"Found Footage" - May Contest
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 5/1/2012 12:01 AM
"Your entire story must be told from the perspective of cameras that exist in the world of the story (e.g. security cameras, web cams, cell phones, etc.)."
As usual, any questions about the contest, please post here.
OFF-TOPIC COMMENTS WILL BE DELETED!
JeanPierre Chapoteau (Moderator) ~ 5/1/2012 12:13 AM
I don't know how to write those. Can someone post a few links to scripts here on moviepoet that's found footage?
I remember one with a boy, and he was becoming a serial killer or something. And I also remember another one where I think a father and son were hunting, and the father ended up being whatever they were hunting? ... I think I screwed that one all up. But I don't remember when I read them.
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 5/1/2012 12:22 AM
I don't know much about Found Footages either. I know Debra Johnson is good at that though.
Zach Jansen (Level 4) ~ 5/1/2012 12:29 AM
Here's one I remember:
www.moviepoet.com/script.aspx?scriptid=2102
Masoud Soheili (Level 4) ~ 5/1/2012 1:42 AM
Seems nice idea!
Like it
Khamanna Iskandarova (Level 5) ~ 5/1/2012 1:44 AM
Here's another one:
www.moviepoet.com/script.aspx?scriptid=1309
Nick Miranda (Level 4) ~ 5/1/2012 2:02 AM
I can only enter 6 contests, and I've used up half my allotment already. This sounds so cool, I want to to do it, but I also need to save my entries in case something else comes up. Tough call.
Martin Lancaster (Level 4) ~ 5/1/2012 7:17 AM
Great idea for a contest.
Here's a good example I saw recently:
vimeo.com/31005812
MJ Hermanny (Level 5) ~ 5/1/2012 7:27 AM
great link Martin, thanks
Pia Cook (Level 5) ~ 5/1/2012 10:27 AM
We just did a ff feature challenge at Simply Scripts. Maybe I can come up with something for this one. :)
Raymond Kwok (Level 3) ~ 5/1/2012 11:47 AM
Point of clarification: can the operator of the camera be communicating with the subject matter of the camera?
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 5/1/2012 1:16 PM
Yes.
Faith Friese Nelson (Level 5) ~ 5/1/2012 5:04 PM
Martin, that was one powerful film...
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 5/1/2012 5:13 PM
"Your entire story must be told from the perspective of cameras that exist in the world of the story (e.g. security cameras, web cams, cell phones, etc.)."
Can the secuity cameras, web cams, and other types of camers temporarily fade out and then fade back in during the course of the story?
Olga Tremaine (Level 4) ~ 5/1/2012 6:39 PM
I have a feeling there will be a lot of creepy ones :S
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 5/1/2012 7:22 PM
Is it alright if someone could partner up with me for the Found Fotage contest? I know I'm a bad writer, but I just want to learn with someone instead of just myself. Sorry if this is too much to ask.
Dan Delgado (Level 5) ~ 5/1/2012 8:53 PM
@Reginald McGhee
"Is it alright if someone could partner up with me for the Found Footage contest?"
I wasn't planning on entering this month, so I wouldn't mind helping you out, for what it's worth. If you want to come up with the basic story idea and do most of the legwork, it will be all your story.
If you're interested email me.
Mike Senkpiel (Level 4) ~ 5/1/2012 10:12 PM
Sorry to be dense, but I just wanna be sure - the footage doesn't really have to be "found" does it?
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 5/1/2012 10:40 PM
"Sorry to be dense, but I just wanna be sure - the footage doesn't really have to be "found" does it?"
It does not.
Olga Tremaine (Level 4) ~ 5/2/2012 12:09 AM
How do we format it? Is the first line states it's camera footage before the first scene opens? Or it's INT. HOUSE - DAY, then slugline CAMERA FOOTAGE or CAMERA POV. I just never attempted anything like this before. Besides, somehow we need to tell the reader that all the following scenes are footage not just the first scene. I'm a bit puzzled. Am I overthinking the technicalities?
