Cinematic Excrement: Episode 97 - Found Footage

[@rainer5212]

How did they get the Apollo 18 footage? Apollo 19, of course!

[@stanislavkraus6933]

Aliens of course. Aliens found it, watched it and delivered the footage to Earth.

[@Ropetupa]

Oh... of course. Now it makes sense...

[@nathaniellevesque2782]

You should do more of these types of videos where you take a genre and go over what works and what doesn't.

[@jasoncase9481]

Nathaniel Levesque He could also do Remakes

[@JimK2112]

Like the style of the episode! You should definitely do more episodes exploring different genres of film.

[@Foustdoodles98]

James Kowaleski i know! I feel the same way!

[@pchelamaja88]

Agreed!

[@Foustdoodles98]

I actually liked the phone camera shots he did in his car, they actually look good! I'm genuinely surprised by this, plus it's something DIFFERENT!! I would LOVE to see more videos on topics like this from him.

[@tedgruver7618]

Foustdoodles98 I have no idea where he was in that part of the video, but I hope that it wasn’t in Woolsey California because that place was ravaged by a nasty fire last month, and he hasn’t uploaded a video for a month, no Vlogs, no Cinematic Excrement episode of “Bolaro,” nothing. What happened to him?

[@calmdownjamal8951]

Sean you're a genius... Hollywood needs to hire you as the Common Sense Technician in all of their movies 😂

[@MiXVoy]

Natascha McSandbox Agreed

[@UlshaRS]

They often have someone there to make sure there is shot continuity. Really need to hire random people to smack the producers, directors, editors, and writers and go THAT MAKES NO DAMN SENSE DO IT BETTER!

[@TheAdarkerglow]

And then they could actually listen to the guy for that sweet trifecta of ready, willing, and able (to make better movies).

[@Fickle_Mistress1624]

Anyone who has got common sense of Cinematic Excrement reviewer

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

Sean, for whatever it's worth, I liked the format you tried out with this video. As for the person still recording rather than helping, I've seen someone do just that in real life! Granted, it must be far too common in these types of films, given the number of times I've heard people comment on it.

[@moonman375]

also, in found footage i think acting is even more important than regular movie. They have to feel authentic, so it's easier to notice weird nosense stuff that no human would do.

[@ryanahr2267]

Yup. Acting is what caused movies like Digging Up the Marrow to falter a bit and movies like Phoenix Forgotten to really shine.

[@jmparker78]

For me it's more than just "put down the camera and help" moments. It's simply 'Why the fuck are you filming this?" moments? You kinda touched on that. Movies like the Paranormal Activity, Unfriended, Megan is Missing, etc., have people filming stuff NO ONE FILMS, like eating dinner, or being verbally abused by a classmate. There needs to be a reason the camera is on. It can't just be "something unexpected happens in this moment" because the characters had no way of knowing that it would happen. They were filming their dinner, and suddenly the table levitates or some shit. But WHY WERE THEY FILMING THEIR DINNER!? I've seen some online videos that claim to be "piecing footage together" and they frequently do things like have text or voice saying "I don't know what happened that night, and I likely never will, but here's what happened after, and this makes me suspect X happened that night." Why can't big budget movies do that? As far as I know, BWP is yet again the only film to really explain why characters keep filming despite all that's going on. Heather, who defines herself as a filmmaker, shouts when challenged "It's all I have left right now!" or something like that, when Josh berates her for filming despite their situation.

[@tristanhartup4936]

I think this ties into the "found footage movies forgetting that they're found footage" problem, in a normal movie, a scene involving characters just having dinner then something unexpected happens would fly because the camera in the scene is a unkown omniscient invisible pressence, placing the audience watching the scene in a third-person/God's eye perspective spying in on the characters' lives, in found footage movies, it doesn't work that way, the audience is watching the scene from the perspective of whichever character is opperating the camera in the scene and it's clear the filmmakers were not thinking about why that character would be filmming that moment, they're thinking about what's happening in the scene because they were opperating in the same mindset they would be in if they were filming the scene normally.

