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Nov 2021
Hey TE boarders

I have been wondering if there was an interest in a challenge considering the found footage style of filming. If I mention The Blair Witch Project, I guess everyone knows what I'm talking about. The movies are often shot in POV with handcam, sometimes really shaky and dark, and have usually also a documentary/mockumentary feeling. Originally this definition comes from filmed material of people lost that disappeared or ended up death, the footage being the last evidence of their actions on earth.

BWP made the style more popular and set some kind of standard (not a standard I was too happy about but that's not what I want to discuss here). Before 1999 found footage movies were a rarity. It's only from 2000 that they really started to boom even though the first real movie that was labeled found footage (in retrospect) is from 1961 titled The Connection. Less than 30 FF movies were made before 1999. A few are so obscure I hardly found any info on them.

This is the list I have been able to compile from all the FF movies from the previous century. * indicates I was unable to track a copy of it online. ! indicates I have seen the flick.


The Connection (1961)
David Holzman's Diary (1967)
Rape (1969) * directed by Yoko Ono and John Lennon
Punishment Park (1971)
The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972)
Alternative 3 (1977)
! Cannibal Holocaust (1980) not full found footage

Special Bulletin (1983)
Manson Family Movies (1984)
! Guinea Pig 2 - Flowers of Flesh and Blood (1985) Japanese movie, Charlie Sheen apparently alerted the FBI as he thought he was watching a snuff movie

Psychic Vision - Jaganrei (1986) Japanese movie
UFO: Secret Video (1986) *
! 84 Charlie MoPic (1989) Charlie MoPic the follows a group or American soldiers on a mission in Vietnam, perhaps the first FF I ever saw in my life before even knowing it was FF, really needs a rewatch

! The McPherson Tape aka UFO Abduction (1989) one of my favorites, has long been believed by UFO enthusiasts to be real

Lenin Was A Mushroom (1991) a Russian movie it's on youtube but in Russian and no subs
Ghostwatch (1992)
! Man Bites Dog (1992) Belgian movie, French spoken about a bunch of film students tagging along with a serial killer, I wasn't a fan. Comparable to Henry: Portrait of serial killer which I consider a lot better.

Paul Calf's Video Diary (1993)
Pauline Calf's Wedding Video (1994)
Without Warning (1994)
Alien Autopsy - Fact or fiction? (1995)
Forgotten Silver (1995) this one is from Peter Jackson
Little Sister aka Zusje (1995) a Dutch movie
Area 51 - The Alien Interview (1997)
The Last Broadcast (1997)
Alien Abduction - Incident in Lake County (1998) from the director of McPherson Tape
Watching a Movie (1998) *
Curse of the Blair Witch Project (1999) the docu that apparently should have made people warm for the movie
! The Blair Witch Project (1999) as much as I don't like it it needs a rewatch

Sticks and Stones - Investigating the Blair Witch (1999) short docu on BWP
Dirty Cop No Donut (1999) *

Some I found thanks to wikipedia but most helpful was this site:
https://foundfootagecritic.com/hubs/hub-films/

Ok FF is not my favorite style but I like to give myself a challenge and I'm particularly interested in the period before BWP made it 'hip'. And even though this style is often linked to the horror genre, it could practically be used in any genre. In the list above, there is also crime, war, drama, sci-fi, documentary, comedy, exploitation... Especially the alien theme is often reoccuring.

So my question are there people interesed in a month (or perhaps a bit longer) watching FF movies. I would also like to include TV show episodes as the main idea is 1 point per watched minute so shorts can be included as well. Bonus points for anything FF before 2000 and also for a FTV.


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Box_a_Hair says:
#1

Nov 2021
I'm pretty ignorant on the subgenre, so I could stand to learn a thing or two about it. Also, as some guy who works here, I feel obligated to participate in each and every challenge. Or at least try to.

The other day, I watched a piece of sheet from Todd Shits the other day called Spirits, or Ouija something or other. It was found footage, and doesn't give me much hope for anything good to come out of this, but I'm willing to try. I may also attempt to add some of these titles to the database, because I would definitely need ideas of where to start with this.


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OnyxHades says:
#2

Nov 2021
I'm up for it! I love found footage and mockumentary style movies.


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Johan_WoW says:
#5, Reply to #2

Nov 2021
Looks like you are going to trash the competition as so far you seem to be the only fan of FF emoticon


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Tromafreak says:
#3

Nov 2021
I don't have a hell of a lot of interest in these types of movies. Something about them I find hard to get in to, and hard to take seriously for some reason. But there's not many genres left that I haven't expanded my horizons in, and could use a month to possibly find out what the big fuss is about with these.