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 5/2/2012 8:49 AM
"Am I overthinking the technicalities?"
Yes. :)
As always in screenwriting just describe what we (the audience) see and hear.
Austin Bennett (Level 4) ~ 5/2/2012 8:30 PM
Something like this should suffice:
INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR - NIGHT
SEEN THROUGH SECURITY CAMERA
Or
Something like that...
Dan Delgado (Level 5) ~ 5/4/2012 1:58 AM
I know, I know, I'm usually making fun of people who ask these "obvious" questions. Good thing I don't mind looking like an idiot.
Just to be crystal clear; everything "we see" in the screenplay has to have originated through the lens of a camera? Whether it's live on a security monitor, or phone camera, or DVD playing on a computer screen, or VHS on a television, it had to have originated though a camera lens?
We can't show (as an example) the person holding the phone camera, etc.?
Thanks, sorry for being an idiot.
Faith Friese Nelson (Level 5) ~ 5/4/2012 6:29 AM
The ideas aren't coming yet...
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 5/4/2012 9:31 AM
"Just to be crystal clear; everything "we see" in the screenplay has to have originated through the lens of a camera? Whether it's live on a security monitor, or phone camera, or DVD playing on a computer screen, or VHS on a television, it had to have originated though a camera lens?"
Absolutely correct.
"We can't show (as an example) the person holding the phone camera, etc.?"
Correct.
Scott Merrow (Level 5) ~ 5/4/2012 12:37 PM
Unless we're seeing the person holding the phone through another camera that exists in the world of the story.
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 5/4/2012 2:49 PM
"Unless we're seeing the person holding the phone through another camera that exists in the world of the story."
Also correct.
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 5/4/2012 5:33 PM
So if someone throws the camera (for example) against the wall, all we can see is the wall (unless another camera is recording the person throwing the camera).
I get it now.
MJ Hermanny (Level 5) ~ 5/4/2012 5:54 PM
This is for the screenplay of Cloverfield by the excellent Drew Goddard which is a feature length found footage script/film.
my.spill.com/profiles/blogs/slusho98s-script-reviews
if the link doesn't work and you'd like to see the script ping me an email.
Faith Friese Nelson (Level 5) ~ 5/5/2012 11:05 AM
I'm in. First time I've ever been the first one to enter!
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 5/5/2012 12:24 PM
Can we reveal who is recording at the end of the fim to reveal the surprise ending?
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 5/5/2012 1:03 PM
"Can we reveal who is recording at the end of the fim to reveal the surprise ending?"
Only if they are being revealed through a camera that exists in the world of the story.
MJ Hermanny (Level 5) ~ 5/7/2012 6:36 AM
the footage doesn't have to actually be found does it? Can it be like the film 'Chronicle' and as you say above Chris just filmed through all different types of camera?
Caroline Coxon (Mod Emeritus) ~ 5/7/2012 7:00 AM
See earlier post plus reply from Chris:
"Sorry to be dense, but I just wanna be sure - the footage doesn't really have to be "found" does it?"
It does not.
MJ Hermanny (Level 5) ~ 5/7/2012 8:10 AM
thanks Caroline, missed that one.
David Birch (Level 5) ~ 5/7/2012 11:34 AM
here's the trailer to a FF film coming out in Sept. (the SP is available...)
movies.yahoo.com/movie/end-of-watch/trailers/end-of-watch-theatrical-trailer-29176425.html
Chris Setten (Level 4) ~ 5/11/2012 10:13 PM
Can characters talk offscreen about what is being shown onscreen?
Zach Jansen (Level 4) ~ 5/11/2012 10:44 PM
"Can characters talk offscreen about what is being shown onscreen?"
Just my thinking: If you're showing what's happening, why does a character need to tell us what's happening? Seems redundant.
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 5/11/2012 10:48 PM
"Can characters talk offscreen about what is being shown onscreen?"
Yes.
