Hi I'm about to start work on a new film that's going to be pretty extensive with a lot of special efects that I want to have in it. The film follows a group of college students being stalked by a large death-like creature that chases after them and hides in the shadows. I did a test chase scene to see what I could accomplish by filming my self in the costume and then cutting me out frame by frame and inserting me onto the same background only twices as big as a normal character.

I had a few problems invoving automatic motion blur that I posted on here a few times trying to get help, and I made strides, however It still didn't look right and I ended up just taking still images from the preview window and stringing them to gether to match the movie and audio then rendered (I know, it's tedious and probobly unnesesary), however I still haven't been able to get the creature to look right, and I also know there will be a lot of special effects (windows breaking, bullet body hits, wall busts, explosions, and more that I'm just not sure I can do practicaly.

Now to get (finally) to my question/request... Are their any websites or free/cheap programs that offer tools for creating effects like these (they don't have to look perfect) in vegas or on my practicaly nonexistant budget? and any suggestions on how to either make the process of doing these psudo-greenscreen/cut out shots eaisier, make them look better, or other alternitives that I can accomplish that you think will turn out better? Finally, any website with advice on tricks I can use to make my movie look cool even though it's probobly not, or even have any advice or tricks of the trade to help me on my quest to make this movie?

If you've gotten here and read all the way through I thank and applaud you, even if you don't intend on giving me some feedback or advice. If you do intend on posting, I give you double thanks blessed with good luck and candy.