[@flusendieb6833]

I haven't seen Paranormal Activity, but I'd assume that they just start filming everything all the time just in case something happens again, so filming themselves eating dinner wouldn't be too weird. Then whoever found and distributed the footage obviously would cut it down to just the interesting bits, since filming everything all the time presumably would result in way too many hours of footage, and that would be why there aren't any scenes of mundane stuff like eating dinner where nothing actually happens.

[@BBrinckmann1992]

One of my all time favorite movies is a found footage horror mockumentary called The Trollhunter. It is a Norwegian movie, so you probably have to watch with subtitles, but it still very fun to watch even if you do not understand all the culturally internal jokes. I think they really nailed the found footage aspect in that movie just as in the blair witch project. They manage to avoid all of the above mentioned problems with the found footage genre. Half way into the movie they even switch to a different cameraman/woman who is much more professional than the previous and you immediately see the quality of filming greatly improved. Lot's of these small very nice details in this movie. Really, really recommend it!

[@adiahaalexander9359]

Please do more of these in-depth look at different genres. I really liked this. Maybe next could be horror or the mostly extinct erotic thriller genre.

[@lekhaclam87]

He should definitely do one about the horror genre.

[@jaquelyndixson9813]

Did you watch the Color of Night review by Movie Nights and Cinema Snob before watching this?

[@adiahaalexander9359]

Jaquelyn Dixson Why yes I did in fact lol

[@jaquelyndixson9813]

I knew it! No one talks about erotic thrillers anymore.

[@adiahaalexander9359]

Jaquelyn Dixson lol *I* *DO* !!!! I was so excited when they started talking about it cuz no one really mentions them anymore. I can't stand 50 Shades but I was hoping that it would lead to other erotic thrillers(good ones) getting made but nope, so far nothing.

[@GuardianGrarl]

We all know that in movies the Cameraman never gets hurt. We have the Unstoppable Force, the Immovable Object but he is the Untouchable One.

[@MiXVoy]

Overall, Jon Bailey AKA EpicVoiceGuy summarized this genre best: "Someone strapped a GoPro to a meth head".

[@maggnetwarrior4230]

I was going to my bed. But, who needs to sleep when Cinemmatic Excrement uploads a new video?

[@movieduels305]

MaggnetWarrior Same

[@TheWesLesley]

i like how you did this video. it doesn't always have to be just one movie. this deals with cinematic excrement as well. and as well.

[@christianbuffum-robbins8904]

Nuclear war? Constitutional crisis? I sleep. Sean uploads a review? REAL SHIT.

[@politicscommentator]

I like to see you do more of these editorials. It's good to hear about movie making.

[@TheCouchPotatoWatchesTV]

Blair Witch Project had such a genius marketing campaign. It was just such a creepy slow burn and is still one of my fave found footage films.

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

"Hello, all you happy people." Droopy, that plastic surgery is doing wonders!

[@AlexOlinkiewicz]

Also another problem that comes along with found footage is also Battery Life and Storage as well can get ignored. Like how in Paranormal Activity 4 has laptops recording non-stop. Or there is this Horror film I saw (don't recall the name) where a 1 eye man makes a Camera Eye.. for some reason... using a Cell Phone camera and being powered by a watch battery, and besides the fact that he is able to record HD quality and sound (though he never put a microphone in the Camera Eye), but he is somehow able to record all of the stuff for hours on end without needing to recharge and/or empty out the storage.

[@glentalbot9166]

The movie with the eye camera is THE GRACEFIELD INCIDENT.

[@AlexOlinkiewicz]

That's it, thanks

[@lukehauser1182]

Great analysis! Very fun to watch

[@rlm6213]

There's an excellent found-footage genre film from Japan called "Noroi". I recommend it, as that's also an example of found-footage done right, even in the technical aspects (sound design is important in some of that film's plot points).

[@AtrocityEquine01]

I think what made Noroi so good was the fact that it played off like an actual doc.

[@ryandowney9383]

I'm surprised you didn't mention one cliche that is almost always abused: amount of footage the cameras they are using can shoot, and battery life. I did like the recent Deadstream found footage movie. I would recommend that one.