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 5/11/2012 11:20 PM
There's no chance that I'm going to enter this one. I'll be watching these from the sideline.
David Birch (Level 5) ~ 5/29/2012 1:03 PM
looking forward to reading this month's FF entries...it's a skill set that i would like to acquire...
Pete Barry (Level 5) ~ 5/30/2012 1:48 PM
It's probably too late in the game to ask this question, but:
Are "in-camera" objects like timecode considered fair game?
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 5/30/2012 1:51 PM
Sure.
MJ Hermanny (Level 5) ~ 5/31/2012 10:37 AM
I'm in!! Yay!
Caroline Coxon (Mod Emeritus) ~ 5/31/2012 11:28 AM
You're a writing machine, MJ!
MJ Hermanny (Level 5) ~ 5/31/2012 12:37 PM
Tell me about it! No wonder I'm always in a panic about my uni work, I spend half the time doing other stuff.
MJ Hermanny (Level 5) ~ 5/31/2012 3:30 PM
Do you think we're going to get any more entries?
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 5/31/2012 4:43 PM
Yes. We always get last minute entries. Writers love to procrastinate - at least I know I do. :)
JeanPierre Chapoteau (Moderator) ~ 5/31/2012 6:00 PM
I might enter. I'll write up a rough draft by hand at work, and if I have enough time to convert it to MM then I will.
JeanPierre Chapoteau (Moderator) ~ 5/31/2012 9:29 PM
Are you guys constantly putting (O.S.) when your character is holding the camera? Or are we to assume they are off screen unless stated otherwise?
JeanPierre Chapoteau (Moderator) ~ 5/31/2012 9:30 PM
I mean when they are talking and holding the camera.
Ammar Salmi (Level 5) ~ 5/31/2012 11:01 PM
Keep O.S. all the time. In every line. It won't hurt. But if you don't put them, some readers my get confused if the camera holder has just appeared in front of it.
JeanPierre Chapoteau (Moderator) ~ 6/1/2012 12:01 AM
Dang it. Had no time. Oh well. I went back to my old, dark, sci-fi stuff too. Gave "comedy" a rest. Think you guys would've liked it.
Pia Cook (Level 5) ~ 6/1/2012 6:40 AM
19 entries?.............. :-/
MJ Hermanny (Level 5) ~ 6/1/2012 7:12 AM
I know! All time low??
Faith Friese Nelson (Level 5) ~ 6/1/2012 7:23 AM
I can't believe there were only 19 entries. As long as I've been hanging out at MP, there have always been more than 19.
Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 6/1/2012 8:22 AM
We had a few early DQ's, but this the lowest entry count in a long time (not the lowest ever though).
Found Footage is tough to write. I'm sure the entry count will pop back up with the One Page contest.
Pia Cook (Level 5) ~ 6/1/2012 9:36 AM
It is hard to write a ff script. Always need a reason to have the camera on. Also hard to get in details. I was busy last month rewriting a ff feature which will be shot in LA later this summer. That's why I did not have time to enter here. :)
I will do my best to enter the 1 page comp though.
Denise Jewell (Level 4) ~ 6/2/2012 10:24 AM
Kudos to everyone who entered. It is indeed tough to write - a very different exercise in thinking cinematically. I wish I had done the work and entered. Oh well, I will enjoy reading these.
Faith Friese Nelson (Level 5) ~ 6/3/2012 3:13 PM
I just finished reviewing these scripts. They were difficult to review because of the challenge. But, a nice variety and I believe everyone could learn from reading them.
Erich VonHeeder (Level 4) ~ 6/6/2012 6:45 PM
Seven figure spec sale today: GLIMMER
Found footage feature.
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 6/6/2012 7:10 PM
"I'm sure the entry count will pop back up with the One Page contest."
Was 77 the highest?
Bill Sarre (Level 4) ~ 6/17/2012 11:22 AM
I wasn't able to enter this but I'm trying to read as many as possible. I won't discuss any but what I will say is well done to those who entered. I think this is a really hard style to pull off. Interesting to read the different ways of doing this.
