Found Footage Films and You.

[Gunjack65]

Greetings Escapist.
I am in the middle of a Film Studies course at my college and I have to write a 1500 word script for a presentation on a subject of my choosing.
I chose to study Found Footage as a genre and the effect that it has on audiences, an odd choice I know but somtimes the oddities are the best (or somthing along those lines). Ether way, I am stuck with it now and I need to get some primary research done. Don't suppose I could ask you guys a couple of questions? To those of you not in the know, a Found Footage film is made up entirely of suposed (usualy amature) footage that has been discovered in some way or another, examples include Blair Witch Project, Cloverfeild, [REC] and Diary Of The Dead. For the purposes of this project I am focusing on horror but feel free to talk about whatever film you want.

1. Do you like this style of film?
Why?

2. Do you think these films are scary? If so why? If not why not?

3. Do you think the perspective of these films add or subtracts from the overall experience.

4.Could these films work if filmed in a more traditional style?

5.Do these films benifit more from Graphic Violence or by focusing on tension?

6. How do the endings to these films make you feel?

Keep the awnsers as long or as short as you like, it doesnt really matter, I can still hold this up as proof.
Also could you include your Gender, Age and nationality if possible.
Hell if you have never seen a found footage film, respond anyway and tell me what you think of them from a outside perspective.

 

[Ytomyth]

1. Kinda, Cloverfield was nice and Blair With Project wasn't as big a bore as I expected (still, nothing really happens....). But watching Cloverfield in the cinema was a big mistake, having your whole horizon continuously shaking and wobbling is very good for motion sickness. xD
They have their charm, if done properly.

2. No, not really...music adds a LOT to a scary environment and without some tension-building sounds in the background it just doesn't cut it for me.

3. They remove the immersion, every shake and wobble reminds me of the fact that I'm watching it through a camera and makes sure I can't really get into it. It also adds some....thing, not sure what. Authenticity wouldn't be it, but I can't be specific about it, sorry. xP

4. No, Cloverfield would've been just another random Godzilla rip-off and Blair Witch Project would've just been some kids running around in the forest. Which it still is, but....well, thanks to the "found-footage-feature" that 'something' has been added.

5. Tension imo, graphic violence will never be as graphic and in-your-face as in a 'normal' movie. Plus, graphic violence will never do much for me in terms of appreciating a movie.

6. I don't mind open endings (I loved the ending from The Mist (the book, not that half-assed attempt at destroying it through film)), but BWP and Cloverfield just left me with some sort of a "That's it!?" feeling. I don't need every single thing explained, but some closure would've been nice.

Most of my examples are from only 2 films, safe to say those are the only found-footages I've ever watched.

Btw, I'm a male, 23 years old and as Dutch as they come.

Good luck with your presentation.

 

[Ytomyth]

Whoops dp. Bad me.

 

[Blunderboy]

I'm at work so I sadly don't have time to fill out the whole thing yet (I may do later if I'm not distracted) but while I'm not a huge fan of this sub-genre, I really loved Troll Hunter, and thought that it worked really well. I don't think that it would've worked as well had it been presented in a more traditional manner, if only because the shots of the trolls would have lasted longer, and therefore the budget (but still fairly decent) effects would not have looked as good.
But Blair Witch was pretty rubbish. So long as the film has a decent plot and structure, and good actors, this style can be great, especially on a low budget. However, if it's being used in a style over substance scenario, then it's just another cheap gimmick.
I'm a 25 year old Englishman.

 

[Aurgelmir]

Greetings Escapist.
I am in the middle of a Film Studies course at my college and I have to write a 1500 word script for a presentation on a subject of my choosing.
I chose to study Found Footage as a genre and the effect that it has on audiences, an odd choice I know but somtimes the oddities are the best (or somthing along those lines). Ether way, I am stuck with it now and I need to get some primary research done. Don't suppose I could ask you guys a couple of questions? To those of you not in the know, a Found Footage film is made up entirely of suposed (usualy amature) footage that has been discovered in some way or another, examples include Blair Witch Project, Cloverfeild, [REC] and Diary Of The Dead. For the purposes of this project I am focusing on horror but feel free to talk about whatever film you want.

1. Do you like this style of film?
Why?

2. Do you think these films are scary? If so why? If not why not?

3. Do you think the perspective of these films add or subtracts from the overall experience.

4.Could these films work if filmed in a more traditional style?

5.Do these films benifit more from Graphic Violence or by focusing on tension?

6. How do the endings to these films make you feel?

Keep the awnsers as long or as short as you like, it doesnt really matter, I can still hold this up as proof.
Also could you include your Gender, Age and nationality if possible.
Hell if you have never seen a found footage film, respond anyway and tell me what you think of them from a outside perspective.

Well the Norwegian film "Troll Hunter" follows the concept of "founf film" but doesn't fit in with your questions. You seem to think all found film movies are a genre of scary movies, which I must disagree with.

To me Found Film is a narrative choice, which you could potentially apply to any genre of film.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

1. Do you like this style of film? In small quantities.
Why? Being a film major I have a lack of respect for a film/movie whose quality is that of a youtube video. However, it can give heightened if used occasionally, but is not the dedicated camera for the film/movie.

2. Do you think these films are scary? If so why? If not why not? I hardly ever find horror movies scary... I'm just not a horror movie fan. I usually laugh and wait for people to die.

3. Do you think the perspective of these films add or subtracts from the overall experience. Once again when used sparingly it can add considerable amount of realism to the picture.

4.Could these films work if filmed in a more traditional style? Yes, but they probably wouldn't of been as famous or caused as many people to throw up in the theaters.

5.Do these films benefit more from Graphic Violence or by focusing on tension? Now days its mostly violence, with mild tension.

6. How do the endings to these films make you feel?

 

[Rylot]

1.) I do rather like these kinds of films. I like horror movies and these seem to be the only ones that do anything for me.

2.)They definitely can be if done properly. Part of it I think comes from the uncertainty of the genre and being able to break away from certain formulaic elements that plague the horror genre.

3.)I'd say it usually adds if done properly.

4.)You could always film them in a traditional style but I think for a lot of these types of movies they'd loose something.

5.)I'd say focusing on tension. These types of movies are generally less violent and gory than more traditional horror films. Even REC while certainly violent does a lot to build up tension.

6.)The endings are usually a sore spot for these types of films. Last Exorcism, the first two Paranormal Activities all had very weak ending that let me down after an otherwise very fulfilling film. The third Paranormal Activity, Noroi, and Lake Mungo are three that I felt did the ending to a 'found footage' film well and would strongly encourage anyone who likes these types of films to watch.

Oh yeah, 25 American male.