[@ColeYote]

Honestly, I don't have a problem with this as a filmmaking tool. Problem is so many films use it as a crutch to avoid having to be, y'know, *good.*

[@andysee6996]

I actually got an idea about how the "Put down the camera and help" thing could be turned into a character arc. The camera operator would be obsessed with filming every moment of his family's life. He was obsessed enough that he watched a man he didn't like get killed by a zombie. He's chewed out by his girlfriend and later when he sees his girlfriend getting attacked by a zombie, he has a moment of hesitation, but then goes to save her. He promptly apologizes for ever putting his ego above saving others.

[@ugolinoandhissons]

A combination mockumentary, FF, movie that does not get nearly enough attention is "Lake Mungo" (2009). It is one of the best, and creepiest, ghost stories I've ever seen.

[@victorhernandez8723]

13:33-14:00 Saddest thing about this commentary is that there are idiot cameramen like that in the real world. If some guy gets hurt while doing a really dangerous and stupid stunt, the cameraman is more concerned that he got the footage on film rather than seeing if that poor moron is hurt badly or on the verge of dying.

[@henrygvidonas9573]

Sean is right - when ever I walk around the neighbourhood with a prosumer grade video camera, not a single zombie tries to attack me. They're so scared of the camera, they don't even come near enough to be seen. It works! Unfortunately this method has a downside. The camera seems to attract very angry moms and police cars instead... I'm not sure what that is all about...?

[@MrThischarmingman2]

A Christmas movie that might be starring Adam Sandler... It’s gotta be Eight Crazy Nights.

[@toyland_f]

MrThischarmingman2 That's Chanukah, not Christmas!

[@masonallen3961]

I guessed the same and I'm assuming what he said at the end about it being a Christmas movie was just an attempt to trick us.

[@gracekim1998]

@@toyland_f mmm yes but oddly everyone most often the decorations showed was Christmas related and the hannakah stuff seems to be down played 😅

[@Foustdoodles98]

I liked all the parts where Sean was in his car with his camera phone, that was something different and it was weird but really cool!

[@Vook]

The “stroll on the moon one day” part absolutely killed me.

[@samantaluna3870]

Noroi the Curse is really well made too. It establishes that the documentary crew is professional, the cameraman is a character and the footage is found because its mostly already out on video.

[@GamerGuysReviews]

Were three episodes away from CM's 100th episode, should we start taking bets as to which movie he'll cover? My money is on Troll 2.

[@victorhernandez8723]

William Lowery Or Mac & Me. That E.T. ripoff/shameless product placement flick has it coming!

[@ravager48]

Oh my GOOOOOOOOOOOD!

[@jasoncase9481]

William Lowery I doubt it because it's close to Christmas so a terrible Christmas movie. I'm guessing 8 Crazy Nights a unfunny awful Christmas movie. Or The Grinch which added unfunny stuff

[@jasoncase9481]

Victor Hernandez I'm surprised he hasn't done most ripoffs of good or great movies.

[@JenMistress]

Want to say first, I'm recent subscriber, but watched through your Cinema Excrement videos, and they do make me laugh, so thank you. Also, never seen Apollo 18, but maybe Superman found the camera. 😉😂 Anyways, want to close this comment up with saying, funny the next review will be a Christmas movie. Very first Cinema Excrement I watched was your Star Wars Holiday Special. 😉👍

[@Calvinxc1]

As a response to the Apollo 18 'found footage' argument: One of the interesting constraints that 'found footage' forces on a movie is to limit the perspective to that of the recording device(s) available in the scene. It doesn't necessarily need to be 'found footage' persay, but that the audience is seeing the scene from a second-person perspective (of a sort). Kind of a blend of traditional cinematography, where the audience gets whatever framing the director wants, instead here the audience is basically taking the role over a non-character in the film.

[@blapis-blazuli]

The Apollo 18 problem reminds me of a failed creepypasta on a website full of them where it involved a message log style documenting a mission to the moon where everyone either went missing or died, and the last sentence was "This message was never found." I'm sad to say that the site has since purged most of the messages for its failed creepypastas, because the comment section for that one in particular was a riot.