I could picture a feature script genre of "part" FF. The FF would add credibiility, intimacy, the rest would help tie it together in a less forced way than pure FF would.
Usually when a competition is announced I have a few ideas. With FF I'm not sure I would have had something.
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 6/17/2012 12:20 PM
I know the contest is over, but I wanted to ask this. Can the story be told thourgh the perspective of a simulator (i.e. a game simulator you would wear over your head)?
David M Troop (Level 4) ~ 6/22/2012 9:32 AM
I want to apologize in advance for not reviewing the rest of the scripts this month. Due to emergency surgery to repair a detached retna I must lay on my back 55minutes out of every hour for the next two weeks.
Life sucks. But blindness would really bite.
I will check in when I can.
You guys rock.
Rustom Irani (Moderator) ~ 6/22/2012 10:10 AM
Please rest. Restore eyesight. Return and tell us how did you "detach" your retina?
Khamanna Iskandarova (Level 5) ~ 6/22/2012 11:49 PM
Oh my, David! Please take care of your retina. And rest, rest rest...
Margaret Ricke (Level 5) ~ 6/23/2012 12:09 AM
Get better, David! Lying around can be one of the hardest things we have to do, but you'll survive this, eye intact. Take care.
Faith Friese Nelson (Level 5) ~ 6/23/2012 8:45 AM
A few weeks ago I reached for the eye drops and picked up glue instead. Ended up in the emergency room. I only had to "rest" my eyes for three days and it was tough. But you don't want to fool around with your eye sight, that's for sure. Turn on the history channel and veg out on the sofa. That's one station that has a lot of things you can "watch" with your eyes shut.
Caroline Coxon (Mod Emeritus) ~ 6/23/2012 11:20 AM
Take the greatest of care, David. (You have a cast iron excuse for not reviewing scripts!)
David D. DeBord (Level 5) ~ 6/23/2012 12:48 PM
The dog ate my homework excuse is now way out of date.
Bill Sarre (Level 4) ~ 6/24/2012 10:24 AM
I won't say why, but (there is a specific reason)....what if you think you know who the writer is of a script before you start reading?
I haven't entered this competition but trying to read them all.
Should I read on, or should I pass on it, indeed can that happen? I'll have a look on the rules.
Rustom Irani (Moderator) ~ 6/24/2012 10:31 AM
You comment on it, score it as you deem fit and move on.
It has happened before on rare occasions.
Rod Thompson (Level 3) ~ 6/24/2012 10:51 AM
I've read a few when I've had the time, and I'm finding an overuse of the medium without telling a concise story. Like the author looked for clever ways to use the "found" element, but nothing fluid is really happening in the "footage." I'm not aiming at one script in general here, it's seemingly repetitive amongst more than one. :(
Anyone else getting that?
Bill Sarre (Level 4) ~ 6/24/2012 10:54 AM
@rustom
Thanks - I will. Maybe I'm wrong.
Caroline Coxon (Mod Emeritus) ~ 6/24/2012 11:44 AM
I think, over time, it's quite possible to identify certain writer's styles quite easily!
Bill Sarre (Level 4) ~ 6/24/2012 12:35 PM
As it happens I was definitely wrong, will explain all afterwards
Tim Westland (Moderator) ~ 6/24/2012 12:35 PM
Funny you should say that, Caroline. Your style is wonderful and I believe I can spot it from California. I love reading your stuff.
Someone commented on my last script that it reminded them of one of my other scripts. That made me laugh a little.
I can always pick up on Travis's stuff... just because they are always so frickin great.
Faith Friese Nelson (Level 5) ~ 6/24/2012 12:50 PM
I can always pick up on Travis's stuff... just because they are always so frickin great.
Same here... Travis is a pro!
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 6/24/2012 4:05 PM
I'm done reviewing, I think. It was creepy to review this month because I know nothing about found footages.
