Found Footage, The Rec Age

                    Found Footage, The Rec Age

There are a few found footage films that tower over all the rest. Amongst these films only one film and its sequel deserved to be considered the best of the best
    “Paranormal Activity one and two right?”
    “Wrong.”
    Although they are both quality films. They are not in the league of Rec and Rec 2.
These two films not only can teach you lessons in how found footage films should be made, but how a sequel to a great film should be done. The second film is better in almost every way as compared to the first and the first Rec film is really good. Rec 2 fills in the blanks and raises the stakes for all involved. If you wish to become a film maker some day and found footage filmmaking is your goal then studying these two films is a must.

Here is a look at the trailer for Rec.

Here is the trailer for Rec 2.

Now we will go beyond the first two films to look at Rec 3. Where the director is different. This is an important change and you can tell by the quality of the film. The movie starts as a found footage film, but break the camera at the end of Act I and becomes a narrative film. The idea was sound, but the execution is poor. The greatest found footage franchise ever was now in trouble of falling off the earth.

This is the trailer for Rec 3.
   

  
 
Now we come to the comeback film. Rec 4 is hitting theaters soon and although it is not a found footage film. It is written and directed by the original film maker and features the original star. This could restore the franchise back to the level of the first two films.

Here is the Trailer for Rec 4.
    

 


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In closing I would like to announce that my book on how to make a found footage film is live on Amazon. You can find it here and it would make the perfect gift for the film maker in your life.

at amazon

On Making a Found Footage Film

After almost two decades the first guide dedicated solely to the making of a found-footage film has arrived. In this book you will be offered clear advice on how to write, direct and produce a quality found footage film. Advice coming from over half a dozen young film makers who are in post production of their films as this book is being published.On Making a Found Footage Film is more than a how to guide it is a call to refocus and redesign a genre of film making. To take if from a sub genre of horror films into comedy, action, suspense and straight drama. There is no limit to what the found-footage film can become in the hands of inventive new film-makers.


This is actually the first book that covers the basics of shooting a found footage film from beginning to end.

It features interviews with a number of young film makers who are about to release their found footage films. Below are a few of the trailers. First The Pigman Murders

Next Found Footage 3D.

Next the complete Night of the Vampire short film.

If you would learn how to make your own found footage film from the ones who have actually done it then my book, On Making a Found Footage Film maybe for you. This is perhaps the most under investigated area of the low budget film making world. My book is the first of its kind and I hope that it will aid many beginning film makers to make quality found footage films.

Now I would like to leave you with my favorite of the short form films that I saw while working on the book.
The title is Jessie's Girl.  The film maker is one of the best that I have ever encountered.


Jessie's Girl from Amanda Forehand on Vimeo.

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You can find my book at itunes by clicking here and at Smashwords by clicking here.

Found Footage Films, The Blair Witch Project

                    Found Footage Films, The Blair Witch Project

    No blog about Found footage films would be complete without mentioning the Blair Witch Project. This movie set the standard by which all other found footage movies will by judged. It has been fifteen years since this film hit theaters and it shines brighter than it did back then. Hundreds of found footage films have come and gone since this masterpiece and still only two or three can stand beside it.

    The rules that it established has haunted the genre and not always in a good way. The idea that those who capture the footage must die in the act has been overused and abused. What worked for the Blair Witch Project does not work for every project. I wish that film makers who attempt to follow up this film look beyond the rules that it put into place and embrace the documentary style of the film. Look to a cast that blended perfectly together. Learn from the patience that this movie shows when setting up what is to come. 

    This blog was designed to talk about the best and worst in the found footage genre and to encourage others to go out and make quality movies in this genre. With that in mind I would like to announce the release of my new book. The book is about how to make a found footage film. The book took me over a year to write and features interview with eight film makers who’s films are about to be release or have recently been released. The book is the beginning film maker. If you are one or if you know one perhaps you should check it out. Links for purchase of this book will be added shortly. The title is How To Make A Found Footage Film, by Rodney Cannon.

Thank you for visiting and have a great day.