Nice to see Dirty Cop No Donut listed. Just watched that recently for zero points in the current challenge. By far my favorite FF.


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Johan_WoW says:
#4, Reply to #3

Nov 2021
Care to share where you found Dirty cop No Donut? It's probably not something I would like but would take the chance to see it for a challenge.


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Tromafreak says:
#6, Reply to #4

Nov 2021
Got it on dvd years ago. Noticed Dirty Cop 2 is on the Tubi but not the original. Not sure what that would be playing on, but if you can track it down, I'd recommend it cuz it's hilarious.


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Deferenz says:
#7

Nov 2021 *
I would definitely be up for an FF challenge.

Edit: I've already started to compile a list of movies to watch!


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markus-san says:
#8

Nov 2021
Can't get too enthused on this particular challenge I'm afraid. I've seen my fair share of FF movies and don't really have much desire to revisit most of them. Having said that, most of them have been within the horror genre and as you point out there are other genres that have utilised the technique.

BTW I watched that Blair Witch documentary, or mockumentary, and i have to say it helped me to enjoy the movie a bit more because it gave the story some context and background and just made it appear all the more creepy (and believable?). It's a nice companion piece for sure, and best watched before the movie I think.


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Johan_WoW says:
#9, Reply to #8

Nov 2021
The first FF I saw was somewhere in the 90s before BWP came out and I didn't know of FF yet. That was 84 Charlie Mopic. Even though no woman in sight IIRC I still think it's a really good war docu drama which I look forward to for a rewatch (it's on youtube). No really shaky handcam or dark shots there. I believe you like sci-fi too that's one that also works well with FF IMO without needing to be horror. The McPherson Tape I enjoyed enormously (the first time not that much as the quality was really poor) and gets better with each viewing. But it's advisable to watch with subtitles because often people talk fast and several speaking at the same time. Some people labeled it as a predecessor of Signs. Also if BWP had a low budget you can say McPherson Tape was micro budget, filmed mostly in 1 take and in 1 day. I think 90% of budget went to the alien suits and spaceship. Anyway hope you'll participate as POV and mockumentaries are allowed.


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Deferenz says:
#10, Reply to #9

Nov 2021 *
If it goes ahead can we also include in the overall FF genre computer based movies, eg. things like Unfriended & Host? Another one is FF within a framework, eg. The VHS series?


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Johan_WoW says:
#11, Reply to #10

Nov 2021
Yes everything that has the POV or has an amateur style of filming like handcam, mobile device such as phone, tablet, webcam I will accept.


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Box_a_Hair says:
#12

Nov 2021
I like that mockumentary style is included, but I feel this may lead to some controversy. Not all mocks should count unless they have a fair amount of amateur style footage in them, if you know what I mean. If something is more of a staged mockumentary with asides and whatnot, it isn't quite the same.


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Johan_WoW says:
#14, Reply to #12

Nov 2021
Well I'm far from an expert on this. I do have a soft spot for the Mondo style movies as they really have an amateur approach. Mockumentaries like for example 'The Last Exorcism', I'm not so keen on as they have a much more professional look IMO. I suggest using foundfootagecritic.com as a guide.


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Deferenz says:
#13

Nov 2021
I'm really glad this going ahead.

Just checking, do episodes of tv series count in the challenge? I'm thinking things like Wellington Paranormal, What We Do in the Shadows, The Office etc


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Johan_WoW says:
#15, Reply to #13

Nov 2021
Well I do allow shorts if they meet the criteria so episodes of TV shows that meet the criteria are allowed too.


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Deferenz says:
#16, Reply to #15

Nov 2021
Thanks for clarifying. Are we still going to do bonus points for anything pre year 2000?


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Johan_WoW says:
#17, Reply to #16

Nov 2021
No, let's not overcomplicate matters.


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Box_a_Hair says:
#18

Dec 2021
For anyone as clueless as me who is trying to figure out what to watch, take note that Tubi has a whole section for Found Footage movies. I'll be relying on that for my viewings.


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Tromafreak says:
#19, Reply to #18

Dec 2021
Was looking through that section earlier, and apparently Maniac and City Of The Living Dead are found footage.


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Box_a_Hair says:
#20, Reply to #19

Dec 2021
Yes, they do have a lot of questionable entries on there, and plenty of straight-up NOT found footage titles, but there are still enough actual FF titles in the mix. As for Maniac, they probably mistook it for the 2012 remake which was in the POV of the maniac, which I would count as FF. City of the Living Dead though? No fucking way.


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