Bill Sarre (Level 4) ~ 6/25/2012 3:45 PM
Finished the reviews.
Well done to those who entered, difficult challenge IMO.
Shane Harkin (Level 3) ~ 6/27/2012 11:42 AM
I'm new here, that was the first contest I've reviewed, really interesting process. Especially for such a difficult challenge. Looking forward to the next one!
Caroline Coxon (Mod Emeritus) ~ 6/27/2012 1:49 PM
Welcome, Shane! Thank you for reviewing. We look forward to reading your work too.
Shane Harkin (Level 3) ~ 6/27/2012 3:58 PM
Thanks Caroline! This community is great, so happy to have stumbled across you guys.
Margaret Ricke (Level 5) ~ 6/28/2012 3:00 PM
Welcome, Shane. You'll like it here.
Just finished reviewing. Nice work everyone.
I hope we talk about the process of writing this type of script when the month's over. It really is different.
MJ Hermanny (Level 5) ~ 7/1/2012 4:38 AM
Tough voters this month.
My script got almost 50% Fair - I think that's the worst score I've ever had - was my script really that bad? Or was it because I didn't give a neatly wrapped up ending that it bombed? Even though the guy at the start makes it blatantly obvious that she's not paranoid and some conspiracy is taking place. Or because it was non-linear? Very view readers actually realised they saw same scene twice through different devices every though every action was the same.
Yeah, I realise I'm blahhing and stamping my feet but jeez that low score has absolutely gutted me.
Some really harsh comments across all the reviews too with very few reviewers actually offering solutions or advice.
I wonder what the scoring criteria was for reviewers.
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 7/1/2012 5:19 AM
MJ, I thought that was a really good script. I rated it as Good though. I'm not sure if I read any other of your scripts, but I thought the one you just wrote was brilliant.
MJ, please don't feel upset. Some writers might have compared your script with other people's scripts.
And as that said, my worse script ever was "What Goes Down, Must Come Up," (53% Poor, 44% Fair.
I will admit that I was very offened by the lack of communication I received on my script.
Please don't get discourged on a script.
MJ Hermanny (Level 5) ~ 7/1/2012 5:24 AM
Thank you Reginald - can I call you Reg? You're so sweet!
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 7/1/2012 5:27 AM
You can. Most people in my family member calls me Reg. lol. But yeah you can.
Bill Sarre (Level 4) ~ 7/1/2012 8:24 AM
@MJ - thankfully I gave yours a VG!!
I found reviewing the FF scripts harder than normal. Part of this was my desire to see a sound reason for the footage in the first place and why it has been assembled, after all it was found! This may not be fair but to me this genre has a starting position of a realistic reason, from the camera and editing perspectives, for the story. It doesn't matter that the story is then sci fi or whatever. So, normally, I liked those with a simple premise, but not always.
Well done to those who entered, a tough challenge.
Derek Anderson (Level 4) ~ 7/1/2012 11:26 AM
I think a lot of the low ratings were because of the technical side of the FF, at least that's how I did my ratings. Some scripts cut from different devices so often that it was confusing... well confusing enough to take me out the story.
I found the stories that I liked more stuck with one medium for the FF element.
Has anyone read the new spec sale Glimmer? It's a time travel FF piece that uses different mediums perfectly.
@MJ: I remember thinking your story concept was great, but I was struggling with how I was seeing it through the FF element. I gave it a GOOD, but if you were to write this outside of this month's competition, it definitely borders on Excellent.
Don't be discouraged, this was a tough month. I'm glad I got to experiment writing this kind of script and receive such wonderful feedback and insight. Very educational.
Margaret Ricke (Level 5) ~ 7/1/2012 1:47 PM
I felt that many scripts spent too much time explaining what and where the camera was. That took me out of the story so many times. Towards the end I think I started suggesting that people work the particular camera into the scene heading. Switch cameras, switch location.
