The Screening Room

The Halloween Video Library

A curated, searchable archive of the dark craft — DIY props and animatronics, home-haunt walkthroughs, makeup, lighting, fog, and effects. Every film embedded from its creator, organized so you can actually find what you need.

This Halloween Bust Follows You With Its Eyes! (DIY Monument Prop)

VanOaksProps walks through the construction of a cemetery monument prop featuring a bust with a classic 'following eyes' optical illusion — the face appears to track viewers as they move past it. The build relies primarily on XPS foam, a cardboard tube column, and a bust sourced from a third-party supplier, finished with textured coatings and earth-tone paints to mimic aged stone. Weathering techniques including dry brushing and wash layers give the piece convincing graveyard patina. The result is a striking, customizable centerpiece suited for yard haunts, home haunts, and cemetery scenes.

VanOaksProps· 18,845 views

15:26

DIY PropsBeginner

FrightProps Corpsing Tutorial!

FrightProps walks through their preferred corpsing method, using cheesecloth and latex as the foundation for creating convincing zombified skin on Halloween props. The real differentiator in this technique is the use of FrightProps' own Dura-Grime and Dura-Blood products, which give the finished latex cloth an authentic decayed appearance. At roughly 15 minutes, the tutorial is accessible to beginners looking to upgrade the realism of existing props.

FrightProps· 771 views

How to Build a Jedi Comlink (Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi)

13:54

DIY PropsIntermediate$30–$80 depending on parts sourced

How to Build a Jedi Comlink (Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi)

VanOaksProps walks through a detailed, screen-accurate build of the Jedi Comlink seen in the hands of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi across two Star Wars prequel films. The foundation is a vintage Gillette Sensor Excel razor — the same found object used by the original prop department — enhanced with custom 3D-printed parts, laser-cut acrylic, and hard-to-find specialty hardware like Coughtrie screws and aerospace pins. The tutorial concludes with a full weathering sequence using primer, spray paint, and oil washes to achieve a convincingly worn, screen-matched finish. It's a masterclass in blending digital fabrication with traditional kit-bashing for obsessive prop accuracy.

VanOaksProps· 11,310 views

How to Build Leia’s Comlink from Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back

10:06

DIY PropsIntermediatebudget-friendly (specific total not stated)

How to Build Leia’s Comlink from Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back

VanOaksProps breaks down how to build a screen-accurate replica of Princess Leia's rarely documented comlink from The Empire Strikes Back, using vintage reference images including a 1980 Topps trading card to reverse-engineer the original. The build combines sourced real-world hardware parts, custom 3D-modeled and resin-printed components, and a modified modern tape measure to recreate the prop's key elements. The tutorial wraps up with primer, grey spray paint, and silver mica finishing for an authentic screen-matched look.

VanOaksProps· 6,146 views

Part 18 DIY Graveyard Bust DIY Body Art Easy Acrylic Paint & Dry Brushing Secrets! #sculpture

0:33

DIY PropsBeginner

Part 18 DIY Graveyard Bust DIY Body Art Easy Acrylic Paint & Dry Brushing Secrets! #sculpture

This short installment in StiltbeastStudios' ongoing graveyard bust series focuses on applying body art and acrylic paint to a DIY sculpture. The episode highlights dry brushing as a key technique for achieving realistic, aged stone or weathered surface effects. As part 18 of a larger build series, it offers a focused, bite-sized look at the painting and finishing stage of prop creation.

StiltbeastStudios· 1,598 views