[@MedicineMundy]

Welcome Back, Sean. Well done as per usual :)

[@liampendergast8670]

One film in the sub genre worth checking out is Man Bites Dog. A black and white Belgian film about a camera crew who follows a serial killer around as he does his crimes. It's disturbing, raw and really captivating and actually uses it's format into order to draw the viewer into it's horror.

[@171QA]

This was a very interesting analysis video. I hope you can do another like this again sometime.

[@josephholenchik2691]

I liked the handheld moment in this vid. Be cool to see some more of that. Also great video topic, would be cool to have a 3rd variant in your vids if you had time.

[@jacobbelow4136]

Fun fact about 'Blair Witch Project': it is one of those renowned/influential movies that was nominated for a Razzie.

[@alexanderklepp]

Excellent job on critiquing the found footage genre, Sean. I haven’t seen a lot of them, but from what I’ve seen, it does seem like one of those genres if it is a genre that needs to be done just right.

[@WalkmanWillWalkAllOverYou]

I would love to see Sean do more of these Film Genre Critiques.

[@JKM395]

I was 22 when this came out, and went to see it with some friends. None of us had heard anything about the movie and only saw it because it was playing. We left the theatre seriously shook. We'd never seen anything like it before and we didn't know what to think. Now that it's been done so much, the style has largely lost its magic.

[@Happymali10]

10:50 There's an experimental movie that was filmed with an external microphone. And the backup-camera on a Toyota prius.

[@DrGregoryHouseIT]

REC came before Cloverfield and Paranormal Activity, in late 2007.

[@leftisthindrance]

if you do this type of video again can you cover anime/video game adaptations they sure as hell need some guidance

[@jasoncase9481]

Spencer Williams That seems mostly simple be mostly faithful including characters and the story, don't sanitize the violence so if it is supposed to be Rated R don't alterr it, and only make sensible logical changes not changes because they can or for the sake of change because not caring about quality only money. Although doesn't mean he can't make the video including what should be done and shouldn't

[@poker8100]

Just as I'm watching an old Cinematic Excrement episode a new one pops up

[@bonafide9781]

I wonder what the Smeghead will do for his 100th episode. :D

[@BradyKaynee]

You're going to review the Christmas Tree are you? If you do... please let me know that you still have your soul.

[@masonallen3961]

BradyAK47 I don't think so. He said Adam Sandler would probably be in it and no name actors were in The Christmas Tree. I'm going with the theory that the Christmas comment was designed to throw us of the scent and he's actually reviewing 8 Crazy Nights.

[@Marcsharp82]

One of my many issues with Found Footage films is that...well they are found. Which means more often than not every character dies, so for me I can't get invested in the characters because I know they'll die straight away.

[@EYTPS]

11:23 "Does this look anywhere near as good as that shot from Into the Storm?" Maybe not, but at least that's a nice-looking neighborhood we're seeing.

[@MrAspiringactor]

9:08 Is it fine I already forgot that sequel existed?

[@Lyendith]

I had completely missed this episode… and honestly, I wouldn’t mind if there were more like that. I know Sean likes to stick to his formula, but some slight deviations like this one are pretty refreshing.

[@Melvinwacko]

Have you seen Frankenstein's Army? It is a FF movie set in the 1940's, but shot with a modern day camera.

[@genkiarashi]

Good video, you certainly pointed out a lot of the common conflicts and inconsistencies of found footage films. But I do suggest you check out Trollhunter (2010) since it is both entertaining and done right.

[@MetaSynForYourSoul]

Your warning led me to a false sense of security. I died right at that second.

[@litlblkhouse]

Have you reviewed Eight Crazy Nights yet? If not that might be it for your next review ;)

[@PoeticProse7]

Of all the found footage movies that could've had sequels, the only one worthwhile didn't get any. How many of us would've liked to have seen Chronicle's story progress? More people being affected? Newer technology being affected and government reactions? Heck, this was inspired by Akira and that had so much more to give that Chronicle could've used in later sequels. It just figures that the one story juicy enough to produce material would have a director and writer busy enough to not get an opportunity to make more!

[@jackbennersmoviereviews]

A new Cinematic Excrement Episode? Yay!!!!!

