If the storyline for your homemade movie contains scenes of blood and gore, mimic the look and consistency of real blood for the camera. As kids, our first idea for homemade blood might be hot sauce or ketchup, because of their red color. However, unless your movie is a parody, these items don't translate realistically to the screen. Instead, concoct your fake blood from corn syrup and food coloring mixed with water to give it the right level of thickness.
While you film the movie, you can utilize different features on your camcorder to create special effects right there on the spot. For example, adjust the settings on the camera to shoot particular scenes in either fast or slow motion. Using the camera, you can also use different transitions. Transitions are when one scene changes to the next scene. One way to do this, among others, is to fade the amount of light and fade into the next scene instead of simply cutting to it.
When you create special effects using your camera, these are permanent parts of the movie that you cannot alter afterward. Instead of using the camera, you can use special effects software instead. Install the software onto a computer, import the movie into the program, select the scene to which you want to add the special effects. Add and adjust the special effects on a scene-by-scene basis. Don't overload a scene with effects because it will pollute it.
Along with fake blood and whatever other homemade effects you create, including sores and lumps, use creative camera angles to more realistically and fully make the special effect. Big budget movies use professionally trained stunt persons to pull off dangerous situations. In a no-budget or low-budget homemade movie, use multiple cameras, with one filming the action from one angle and another filming from another angle. Before actions such as an actor getting stabbed or smacked by a moving vehicle actually occur, cut. Just edit the action afterward to create the effects of the before and after of the action.