Another thing I had trouble with was all of the "we sees." I don't know if that was a result of the FF POV or what, but there seemed to be a lot of them and it was really distracting for me. I don't like to be reminded that I'm reading when I'm reading a story.
I did come in a little above average on my ratings, though, so I don't think I was too tough.
This WAS a hard write for you guys, and kudos to everyone who tackled it.
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 7/1/2012 2:06 PM
I kind of figured that the "we sees" were from the perspective of the characters' cameras besides the producer's camera.
When I was told to write a found footage, I was told to use the footage in the slugline, like "INT. CLASSROOM (OBJECTIVE POV CAMERA OF CELL PHONE) - DAY
Pete Barry (Level 5) ~ 7/1/2012 2:50 PM
I had the same feeling as MJ - that the scoring seemed to be pretty harsh, although the reviews themselves weren't nasty. I was surprised to see no Honorable Mentions - even the third place winner wouldn't have scored at HM level, and the second place entry just barely squeaked in there.
Oddly, I can't blame anyone if I'm not going to blame myself, too. I've admitted before that my average score almost always comes out higher than the site average. This time it was a little lower. I didn't think I was reviewing any differently, and I didn't have too many problems with the "found footage". But when I finished reviewing and looked at the results, I did notice it was lower than usual.
And I'm sorry if my review was too negative, MJ - you know I loves ya! - but you'll notice you unloaded on my entry, too. :) I think we all took a bit of a beating at each other's hands this month.
Chris usually has insights into this reviewing business. Any thoughts, o wise one?
Christina Anderson (Level 4) ~ 7/1/2012 11:58 PM
@MJ
for me, I started to doubt that the initial shot actually happened-- it is Paranoia. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to think. The MC's too unstable to be reliable-- and then the story shifts away from explaining that mystery to MC being ostracized, well I figured since that's where the story's going she must be a schizoid.
Ammar Salmi (Level 5) ~ 7/2/2012 10:07 AM
The way I rate short script is very simple. Is it clear? Yes, means he gets "Fair" at least. Is it a story? Yes gives it "Good." Does the ending have a strong impact on me? That's vary between VG and excellent on how strong the impact is.
Why? 5 page shorts are more like jokes most of the time, their as good as the their punchline. Three act structures in this kind of shorts is expensive space-wise. To write a good, clear piece, you must focus on two things: Clever set-up and powerful ending.
That's my way of doing it.
And harsh shouldn't be a word in screenwriters dictionary. We're gladiators in the arena. What you mean by "A harsh swing of a sword?" The thick skin is your best asset as a writer. You just can't survive without it out there in wilderness. Moviepoet will always be heaven compared to Hollywood hell, no matter how harsh the reviews or the rating are.
Don't be gutted, MJ, be strong. I gave you good, because I've seen where the story was heading all way to "Fade out." I wanted you to surprise me. The only two excellent's I gave was to "Garbage men" and "Last moments." The endings were powerful. Even that "last moments" title indicated what was going to happen, still, the scene of cops looking for a black box was just a stunning reveal.
Great reveal/payoff/twist and you're granted a VG or an excellent from me.
Reginald McGhee (Level 0) ~ 7/2/2012 4:10 PM
To me, there’s no such thing as a “Poor” script. The only exception to rating a script a “Poor” rating is if the linguistics of the script is severely broken. Most poorly written scripts are fair reads because every script has a story. If the script doesn’t have a story, then it wouldn’t written at all. I’ve only rated one script as “Poor” every since I’ve joined Movie Poet.
Ayal Pinkus (Level 5) ~ 2/26/2013 3:31 AM
I don't know if you guys have seen this one. Fully shot through hotel security cameras.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWK7OQqKG2s
Wish I'd thought of that...
JeanPierre Chapoteau (Moderator) ~ 2/26/2013 11:00 AM
This is fake, right?
Why would he walk all the way down there, haha. There are so many other alternatives. He should have been drunk.
I think the story should have stopped at "I just need to see a driver's license." Would have been hilarious.