[@dragonmaster613]

You forgot to mention that the Director of Cannibal Holocaust made the cast sign contracts to never appear in movies for 1 year, this fed the idea that they were actually dead!

[@Dethneko]

Not found footage, but of a similar idea, one movie that disappointed me was The Truman Show. Wasn't that it was bad, but in-universe they stated the show was recorded entirely with hidden cameras, but very few shots looked like they would have been recorded by such. Would love to have seen them actually try. The harder part to explain would have been the audio quality, but shouldn't be too hard to believe they could have had tiny microphones hidden on his clothing, especially if his "wife" is doing all the laundry.

[@luckyducky7819]

I enjoyed this video! I've never really been a movie buff, but it was interesting to learn about the Found Footage style of film. I'd enjoy more videos like this, I suggest you tackle (shitty) action or horror movies!

[@thomasoates3003]

16:40 One theory is that the footage, although filmed by cameras on the moon, was recorded back on Earth. A similar technique was used to broadcast the Apollo 11 landing.

[@Shalalacls]

I really love Chronicle, it has some issues with the "found footage" rules here and there, but I think the finale holds up. Since what happens is not unexplained stuff to a bunch of kids isolated from the world but massive mayhem in a crowded city, I think rather than found footage we can talk about "carefully selected footage"

[@billybarnett9518]

The writer Max Landis said that film had to be salvaged, apparently Josh Trank's original cut wasn't that good.

[@m1zz613]

I just call it a POV movie for those reasons.

[@Shalalacls]

Billy Barnett really??? I had no idea. Well, there goes my hope that Fant4stic was just a one time thing.

[@eblackwell]

This is fantastic! Great research giving the facts to a well-founded discussion. It was really interesting and pointed out a lot of truths that unfortunately filmmakers aren't noticing for themselves.

[@teheyepatch]

REC is my favorite found footage movie. Like you said, it's got a credible reason for good-quality shots with the professional cameraman, the guy actually helped when necessary, and there's a plausible explanation for the footage being found.

[@theNewBee]

I don't mind found footage, but they need a better reason to keep the camera on the action the entire time.

[@75aces97]

Maybe it didn't lead to a genre, but years before Blair Witch was Belgian crime caper Man Bites Dog. Since it had no supernatural or sci-fi pretenses, it was more convincing as found footage. And frankly a better moviegoing experience IMO. That was the first film of this kind I had seen, so I wondered if the events depicted were genuine (no Internet yet, per se; pretty shocking). But it mostly satisfied the same questions you've raised (why would the camera guy keep filming, not intervene? Could somebody get the camera angles, sound, as seen? Who discovered the "lost" film and how?).

[@Onion825]

Bruh do more genre examinations and editorials like this fuckin goddamn 11/10 best episode in forever

[@altebander2767]

Actually there's a German found footage movie from 1970 named "Die Delegation - eine utopische Reportage" in which a reporter does a report on some UFO maniacs, but decides to actually research on it some more to give a more well rounded report. So he goes to the USA and does some more research, but then he suddenly dies. The movie shows a faux TV programme in which they follow that last part of his life by his notes and his material which include more and more hints that extraterrestrials have actually come here.

[@abigail_1970]

The cat on your hood was hilarious!

[@wratched]

Blair Witch Project actually had a really cool backstory to how the footage was found. It was found under the foundations of the ruined house... as if it had been left there decades earlier.

[@ConnorNotyerbidness]

Keep the cat. Keep it.

[@Torterra625]

Connor notyerbidness Bitch, that cat is LONG gone.

[@StraightEdgeHeathen]

The Apollo 18 footage was found by Superman while he was fighting Nuclear Man.

[@grizzly_manbanimation8436]

There is one problem you didn’t mention here. When making a found footage movie I assume the idea is that it’s raw unedited footage. So with that in mind why would you add sound effects that would completely dismiss the fact that it’s unedited. For example, lost tapes was notorious for this, they had a bear lake monster episode that claims to depict an actual encounter with the beast. Yet at some point if you listen closely you can hear a Jurassic park velociraptor sound effect. How do they expect us to believe it’s unedited if they use a well known movie sound effect?

