Creating a Convincingly Creepy Halloween Video

Summon a Mysterious Video Presence for Halloween

Have you awakened to strange noises in the middle of the night? Have you experienced feelings of dread in your basement or attic? Have you or any member of your family seen a spook, specter or ghost? If so, don't waste another minute. Pick up the phone and call the professionals - Ghostbusters!

But if you're trying to create a ghost rather than get rid of one, you need a different sort of professional. And the Videomaker ghost professionals are ready to help.

Let's say you want a book to come out of a bookcase, float across a room, land on a table, and open to a specific page.

Preparation of the prop and precise staging are essential. We're going to surround the book with a green colored card that we'll key out in post. Note that like all key effects, the green should be as evenly lit as possible. Placing a light behind the camera that follows the card will help, but it's not going to be perfect. Be prepared to fix it in post. You're also going to attach several threads of clear fishing line to the cover of the book, as well as some pages you want to turn.

When you're ready to shoot, lock down the camera and have the actors go through the shot as if the book were moving. When possible, provide something off-set for eye-line and timing. When the shot is done, have everyone leave the set, being careful not to move anything, especially the camera. Place the book in its slot on the bookcase. As close to the timing of the last take, pull the book out and carry it across to the table, always keeping an amount of green around all sides of the book from the camera perspective. Lay it down, and then use the strings to pull the cover open and start the pages flipping. For a more fluid page turn, add some air from a fan to help turn the pages.

To learn more spine-tingling tips, visit Ghostly Effect for your Halloween Videos.

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