[Nate Vander plas]

That doesn’t look like stock footage. It looks like it was created in the 3D application they were using. I doubt you would find stock footage of that kind of splash.

[Nate Vander plas]

If you just want old-looking paper, here’s a tutorial:
Old Paper

[Nate Vander plas]

To get you started, alt-click the stopwatch of the property you want to add an expression to. Then a box will appear in the timeline. Paste your expression there.
Also, the pickwhip is a very handy tool for linking one property to another.

[Nate Vander plas]

Sometimes, if you just can’t do it realistically, the best option is to use the audience’s imagination. Show the victim fall to the ground off screen and then the killer stabbing wildly at the ground, with blood flying up. Then, if necessary, show the victim with stab wounds.

[Nate Vander plas]

The arrow would probably be easier than the pitchfork. Just shoot perpendicular to the arrow’s direction, then animate a still of an arrow flying in. You could put a motion tracking point on the actor’s head where the arrow will enter (and exit), then use those points to keep the arrow on the head while he/she falls or whatever.
For the pitchfork, you’re probably better off just using a dummy or something. AE can only do so much.

[Nate Vander plas]

I assume you’re trying to create volumeteric lighting (where you can see the beam)? If so, do a google search and one of the first things to come up is a tutorial with a script to help you do this. I believe he used noise for the dust particles.

[Nate Vander plas]

If you don’t have Trapcode, the particle systems that come with AE 7 can be useful too. In one of them (I can’t remember which right now) you can choose an image as a particle and then just play with the gravity/velocity/etc. parameters. To make it look 3D you can create a couple different layers of particles and place them forward and backward in z-space.

[Nate Vander plas]

I don’t feel like the vines really fit with your technology theme. Also, it would be nice to see some color- black on gray is a bit dull. The radio waves could be a little closer together as well.
Hope I could help.
Nate

[Nate Vander plas]

The write-on effect works well. Try Aharon’s tutorial on animating a signature
If you are thinking about growing vines, there’s a lot of stuff about that, just do a search.

[Nate Vander plas]

Alright, Mark. You started it, now start talking to the big dogs and let’s get this thing going!