[@metademetra]

14:08 Yeah exactly! In the first one, the main couple was told "You need to stop trying to film the monster, you're pissing it off!" And they STILL filmed it!!!

[@patrickshields5251]

"Probably starring Adam Sandler" I think he's going to review Eight Crazy Nights

[@patrickshields5251]

It would be much better than Doug Walker's review, which I refused to see because of his snobbery.

[@masonallen3961]

My thoughts exactly.

[@patrickshields5251]

I know. Doug actually insults Sandler fans. I'm not a Sandler fan either but I don't condescend.

[@subitman12]

Aliens that sent the rock monster found the footage of Apollo 18 and watching it. You are actually viewing the movie through the alien's eyes.

[@andymatzner4891]

Great video as always - thank you!

[@kiloalphahotel5354]

Always great. Thanks for the vid and your hard work.

[@Nasser851000]

*Reads Video description* Tony Goldmark? XD

[@stefanfilipovits21]

Awesome format. Great episode. Well written. Keep it up!

[@NuclearLemonade]

The next one’s gonna be Eight Crazy Nights, isn’t it? And Adam Sandler’s gonna take it down, isn’t he?

[@BeatchBall]

This was an interesting side project. Nice job, Sean.

[@MarissaBollywood]

you should review I, Frankenstein, The Covenant, and showgirls! lol

[@roberttreacy8271]

0:30 Next movie review probably starring Adam Sandler? I’ll bet it’s Eight Crazy Nights.

[@pinealdreams1064]

I'm glad you picked up on a little problem I've always had; that being, when a character in a found-footage film is being filmed apparently by nobody. What I mean by that is, you see that character A has the camera, and character B does not. Yet, somehow there is a shot of character A from character B's perspective, despite character B lacking the camera needed. You end up spending most of your time screaming 'WHO THE FUCK IS FILMING THIS GUY?' It's a glaring issue with the new Blair Witch. I actually enjoyed it, to be honest, as a whole, but that little problem really irritated me. That said, I love (Rec.) and As Above, So Below. For me personally they just worked on the basic level of being legitimately scary. Also, your Diary of The Dead argument doesn't really work, as you're omitting the fact that characters continuously called the camera-guy out for just standing there. Romero made it a part of the script, meaning it's not exactly a flaw. It's not a great film, in complete honesty, but that particular criticism is somewhat asinine.

[@pchelamaja88]

Please do more episodes like this

[@luckystriker842]

2:47 Didn't Deodato have to void contracts with the actors stating that they would lie low for a time?

[@erykrejner2528]

19:37 Christmas movie... 0:28 Probably with Adam Sandler... Oh God... You will do that animated hanukkah movie that Sandler made? May the lord help you go through the reindeer shit eating scene...

[@vincent1935]

Great video, Sean! Just wondering, if you're interested, could you do another episode on how certain genres and styles can be done badly and how to do it right?

[@lakituscamera1508]

Best post credits scene ever. Make that cat a recurring character! XD

[@rorylumley4727]

Anything special planned for 100th episode

[@legoman2313]

I mean, I like to casually stroll on the moon to find found footage of rock monsters

[@tigasanto]

Loved the video! Keep the good work man!

[@ryanahr2267]

Alright, that was a lot less painful than I anticipated. Found footage is my favorite genre of horror and I was braced for this to suck. All your points are perfectly valid and I completely agree with them, especially the "put down the camera and help, asshole" bit. That always confused me.

[@originoflogos]

My problems with found footage: WHY IS THIS SHIT BEING FILMED?!?!?

[@harloewestwood4223]

Found footage is the literary equivalent of Lovecraft and I say that as a fan of both. Lovecraft just had a huge hard-on/limitation for framing his stories with the protagonist recounting events directly to the reader as found diaries, letters etc that ended with lines like, "I hear the creeping darkness coming up the stairs. It is coming to get me. Oh god awwwwwwwww......"It is a great idea to have the audience live so vicariously through the found documents/video but you got to stick the landing with a little more finesse.

[@Traestorz]

What movie is the clip at 6:28 from?

[@mnirwin5112]

The cat wants to know where his damn dinner is ...