plot with a last-ditch surprise in order to keep it from dribbling off with a whimper.

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Interview Styles
Streaming Guest Contributor Streaming Guest Contributor

Interview Styles

Interviews on TV are quite common, and not just during the news. Interviews are so popular, entire shows are built around the idea of one person asking another questions. There are different types of interviews and different ways of setting them up. The Oprah Winfrey show is different than 60 Minutes which is different than the Nightly News. We're going to look at several different interview styles, what they work best for, and how to prepare for and use them in your own work.

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Canon FS200 Review
Teaching Resources Kreativ Alchemy Teaching Resources Kreativ Alchemy

Canon FS200 Review

I just purchased our first flash memory camcorder, the Canon FS200. I've briefly tried it out this weekend and here are some of my initial reactions. First let me tell you that we have been using Canon ZR series miniDV camcorders for many years. I usually try to keep about 10 of them operational and in stock for checkout and use daily. On average they've lasted only a couple years under pretty heavy use.

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Talent Releases
Legal, Filmmaking Kreativ Alchemy Legal, Filmmaking Kreativ Alchemy

Talent Releases

A talent release is a document which gives permission for the video producers to photograph the talent and/or to use audio of that person’s voice. There are many talent release forms available by conducting a search on the internet for “talent release.”

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Social Butterflies: The Use and Misuse of Social Networks
Guest Contributor Guest Contributor

Social Butterflies: The Use and Misuse of Social Networks

In the 21st century, social butterflies abound in electronic neighborhoods such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, allowing participants to connect with former classmates, distant family members and kindred spirits. This month’s exercises take a look at how social networking is impacting our lives for better or worse. For younger students who haven’t yet mastered the basics of script structure, these lesson ideas lend themselves to extemporaneous storytelling and role-playing skits. Older students are encouraged to draft scenes into correctly formatted screenplays as well as film them for peer review.

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How to Anchor Like a Pro - Part 3
Streaming Guest Contributor Streaming Guest Contributor

How to Anchor Like a Pro - Part 3

Over the last two articles, I have talked about becoming a successful television anchor or reporter. The best in the business don’t become a success overnight. They spend years toiling away in small markets, working long hours, making very little money. Students with stars in their eyes are always surprised to hear this, and seem to genuinely appreciate the “real scoop.”

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How to Anchor Like a Pro - Part 2
Streaming Guest Contributor Streaming Guest Contributor

How to Anchor Like a Pro - Part 2

The best anchors in this country do not waltz onto the set and read their scripts cold; they have spent time writing, re-writing and practicing their scripts. Here are a few tips on how to make sure you read like a pro when you deliver the news.

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How to Anchor Like a Pro - Part 1
Streaming Guest Contributor Streaming Guest Contributor

How to Anchor Like a Pro - Part 1

There are many practical tips you can teach your students that they can implement right now to become better newscasters immediately at their schools. Over a series of articles, I will outline as many as possible, so you can share these tools with your aspiring broadcast journalists.

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