Like FDR before him, Erik discusses bald people, shooting in new locations, android masks, clapboards, Dysfunctional films, our upcoming Halloween specials, and what equipment he uses to shoot BFX.

Video Transcription

[Music playing] Hello friends, and welcome to Indy Mogul’s newest show where I answer all your burning questions and smoke my bubble pipe. Now before we get to our first question, we have got some important news to discuss. BFX has moved from Oakland, California to Brooklyn, New York. We do not have a backyard anymore but we have a rooftop and an awesome city yard disposal. Just because we moved to the big city, it does not mean you are going to need big bucks. And now that we are here we want to connect with film makers and viewers in our area. If you live around New York, contact us at nyc@indymogul.com. Now, on to the questions, Kamikaze and Moodnitreck and many others have asked us what equipment we use on BFX. I use a Cannon GL two, this is actually it. It is filthy from many zombie shoot. For audio, I use this, the Audio Technica ATR55, it is the best $40.00 I ever spent, E-bay baby. Now I edit on an I-Mac using Final Cut Pro and a 250 gigabyte external hard drive. Bubble Whackers want to know about clap boards. Whether or not I use them and how to make one, I personally do not use one. I do not think it is really necessary for kind a short form video projects. But if you really needed one and you do not want to spend any money you could really just have a friend clap right in front of the camera and hold up a little whiteboard with your scene list and everything on there. You do not need a fancy clapboard, you can use a piece a paper and two hands. Rob from dysfunctional films wants us to him help out with his film group’s tag line. Now he wants me to say “I am so dysfunctional.” So I am going to try this out of couple of different ways Rob and just go ahead and use which everyone you want. I am so dysfunctional. I am so dysfunctional. Corry Kaye wants to know how to make an actor bald without actually shaving their head and for that you are going to need a bald cap. You can get this at any costume shop. Now to use this thing, you are going to gel your actors hair all up in a wad in the back of the head. Then using spirit gum, you are going go along the edge of the actors head. Attach this bad boy, then go over the edges with liquid latex and then use make up to help cover up the scenes. Captain Decay has an android done in his next movie. And he needs an oval shaped mask with a mirror finish. I would get just one of those cookie cutter plastic masks with an elastic band, and you could just spray paint it. Couple coats of silver paint, couple coats of clear lacquer and you should be fine. Robbie you have asked us about sets. Like most of us, he is been kind of trapped in the filming in the living room. Filming in the back yard and he wants to know about filming in outside locations. Now this is a big step for any kind of independent Do It Yourself film maker but you really just need to take the plunge and get out of the house. Try filming in a parks or other public places. If you are creative you can really make outside places look like really any place. Also, ask around your parents, maybe some friends of yours might own a business and usually they are pretty cool about letting you shoot their after hours if it is a mom and pop place. You would be surprised how excited most people are to help you out with your video projects. As you all know, Halloween is coming up and Backyard Effects is doing a special all month long. Every episode is going to be Halloween Type themed projects. We have got Werewolf, Zombie flesh tare and other great stuff. But we want to know what you want to see. Email us at halloween@indymogul.com and send us your special Halloween FX request. Coming soon we have the Indy Mogul forums. Now, you are going to want to check this out. This is where all the cool new stuff is going to happen and where you, the viewer can really interact with Indy Mogul. Thank you all for watching our first episode of Fire Side Chat. We had a lot of fun answering your questions and just getting down and talking. Remember to send in new questions and we will answer them every Thursday. Bye! [Music Playing]