Today I created a new youtube account, “mlsstudios”, fitting isn’t it? I joined youtube back in mid 2006 for the first time and uploaded a portion of my videos, but used a non-descriptin user name. Shame on me. Time to make it right. Keep watching… err youtubing!

Hello everyone, today I put up my new Effects Book site, dealing with visual/special effects ideas and tutorials. My goal is to help people create appealing special FX visuals by using inexpensive materials and tools. More to come on this domain later, as it’s pretty new to the web.

I guess I’d be an ass if I said death scenes were funny… but these movie killing scenes are just down right hilarious, go Arnold! Oh and when you jump ship make sure to not jump directly into the mouth of an oncoming Megalodon shark, it could be hazardous to your health

Title says it all.

I placed a new video in my movies section today, a funny outtake clip from one of my larger track movies, “Fire it up” created during the spring of 2004 during my last year in undergrad. Kris Houghton is especially funny here.. “who wrote that book anyway?!”

A little over a year ago I created a web page that shows how to send a text message to your cell phone via email, since then I’ve unintentionally buried the page and have had a few requests to bring it back - so here it is! Essentially, every cell phone has an email address and my tutorial just shows you how to use your current email client to send a message to your cell’s email. Enjoy

Check out the new teaser trailer for 10,000 B.C., it’s looking pretty good but won’t be ready until march of 2008. You can also read the trailer review on cinematical.

Ever want to clone yourself on video? Make it look like you had a few extra brothers or sisters hanging around? But how would you make it look real, make your video actually look like you were really able to multiply your body, just like in the Star Wars or Matrix movies? There is a secret that many people do not understand when it comes to cloning objects or people. It is something I learned from trial and error experience and can sum up to you in just one word… “tripod“. Yes, get yourself a tripod for your video camera. Keeping your camera steady in between clone takes is a must and is the key to creating effective and believable clones videos. If you’re interested in learning more about the specifics of video effects cloning, visit my tutorial on creating clone effects.

I did a clone video a few years back on the track field at Cal State San Marcos. Watch the finished movie below:

This movie is by far the largest attempt on my behalf to clone something (myself). I started in December of 2004 and finished in March of 2005, filmed this over a period of 5 or 6 different days. I may have spent a bit too much time on it but I think it turned out pretty good. In the end, I had no filming help from anyone except for my tripod - it was my camera man.

I bought my tripod at Frys Electronics for about $40 dollars. You can purchase cheap yet effective tripods at just about any major electronics store that also sells camcorders, i.e. Frys, Circuit City, Comps USA, etc. So just remember, if you need to clone something and all else fails, use a tripod.

Behold, the power of Photoshop! Check out this funny video of Large Woman growing thinner into a much more attractive looking girl - all from photoshop.

One of the many reasons why I love Adobe’s prized program.

Disclaimer: weight loss results may vary with expertise in photoshop so get practicing!

For those of you who know me, I love to play guitar. It’s been about 10 years since I picked up my very first electric guitar and started to jam out. And I thought I was good: the Norwegian kid in the following video is only 12 years old yet he plays like a god. He can play Stevie Ray Vaughn’s music flawlessly on the guitar. If you don’t know Stevie Ray Vaughn (SRV), he happens to be one of the most influential electric blues guitarists of the 20th century - also died young in a helicopter crash around 17 years ago.